Former Tiger Amari Rodgers has joined a new NFL team after being released by the Indianapolis Colts.
After an amicable parting with the Houston Texans, former Clemson wide receiver Amari Rodgers has joined a new NFL team.
The Indianapolis Colts announced Tuesday that they and Rodgers have agreed to a contract to bring Rodgers to Indianapolis. Rodgers lands in a new situation with the No.4 overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Anthony Richardson.
In four seasons at Clemson, Rodgers had 181 career receptions for 2,144 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Packers selected Rodgers at No. 85 in the 2021 NFL draft after he had his best statistical season as a senior in 2020.
Rodgers finished the 2022 season with 16 receptions for 204 yards and one touchdown. He spent the last six games of the 2022 season with the Texans, being traded by the Green Bay Packers in the middle of the season.
Rodgers will look to carve out a role with the Colts.
We have signed free agent WR Amari Rodgers and waived WR Johnny King.
The Colts signed WR Amari Rodgers and waived WR Johnny King.
The Indianapolis Colts signed free-agent wide receiver Amari Rodgers and waived wide receiver Johnny King, the team announced Wednesday.
Rodgers, 23, was a third-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2020 NFL draft. He spent two seasons in Green Bay, appearing in 26 games and making one start.
Rodgers spent the 2022 season with the Houston Texans, appearing in six games and making one start. Overall, in his career, Rodgers has recorded 20 receptions for 249 yards and one touchdown.
King signed with the Colts this offseason as an undrafted free-agent rookie out of Southeast Missouri State.
Going forward without Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler, the Broncos will need more depth at WR. Here’s a quick list of 10 free agents to monitor.
Following the losses of wide receivers Tim Patrick (Achilles) and KJ Hamler (pericarditis) on Monday, the Denver Broncos will likely sign at least one receiver in the coming days.
Hamler might be able to return to the team later this year, but Patrick is set to miss the entire 2023 season.
The biggest name free agent available is Julio Jones, but he is 34 years old and coming off a quiet season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Other big-game players available are Jarvis Landry (30) and T.Y. Hilton (33), who have both seen their production drop in recent seasons.
One unflashy name to watch is Nick Williams, who has had two different stints with the Broncos this spring. Williams is a local prospect who played high school football at Cherry Creek and started his college career at CSU-Pueblo before later transferring to UNLV ahead of the 2022 college football season.
With those names in mind, here’s a quick look at the full list of 10 free agent wide receivers the Broncos should consider signing.
The Texans parted ways with WR Amari Rodgers, a third-round pick of the Packers from the 2021 draft.
Amari Rodgers, a 2021 third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, was waived by the Houston Texans on Sunday.
After being released by the Packers last year, Rodgers was claimed by the Texans and ended up catching 12 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown over six games.
The Packers drafted Rodgers with the 85th overall pick in 2021. It didn’t work out in Green Bay or Houston, and now Rodgers is looking for his third NFL team.
The Texans returned John Metchie and added Robert Woods and rookie Tank Dell at receiver this offseason, likely eliminating opportunities for a receiver like Rodgers.
Per Rodgers, the parting was mutual.
I appreciate the Texans organization and my time in Houston. Thank you to Nick and Coach Ryans for working with me to come to this amicable parting. I wish them nothing but the best this season, and am excited for my football future. Thank you.
Rodgers played in 26 games over two seasons with the Packers. He caught eight passes for 95 yards but struggled as a punt returner. A fumbling habit eventually led to Rodgers being released by the Packers on Nov. 15, 2022.
At slot receiver, the Packers are moving forward with Jayden Reed, the 50th overall pick.
It’s unclear what’s next for Rodgers, another failed third-round pick for the Packers. Could he eventually take the path of Jace Sternberger, who failed at several NFL stops but re-routed his career with a breakout performance in the USFL?
A former Clemson WR has been released by an NFL team for the second time in his career.
A former Clemson wide receiver has been released by an NFL team for the second time in his career.
Amari Rodgers was released by the Houston Texans on Sunday, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
“I appreciate the Texans organization and my time in Houston,” Rodgers said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thank you to Nick and Coach Ryans for working with me to come to this amicable parting. I wish them nothing but the best this season, and am excited for my football future. Thank you.”
Rodgers finished the 2022 season with 16 receptions for 204 yards and one touchdown. He spent the last six games of the 2022 season with the Texans being traded by the Green Bay Packers in the middle of the season.
In four seasons at Clemson, Rodgers had 181 career receptions for 2,144 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Packers selected Rodgers at No. 85 in the 2021 NFL draft after he had his best statistical season as a senior in 2020. Playing alongside Trevor Lawrence, Rodgers led the Tigers in all three major receiving categories in 2020 with 77 receptions, 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns.
Now, Rodgers will look for his third NFL team in three years in the league.
I appreciate the Texans organization and my time in Houston. Thank you to Nick and Coach Ryans for working with me to come to this amicable parting. I wish them nothing but the best this season, and am excited for my football future. Thank you.
The Houston Texans have activated two players from the physically unable to perform list while also waiving a receiver as part of their roster moves.
The Houston Texans announced two players have passed their physicals and can take part in training camp.
The Texans took defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and cornerback Kendall Sheffield off the physically unable to perform list Sunday.
Houston signed Rankins in free agency to provide depth along the interior defensive line. The former New Orleans Saints and New York Jets defensive tackle enters his eighth season.
Sheffield has his second chance to make the Texans’ roster. In 2022, the Texans claimed Sheffield off waivers during organized team activities in May, but cut him at the end of preseason. Following a stint with the Dallas Cowboys midway through the season, wherein he was not signed to a reserve/future contract, Houston brought Sheffield back on March 3.
The Texans also waived receiver Amari Rodgers. The former Green Bay Packers 2021 third-round pick caught 12 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown through six games for Houston last season.
Houston Texans receivers say that they experience no disruptions working with QBs Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Houston Texans took a unique approach to moving the ball against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.
After going 0-2 with Kyle Allen, and producing eight total turnovers in that span, the Texans went back to Davis Mills as the starter. However, the Texans gave backup Jeff Driskel significant snaps throughout the game.
The signal caller, who was elevated the day before from the practice squad, complete 4-6 for 38 yards and a touchdown while also contributing seven carries for 36 yards.
The offense generated 327 total yards, the most since Week 10.
While most of the Texans’ receiving corps had never played with quarterbacks splitting snaps throughout a 60-minute game, the experience was not jarring in terms of keeping them out of rhythm.
“As a receiver, you just get open and if the ball is around you, you’ve just got to catch it,” said wideout Amari Rodgers, who had a career-high four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. “To me, it doesn’t matter who’s out there at quarterback. I’ve got to do my job and get open. If the ball comes my way, I’ll make the play.”
Rodgers caught a 28-yard touchdown pass late in the first half that wasn’t even supposed to go his way, but Driskel saw Rodgers could make a play on the ball against safety Donovan Wilson.
“They both did a great job today, Driskel and Davis, they did a great job handling the game management and keeping the offense rolling,” said Rodgers. “They did a great job. Maybe we will keep rolling with that because they did a great job.”
Mills completed 16-of-21 for 175 yards and his interception was the result of a Hail Mary attempt on the game’s final play to overcome Dallas’ 27-23 lead.
Receiver Chris Moore, who had 10 catches for 124 yards, called the operation with two quarterbacks “seamless.”
Said Moore: “I feel like we did a good job of practicing that all week and we went out there and executed the game plan pretty well.”
The Texans fall to 1-11-1 with the loss and host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15 at NRG Stadium.
Rodgers made short work of setting his career high in yardage in the #Texans’ loss to the #Cowboys in Week 14
Speculation abounded surrounding the Houston Texans’ claim of wide receiver Amari Rodgers off waivers in November, and fans finally got a glimpse of his talent in the team’s Week 14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Rodgers was among the team’s most effective receiving threats with both Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins inactive due to injury, and capitalized on every opportunity he was given to make an impact for the struggling franchise.
The second-year wideout caught four passes on five targets for 57 yards and a touchdown in the game. His yardage was enough to set a new career high in his Texans debut, and the touchdown he caught off the arm of quarterback Jeff Driskel was the first of his young career in the NFL.
It is unclear whether Houston will elect to continue activating him on Sundays through the end of the season, but judging from his performance against Dallas, he can clearly make a difference in their lackluster offense.
Rodgers was a highly coveted prospect when he declared for the draft in 2021 and seemed to have found a long-term home when the Green Bay Packers drafted him in the third round with the 85th overall selection. However, things didn’t go to plan for him in Green Bay, and the Packers decided to waive him in the middle of November to cut their losses on their failed investment.
Houston has a rare chance to develop this talented prospect in their offensive system, and should not take Rodgers’ talent for granted just because they got him for a bargain. The team is headed into the 2023 season with some serious work to be done in terms of roster construction, and Rodgers could be an elegant solution to their lack of high-end playmakers who could thrive with a high volume of targets and usage within their various passing schemes.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Trevor Lawrence
368-7
4
Jalen Hurts
217-77
3
Russell Wilson
247-57
3
Jared Goff
330-9
3
Patrick Mahomes
352-(-3)
3
Running Backs
Rush
Receive
TD
Jerick McKinnon
6-22
7-112
2
Christian McCaffrey
14-119
2-34
2
Miles Sanders
17-144
1-11
2
Austin Ekeler
15-45
8-59
1
Tony Pollard
10-42
4-20
2
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
Jerry Jeudy
8-73
3
Justin Jefferson
11-223
0
Ja’Marr Chase
10-119
1
JuJu Smith-Schuster
9-74
1
Mike Williams
6-116
1
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Evan Engram
11-162
2
David Njoku
7-59
1
Chigoziem Okonkwo
6-45
1
Dalton Schwartz
6-87
0
Dawson Knox
4-41
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Ka’imi Fairbairn
2
3
Eddy Pineiro
3
3
Riley Patterson
3
3
Mike Badgley
4
2
Cameron Dicker
2
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Chiefs
6-1
1
49ers
0-3
0
Bills
4-2
0
Jaguars
4-4
0
Ravens
2-3
0
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Kenny Pickett (PIT) – Concussion
QB Mike White (NYJ) – Ribs
QB Tyler Huntley (BAL) – Concussion
QB Russell Wilson (DEN) – Concussion
QB Brock Purdy (SF) – Oblique
RB Dameon Pierce (HOU) – Ankle
RB Jeff Wilson (MIA) – Hip
WR Tyreek Hill (MIA) – Ankle
WR Corey Davis (NYJ) – Head
WR Tee Higgins (CIN) – Hamstring
WR Tyler Boyd (CIN) – Finger
WR Deebo Samuel (SF) – Ankle
TE Daniel Bellinger (NYG) – Ribs
Chasing Ambulances
It has been a rough two weeks for quarterbacks.
QB Kenny Pickett – The rookie was slammed down on a sack and was cleared to return after being examined for a concussion. He returned for a series but Mitchell Trubisky took over when they decided to rule him out and place him in the concussion protocol.
QB Mike White – The Jets quarterback absorbed a huge hit to his ribs and left the game. He returned and took an even more brutal shot to his ribs. He was brought to a hospital after the game to be evaluated. If he cannot play against the visiting Lions this week, Joe Flacco will step in for the start.
QB Tyler Huntley – He was already filling in for Lamar Jackson and then was hit hard and had his head snap back in the third quarter. Huntley remained on the ground for a few seconds and was eventually ruled out. Lamar Jackson is still out with a sprained knee, so undrafted free agent rookie quarterback Anthony Brown would draw the start if Huntley doesn’t pass the protocols. HC John Harbaugh suggested that Huntley may be back for this week’s game against the Browns, but he stopped short of guaranteeing it.
QB Russell Wilson – The first time that Wilson finally looks productive, he was concussed. The threw three touchdowns in a comeback bid against the Chiefs that fell short. Wilson looked very woozy and disoriented after the hit, and the severity of the concussion will impact his ability to play against the Cardinals this week. Brett Rypien would replace him if needed, but the timing is cruel given how good he finally looked.
QB Brock Purdy – He injured his oblique at some point in the game and left at the start of the fourth quarter because the game was already well in hand. He wasn’t pulled because of the injury but will be tracked until he practices this week.
RB Dameon Pierce – He was concussed with 11 minutes left to play in the loss to the Cowboys and HC Lovie Smith lamented afterwards that the loss was tied to his absence. The Texans intercepted Dak Prescott at the DAL 4-yard line with 5:45 left to play but four plays couldn’t punch it in and they turned it over on downs. The Cowboys drove 98 yards for the win. Pierce was replaced by Rex Burkhead and Eno Benjamin who combined for five carries for two yards. The Texans probably wouldn’t beat the visiting Chiefs this week, but he’d certainly make it better.
RB Jeff Wilson – He was carted to the locker room with a hip injury in the second period and never returned. His status will be determined during the week. Raheem Mostert would see more work if Wilson remains out and Salvon Ahmed or Myles Gaskin could also be involved.
WR Tyreek Hill – He injured his ankle at the end of the first half but returned in the second half while still limping and icing the ankle between series. The Dolphins play at the Bills this week so Hill will probably play even if he has to hop on one leg down the field. Even if he doesn’t practice, he won’t be ruled out until the last minute since he is such a critical part of the offense.
WR Deebo Samuel – The 49ers’ dual threat was bent backward awkwardly with his leg trapped under him. He was carted from the field and did not return. HC Kyle Shanahan later said that there were no broken bones but that the team wasn’t certain of the extent of the injury. He said, “If it’s a high ankle, that’s usually some time.”More should be known after test results are known but initially it throws doubt onto him playing at Seattle this week at the least.
WR Tee Higgins – He tweaked his hamstring in pregame warmups and wanted to play but the coaches would not allow him. He will get an MRI to determine how severe the injury is and an update should be known by the Wednesday injury report. Trenton Irwin replaced Higgins and caught two passes for 58 yards and a 45-yard touchdown.
WR Tyler Boyd – He dislocated his finger in the win over the Browns and the initial prognosis is that he’ll likely miss several weeks but not the season. Trent Taylor is his backup and he caught a 34-yard pass on his four targets in the game.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
QB Baker Mayfield (LAR) – His comeback in the final three minutes of the win over the Raiders was impressive and unexpected. But he still only ended up with 230 passing yards and one score. Granted, he will get to learn plays now but the problem is more about the receiver talent that he has to use.
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE) – Facing one of the top secondaries in the league, DPJ was the main target for Deshaun Watson when he turned 12 targets into eight catches for 114 yards. Amari Cooper was limited to two catches for 42 yards despite his seven targets.
RB Joe Mixon (CIN) – He was injured in Week 11 and remained out until yesterday. Samaje Perine was a fantasy gold mine for those three weeks but once Mixon returned, the workload reverted to the previous sharing. Mixon ran 14 times for 96 yards while Perine only rushed four times for 22 yards but did get the touchdown. Mixon caught two passes while Perine only caught. Perine is now just touchdown-dependent for any fantasy value.
WR Chris Moore (HOU) – With both Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins out, Moore stepped up against the Cowboys with ten catches for 124 yards and is the replacement for Collins. Amari Rodgers is the starting slot receiver and caught four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in his first playing time as a Texan.
WR DJ Chark (DET) – He’s finally caught fire in Detroit with over 90 yards in each of his last two games. He logged six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown as the lead receiver in the win over the Vikings on Sunday.
WR Jameson Williams (DET) – The rookie that debuted last week with no catches, had his first NFL reception against the Vikings when he was wide open and scored a 41-yard touchdown on his only catch in the game.
RB J.K. Dobbins (BAL) – He was on injured reserve since Week 6 with a knee injury and returned on Sunday against the Steelers. The backfield remains a committee, but his first game back produced 15 runs for 120 yards and a touchdown. Gus Edwards gained 66 yards on his 13 carries, so Dobbins wasn’t given a full load. But he did more in that game than his four previous starts combined.
RB Jerick McKinnon (KC) – The Chiefs’ third-down back produced a season-high seven catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns at the Broncos and added 22 yards on six carries. Isiah Pacheco still ran 13 times for 70 yards and caught three passes for 23 yards. But McKinnon was the weapon that kept the Chiefs in the game. It was reminiscent of his impact during the playoffs last year when he averaged 16 fantasy points in those three games.
Huddle player of the week
Jacksonville Jaguars At Tennessee Titans
Evan Engram – The Jaguars tight end never met expectations in New York after lodging a big rookie year and then far less in any other season. On Sunday at the Titans, he turned in a career-game with 11 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns as the highest-scoring fantasy player for the week.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
Houston Texans receiver Amari Rodgers says that his touchdown catch from Jeff Driskel against the Dallas Cowboys wasn’t supposed to come his way.
The Houston Texans’ second taking of the lead was probably the wakeup call that let the Dallas Cowboys know the 1-10-1 team wasn’t going to lie down in Week 14.
On a second-and-11 from the Dallas’ 28-yard line, quarterback Jeff Driskel rolled to his right and heaved a ball to the goal just as he was about to head out of bounds. Wideout Amari Rodgers caught the ball while defending by safety Donovan Wilson and crossed the goal line for a touchdown to help give Houston a 17-14 lead with 2:30 to go until halftime.
According to Rodgers, the play-action pass wasn’t even supposed to go his way.
“I just ran a wheel route,” Rodgers told reporters after the game. “I was really just supposed to clear out the safety. It wasn’t supposed to come to me. But I was playing fast and was ready for the ball. He threw it to me, and I just made the play.”
On the rollout, Driskel was initially supposed to check down to the tight end. However, the former San Francisco 49ers 2016 sixth-round pick saw more.
“He saw the safety wasn’t looking,” said Rodgers. “If the defender’s back is turned to you, you’re open. So, that was a great throw by him. I just happened to come down with it.”
Rodgers had a career-high four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys in the 27-23 loss.
Getting his first score lifted a burden off of Rodgers.
Said Rodgers: “It felt amazing just being able to get in the end zone and get that weight lifted off me. I definitely feel like I’ll be able to continue to make plays now that I’ve made that play. Just being able to have that feeling, it felt amazing. I’ve just got to keep working and building that trust with the staff and the quarterbacks. Hopefully, we take off from it.”
Rodgers was active in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns and saw 18 offensive snaps but was not targeted once.
