Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Houston Texans have key decisions to make with free agents, but are expected to retain these three restricted free agents.
The Houston Texans are evaluating the free agents on their own roster before they begin looking to the free agent market to bolster their team.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, here are three restricted free agents who the Texans intend to re-sign.
The Houston Texans have activated the 21-day window for TE Kahale Warring and S A.J. Moore to return from the injured reserve.
The Houston Texans have activated the 21-day window for safety A.J. Moore and tight end Kahale Warring to come back from injured reserve.
Warring was placed on injured reserve after Week 1’s 34-20 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. Moore has been on injured reserve with a hamstring issue since Week 3’s 28-21 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Getting Warring back will help the Texans at tight end, where they are experiencing injuries with starter Jordan Akins dealing with an ankle and knee problem. Moore would provide a quality rotation for Houston on the back end while also inserting a special teams leader back into the transition phase of the game.
Houston plays the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at TIAA Bank Field, going for the series sweep against their AFC South rivals, who they beat 30-14 in Week 5 at NRG Stadium.
Houston Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson is expected to play more with safety A.J. Moore on injured reserve, according to DC Anthony Weaver.
Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s heart aches for third-year safety A.J. Moore, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and will miss his first game after 35 consecutive played.
“He’s put in a tremendous amount of work to get to the point that he’s been at and I know how much it kills him to not be able to go out there and help us,” Weaver told reporters on Thursday.
However, in the NFL when one player is unable to go, it opens up an opportunity for another. Similarly, Weaver is enthused about the chance second-year cornerback Lonnie Johnson will have to contribute to the Texans’ secondary.
“Lonnie undoubtedly will absolutely play more,” Weaver said. “He’s a guy that is gaining more confidence at the safety position every single day he’s out there. I think it means more than just more Lonnie Johnson. I think everybody in that secondary needs to step up when you lose a guy like A.J. Moore.”
Though Johnson, who has had 95 defensive snaps in the past three games with seven combined tackles, will see more playing time in the absence of Moore, Weaver is also counting on other personnel in the secondary to contribute.
“We need Phillip Gaines probably to step into a role,” said Weaver. “John Reid, perhaps. Everybody needs to pick up their game just so we can make up for the loss of that guy.”
The Texans take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 at NRG Stadium in a battle between two 0-3 teams. The Vikings have a dangerous pair of receivers in Adam Thielen and rookie Justin Jefferson, who torched the Tennessee Titans for seven catches for 175 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Titans barely held on with a 31-30 win. Houston may not be so lucky if they are similarly porous in the secondary.
The Houston Texans named their 2020 team captains, and safety A.J. Moore was named a team captain.
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Safety A.J. Moore has come a long way.
Houston Texans players and coaches have been bragging about the progress the former 2018 undrafted free agent from Ole Miss has made in training camp. Moore proved once more on Wednesday just what high regard his teammates have for him.
The Texans’ official Twitter account announced the 2020 team captains, and Moore was among the seven players.
Joining Moore are two critical special teamers in inside linebacker Dylan Cole and safety Michael Thomas. Defensive end J.J. Watt and inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney serve as the defensive captains, while quarterback Deshaun Watson and center Nick Martin are the offensive captains.
Introducing the 2020 #Texans Captains!
#WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/ZaFfL87utN— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 9, 2020
“I expect a lot from him because I know he can handle it,” safety Justin Reid told reporters on Sept. 3. “He’s a workhorse. He’s one of our special teams leaders and I’ve seen him continue to grow ever since — we’re the same class, so we came in on the defensive side of the ball too, being able to start making plays playing with the ones on defense.
‘I’ve seen him grow a lot and he’s excited about it. He’s going to bring a lot of energy to the table. He’s a guy that never gets tired and as long as he keeps making plays and starts doing it on Sundays, I can’t be more excited to watch him go do his thing.”
Moore will have a chance Thursday night to prove to the world he earned his captaincy as the Texans face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Houston Texans safety Justin Reid expects third-year safety A.J. Moore to take a big step in 2020.
Houston Texans safety Justin Reid has had an up close view of fellow safety A.J. Moore for his entire time with the AFC South club, and expects the former undrafted free agent to take another step in his development in year three.
Reid spoke with reporters after the club’s annual kickoff luncheon, albeit in a virtual setting, and presented his expectations for Moore.
“I expect a lot from him because I know he can handle it,” Reid said. “He’s a workhorse. He’s one of our special teams leaders and I’ve seen him continue to grow.”
Reid and Moore are akin to the “Prince and the Pauper” in the Texans’ secondary. The Texans selected Reid in Round 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft from Stanford. Moore fell through the draft and landed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent, who was cut at the end of preseason. Though Moore has played more games than Reid, 32 to 31, the Ole Miss product has a dearth of defensive snaps with just 20 to his career.
In training camp, Reid has been side by side witnessing Moore’s growth in the secondary, and looks forward to seeing the gains manifest in the regular season.
Said Reid: “I’ve seen him grow a lot and he’s excited about it. He’s going to bring a lot of energy to the table. He’s a guy that never gets tired and as long as he keeps making plays and starts doing it on Sundays, I can’t be more excited to watch him go do his thing.”
The Texans have veteran safeties on the back end with Eric Murray, Michael Thomas, and Jaylen Watkins. Though Reid and Moore are the younger guys, they still bring considerable experience to the position. Reid and the rest of the Texans are hopeful Moore will gain even more valuable experience in Houston’s defense.
Houston Texans safety A.J. Moore has been a solid special teams contributor, but hopes to be more impactful on defense in his third season.
A.J. Moore has played 32 games for the Houston Texans, but the phrase “special teamer” fits his role better than what is listed on the roster, safety.
However, the former 2018 undrafted free agent from Ole Miss has been getting coaches and commentators to think differently about his role. In 2020, Moore could play a bigger part on the team’s back end as a safety.
“This is going on my third year now, and of course I made my role on special teams first, but I’ve just been trying to continue to get better and better at safety, and that’s what I’ve done,” Moore said.
Moore, who initially was with the New England Patriots for his rookie offseason, training camp, and preseason, came to the Texans after cut day that season. The Bassfield, Miss., product latched on as a special teamer and cultivated his value with the team by excelling in that transition phase of the game.
With a paltry 20 defensive snaps under his belt, Moore hopes he can contribute more on defense.
Said Moore: “I’ve learned a lot over the years, and I’ve been able to make a couple plays for the team, and that’s what I’m here for. That’s what I want to do.”
If Moore isn’t able to get in the game, he doesn’t spend his time wishing he were on the field. Rather, Moore takes mental reps and goes through the scenarios of what he would do if he were on the field.
“When I’m on the sideline, I’m just able to learn and I can still get a feel for the game just looking, but I’ve been able to grow in the playbook and continue to watch the speed of the game, and, so, now when I’m in there I can execute at a high level,” Moore said.
The Texans have experience on the back end with Eric Murray, Jaylen Watkins, Michael Thomas, and Justin Reid, who has played one less game than Moore but hundreds of more defensive snaps. If Moore can provide Houston with another quality defensive back in the secondary, it could help them with their AFC South title defense.
Houston Texans safety A.J. Moore has been seeing more snaps on defense and thriving. Will the defensive back see more snaps on defense?
Safety A.J. Moore has been a special teamer for the majority of his 32 games with the Houston Texans.
However, the former 2018 undrafted free agent is taking the next step in his development in year three with the Texans, and it could lead to more snaps on defense.
“There’s a lot of guys like this but A.J. plays with a lot of energy,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He does whatever you ask him to do. He puts the team first. He’s definitely DTS. He’s dependable, he’s tough, he’s smart. He has a really good role on our football team. He’s improved on defense. He’s improved on special teams. He’s a fun guy to coach.”
In the scrimmage at NRG Stadium, Moore collected a sack, two pass breakups, and an interception. The former Ole Miss product has “always been good,” according to O’Brien, and one of the reasons he is essential to their roster is his personality.
“He’s got really good personality,” O’Brien said. “You know, he’s got a personality that people are drawn to and he just has a lot of fun playing. He’s just a guy that he’s in heaven when he’s playing football. He’s made a lot of plays and the guys enjoy playing with him and he enjoys playing on this team.”
The Texans have another third-year safety in Justin Reid who is one of the “elder statesmen” on the back end with 31 games for Houston under his belt. The defending AFC South champions will be relying on free agents Jaylen Watkins and Eric Murray to shore up their secondary, as well as Moore.
“I think he’s always been good,” O’Brien said. “He just plays with a lot of passion, a lot of energy. He’s a smart player. He loves football.”
Moore has played 671 snaps on special teams in his career and only 20 on defense, all in 2019. The 5-11, 200-pound safety could start to see more balance with those snaps in 2020.
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The Houston Texans have expectations for safety A.J. Moore to take another step in his third NFL season.
The theme for the 2020 Houston Texans roster is DTS: dependable, tough, smart. Coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has formed the roster with that concept in mind.
One player who embodies the DTS playing style is safety A.J. Moore.
“A.J. Moore is when we describe ‘DTS’ – dependable, tough, smart – that’s what he is,” O’Brien said. “He embraces his role. He loves football. He loves being on the team. It’s just a really good guy.”
Moore, a former 2018 undrafted free agent who caught on with the New England Patriots until the end of his rookie preseason, has played 32 games for Houston. The former Ole Miss product has collected 25 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery for the Texans.
The 24-year-old didn’t see a single defensive snap in his rookie year, playing 344 for the Texans. However, last year, Moore, while still logging 327 special teams snaps, played 20 defensive snaps for Houston.
Free agent safety Eric Murray sees the energy Moore brings on defense, and calls it “infectious.” Murray also sees Moore ready to take the next step in his development.
“He’s been doing a good job getting the defense down,” said Murray. “From what I know, he was a standout special teams player last year, so it looks like he’s ready to take on a little bit of a different role — still contribute on special teams but also contribute on defense and stuff like that too.”
The Texans have a solid defensive backfield with Justin Reid leading the charge along with Murray slated to be the starter and Jaylen Watkins and Moore in support roles.
Moore’s dependable play on special teams has warranted him more action on the defensive side, and it could pay off for all parties involved in 2020.
“He’s a really good player,” said O’Brien. “He does a lot for us on special teams. He fills in on defense. He’s got leadership qualities. Awesome guy.”
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There are bubble players on every roster, and here are seven players who need to have strong training camps for the Houston Texans.
The Houston Texans will have an extended training camp throughout the month of August. Bubble players won’t have the benefit of preseason games to make their cases. Instead, they will need strong showings in practice to prove their worth to coach and general manager Bill O’Brien.
Here are seven Texans who need to have strong camps.
The Texans aren’t trading Kenny Stills; he isn’t the odd man out with Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb coming to town. Coutee is the receiver whose job is in jeopardy.
The former 2018 fifth-round pick had a promising rookie season, but injuries and landing in Bill O’Brien’s doghouse last year derailed his second year. There wouldn’t be new receivers in Houston right now if O’Brien thought Coutee was dependable.
Houston Texans safety A.J. Moore and cornerback Cornell Armstrong teamed up to help their tornado ravaged hometown of Bassfield, Mississippi.
One aspect that fans and media judge defensive backs by is their coverage.
Houston Texans safety A.J. Moore and cornerback Cornell Armstrong are excelling at their coverage off the field. The two teammates distributed boxes of supplies to help their hometown of Bassfield, Mississippi, where four people died from tornadoes that hit on April 13.
Moore and Armstrong also teamed up with Detroit Lions safety C.J. Moore, who is A.J.’s twin brother and also from the town of 300 people.
Markeeth Taylor, who is based in Mississippi and has been representing the Moore brothers, knows just how much the residents appreciated the homegrown NFL players supplying food and toiletries at Jefferson Davis High School on Friday.
“It was good, and you could tell the people there really appreciated it and are in good spirits” Taylor said via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “Everything was in order. To have gone through what they’re dealing with along with the pandemic, they were very upbeat. One thing about Mississippi: We’re known as the hospitality state. Everyone is helping everyone to get back on their feet. This is deeply personal for all of them.”
Texans' A.J. Moore @aMOORE_40 Lions safety, twin C.J. Moore, Texans' Cornell Armstrong @cnelll3 hand out supplies, water in hometown of Bassfield, Miss, which was hit hard by tornadoes Sunday. Armstrong's father had ankle surgery, broke ribs. Moore twins' mother broke her foot pic.twitter.com/gerAN8dvPM
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 18, 2020
The Moore brothers’ mother also sustained injuries during the severe weather event as she broke her foot along with cuts and bruises. In addition to damaging her home, the storm also overturned her vehicle. Their father was hospitalized after he broke his ankle, ribs, and suffered internal bleeding.
“Everybody is keeping in good spirits, knowing we’re all in this together and we’re all going to work together to help get them back on their feet,” Armstrong said. “Bassfield is a very small town. Everyone is like family.”
