Tag: A.J. McCarron

Texans release QB Josh McCown

The Houston Texans have released quarterback Josh McCown.

The Houston Texans have finally made a move at quarterback.

The AFC South club released 41-year-old quarterback Josh McCown on Monday. The former Sam Houston State product was the Texans’ third quarterback after joining the club midway through the 2020 season.

With the move, the Texans have one rostered quarterback in Deshaun Watson, who is still at odds with the organization.

McCown signed with the Texans on Nov. 7 and wanted to be a background figure who helped younger guys on the team reach their potential.

“When these guys called and the opportunity to actually be in a building and be around the guys, that’s what I’m here for,” McCown told reporters on Nov. 13. “That’s what I want to be a part of. Like I said, in any way I can serve and help a young quarterback like Deshaun continue to do what he’s doing, that’s the icing on the cake. That’s what I want to get out of this. Just to be a part of an organization, be a part of something that a group of guys coming together to accomplish something.”

The Texans finished 4-12.

Houston’s backup quarterback to Watson, A.J. McCarron, is without a contract and set to hit free agency when the new league year begins on March 17.

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WATCH: Texans execute a fake punt pass against the Titans

The Houston Texans pulled off a perfect fake punt pass against the Tennessee Titans to keep a scoring drive alive in Week 17.

The Houston Texans have nothing to lose.

On a fourth-and-2 from the Texans’ 46-yard line, interim coach Romeo Crennel decided to go for it against the Tennessee Titans down 10-3 early in the second quarter.

Rather than keep quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense out there, the punt team took the field. A curious note was quarterback A.J. McCarron was the personal protector for punter Bryan Anger.

Long snapper Jon Weeks direct-snapped the ball to McCarron, who then threw a pass to receiver Steven Mitchell for a 20-yard gain to get into the Titans’ territory.

Houston capped off the drive with a 43-yard field goal from kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn.

Backup quarterback A.J. McCarron returning to the Texans

Backup quarterback A.J. McCarron is returning to the Houston Texans for the 2020 season.

The Houston Texans are keeping continuity under center.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle via McCarron’s own Instagram account, the former Alabama Crimson Tide signal caller is coming back to the Texans.

In 2019, McCarron didn’t see any significant action. While he did earn his first start since filling in for an injured Andy Dalton in 2015 with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Week 17 game versus the Tennessee Titans was meaningless as the Texans couldn’t earn a first-round bye. The goal was to keep as many starters and contributors, including Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson, healthy for the playoffs.

McCarron completed 21-of-36 for 225 yards and an interception while taking four sacks. McCarron did carry five times for 39 yards and a touchdown in the 35-14 loss to the eventual AFC Championship Game runner-ups.

Part of why getting McCarron back in the fold was to help with the game day collaboration between offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and offensive assistant Carl Smith.

“A.J.’s got a lot of experience in a lot different offenses, whether it was Alabama, Cincinnati, Oakland and here,” coach Bill O’Brien told reporters on Dec. 2, 2019. “A.J.’s really good during the game, too. A.J. does a good job during the game and so there’s a lot of collaboration with Timmy and Carl and then when I’m in there.”

With the organization trading away three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Texans’ passing game can use all the continuity it can get.

4 players the Texans need to re-sign before free agency begins

The Houston Texans have four players with expiring contracts they need to re-sign before free agency begins on March 18.

NFL free agency kicks off on March 18 when the new league year begins at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. However, the legal tampering period for free agency starts on March 16.

Like all 32 NFL teams, the Houston Texans have players set to become unrestricted free agents. Here are four players the Texans need to come to terms with immediately and not allow to hit free agency.

1. cb bradley roby

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The former 2014 Denver Broncos first-round pick provided the Texans with 38 tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, eight pass breakups, and a forced fumble. The only downside with Roby’s one year with the Texans was he missed six games due hamstring injuries. The 10 games played were the least of his career, and Roby only missed one game with the Broncos in his entire five seasons with the club. The hamstring injuries were a fluke, and Houston needs to bring him back.

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2019 Texans position review: Quarterbacks

The Houston Texans’ season is over. Though a success, they didn’t go all the way. How did Deshaun Watson and the QBs fare in 2019?

The Houston Texans’ season is over. After finishing 10-6, they found themselves in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, only to lose a 24-0 lead to the Kansas City Chiefs, who moved on by winning in 51-31 fashion.

With the season now over for the Texans, let’s take a gander at the quarterback position group.

The Texans’ quarterback room is led by third-year quarterback Deshaun Watson. That should stay for a long time, as the 24-year-old is Houston’s franchise quarterback. The Texans will likely extend him with a gaudy contract in the offseason.

“We want him to be a Houston Texan for the rest of his career,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said of Watson on Jan. 13. “We obviously want Deshaun Watson here for a long time.”

In 2019, Watson went to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his three-year career. Despite missing a game (for rest in a meaningless contest), he finished second in the NFL in totals touchdowns with 34, passing for 26, rushing for seven and receiving another.

Watson threw for 3,852 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on a 67.3% completion rate in 2019, good for a 98 passer rating. If he can cut down on his interceptions and learn how to take fewer sacks (44), he will be an MVP candidate for years to come.

Six-year veteran A.J. McCarron acted as Watson’s backup for the entirety of the season. He started one contest, a meaningless season finale against the Tennessee Titans. In doing so, he passed for 225 yards and an interception while completing 21 of his 36 attempts.

Unless extended, McCarron will be a free agent in March.

2018 seventh-round pick Alex McGough bounced between the active roster and practice squad for most of the season. He did not take a snap. His addition to the roster came after third-stringer Joe Webb suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason.

The Texans’ quarterback position will be led by Watson in 2020. It is a bright spot for the team and has been since his arrival out of Clemson in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Derrick Henry, Titans punch out Texans 28-14 to punch playoff ticket

RB Derrick Henry rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns as the Tennessee Titans walloped the Houston Texans 35-14 Sunday afternoon in Week 17.

Running back Derrick Henry gained 211 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Tennessee Titans blew past the resting Houston Texans 35-14 Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

The Texans were locked in to the No. 4 seed coming into the game as the New England Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins, and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers to take the No. 2 seed, the AFC’s final first-round bye.

Quarterback A.J. McCarron filled in for Texans field general Deshaun Watson, going 21-of-36 for 225 yards and an interception.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill produced 13-of-20 for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee eventually put in backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who completed just one pass on his lone attempt for 24 yards.

Rookie receiver A.J. Brown had a dynamic outing against the Texans as he caught four carries for 124 yards and a touchdown.

Houston’s receiving corps was led by DeAndre Carter, who had six catches for 65 yards. Tight end Jordan Akins also caught five passes for 54 yards. Running back Duke Johnson collected five passes for 45 yards while also rushing four times for 12 yards and a touchdown.

Summary

The Texans rested their starters as the Titans played theirs, and Tennessee out-gained Houston 466 yards to 301 to clinch the final AFC playoff spot.

Turning point

With 9:42 to go in the first quarter, Tannehill connected with tight end MyCole Pruitt, a former Texans player, for a 1-yard touchdown to help take a 14-7 lead. Houston started to pack it in after that.

Unique stat

Titans: RB Derrick Henry rushed for 211 yards to earn his first career NFL rushing title.

Texans: McCarron’s rushing touchdown was the first of his career and the first time since 2015 the Texans had two different QBs rush for a touchdown.

Scoring summary

Tennessee Titans — 7, 7, 7, 14 — 35

Houston Texans — 7, 0, 7, 0 — 14

First quarter

HTX — Johnson 1 run (Fairbairn kick), 7:25

TEN — Brown 51 pass from Tannehill (Joseph kick), 5:33

Second quarter

TEN — Pruitt 1 pass from Tannehill (Joseph kick), 9:42

Third quarter

TEN — Henry 3 run (Joseph kick), 10:06

HTX — McCarron 1 run (Fairbairn kick), 1:09

Fourth quarter

HTX — Henry 1 run (Joseph kick), 14:02

TEN — Henry 53 run (Joseph kick), 2:54

injury report

Titans

  • OG Rodger Saffold injured his right leg.

Texans:

  • CB Johnathan Joseph: hamstring

Up Next

The Titans will enter the playoffs as the No. 6 seed and play the No. 3 New England Patriots during wild-card weekend (Jan. 4-5) at Gillette Stadium.

The Texans will be the No. 4 seed and host the No. 5 Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium during wild-card weekend.

WATCH: Texans QB A.J. McCarron leaps for a touchdown

Watch backup quarterback A.J. McCarron leap in for a touchdown to narrow the Tennessee Titans’ lead over the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans don’t need to beat the Tennessee Titans. In fact, if they lose, they will be able to rest easy at night. No matter the outcome of the game, they are locked into the fourth seed in the AFC Playoffs.

Don’t tell that to A.J. McCarron.

McCarron, a backup starting in place of starter Deshaun Watson, is putting his all into the meaningless game. In the third quarter of the AFC South tilt, he led a 16-play, 75-yard drive spanning 8:57 minutes. He capped it off by doing it himself, leaping for a one-yard touchdown rush.

Watch below.

McCarron, an Alabama Crimson Tide product, did his best Watson impression. He scrambled through pressure, didn’t find anything and then athletically lept into the end zone to narrow the Titans’ lead to seven.

With McCarron’s touchdown, it is the first time since 2015 in Texans franchise history that two quarterbacks recorded a rushing touchdown in the same season.

Texans-Titans live blog: 60 minutes until the playoffs

The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans finish up Week 17 at NRG Stadium. Can’t catch the game conventionally? Follow here for updates.

Not exactly a first quarter update, but the Miami Dolphins upset the New England Patriots 27-24. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-21, and are now the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

first quarter

The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans finish up their regular season slate at NRG Stadium. Can’t catch the game regularly? Follow along here for updates.

First off, are you sure you catch the game? Let our friends from FuboTV help.

Check the inactives. Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins are playing. How much will they play?

Report: Texans’ Deshaun Watson to backup QB A.J. McCarron versus the Titans

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson will be backing up A.J. McCarron as the club faces the Tennessee Titans in Week 17.

The Houston Texans may be playing to beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 17, but they are ensuring it doesn’t cost them a chance at a deep playoff run.

According to Dianna Russini of ESPN, the Texans are planning to have quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has led the club to a 10-5 record, backup quarterback A.J. McCarron in the relatively meaningless season finale. A win over the Titans would not help the Texans get out of wild-card weekend, and it may be a fruitless endeavor to avoid the No. 5 Buffalo Bills as the Kansas City Chiefs will more than likely beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the early game at Arrowhead Stadium, just before the Texans’ 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff with Tennessee.

Receiver DeAndre Hopkins is also expected to get limited snaps against the Titans.

Both Hopkins and Watson were on the injury report leading up to the game. Watson was limited throughout practice with a back issue, landing him as questionable on the injury report. Hopkins has been battling an illness and was also listed as questionable.

Future QB Rankings: Rating all 32 NFL teams’ situations from worst to best

Touchdown Wire ranks the 32 NFL teams in terms of stability and potential at the game’s most important position over the next 3-4 seasons.