Tag: Cade Stover

Injury status of Texans TE Cade Stover revealed

Cade Stover will undergo season-ending surgery following the Texans’ wild-card round win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Houston Texans rookie tight end Cade Stover’s 2024 season is officially over.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans revealed that Stover suffered a shoulder injury during Saturday’s wild-card round win over the Los Angeles Chargers and would require season-ending surgery.

The Texans placed the Ohio State product on the injured reserve.

According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, Stover suffered a broken collarbone. He’s expected to be back for offseason workouts and should be at 100% before the start of OTAs.

A fourth-round pick, Stover caught 15 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown in 15 games. In Saturday’s wild-card round win, he caught four passes for 28 yards.

After waiving receiver Diontae Johnson, Houston must now fill two roster spots. In Stover’s place, veteran tight end Teagan Quitorinao should be the secondary option after returning to practice last week.

He’s been a reliable No. 3 option in the passing game and should see his role expand in the red zone. He hasn’t been added back to the 53-man roster, so its seems like one spot could be filled.

The Texans hit the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs this Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.

Texans place rookie TE on IR ahead of Chiefs playoff game

Cade Stover’s rookie season as the do-it-all tight end has come to an end following Saturday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Cade Stover’s rookie season is over.

The Houston Texans placed the tight end on the injured reserve on Tuesday afternoon. Because a player must spend four weeks on the reserved list, Stover wouldn’t be cleared to return until after the Super Bowl.

In last week’s 31-12 wild-card round win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Stover caught four passes for 28 yards.

After waiving receiver Diontae Johnson, Houston must now fill two roster spots. In Stover’s place, veteran tight end Teagan Quitorinao should be the secondary option after returning to practice last week.

He’s been a reliable No. 3 option in the passing game and should see his role expand in the red zone. He hasn’t been added back to the 53-man roster, so its seems like one spot could be filled.

The Texans hit the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs this Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.

Texans need to have game plan for rookie TE Cade Stover in AFC Playoffs

The Houston Texans could target rookie tight end Cade Stover heading into the postseason.

Last playoff season. C.J. Stroud connected with tight end Brevin Jordan for a 76-yard touchdown in the wild-card round against the Cleveland Browns.

That score wasn’t the deciding factor, but it catapulted the Houston Texans’ run in the second half to a dominant win at NRG Stadium.

In a sense, the Texans must target a tight end not named Dalton Schultz this postseason when the wild-card game commences next week, though Jordan won’t take the field since he’s still recovering from a torn ACL.

Who should be the force? Rookie force and fellow Ohio State Cade Stover might be the top option against either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Los Angeles Chargers if Houston hopes to win.

Getting Stover more involved should benefit all sides. The Texans have struggled to find a consistent weapon over the middle since Stefon Diggs’ season-ending torn ACL. Already emphasizing the role of a 12-personnel,  getting the rookie more targets on early downs.

Still developing into a full-fledge tight end, Stover’s hands remain an asset to his potential. He’s averaging 8.9 yards per reception and has already scored a touchdown in his young career.

Stover’s previous relationship with Stroud from their time together at Ohio State factored into Houston’s trade-up and selection of him last April. It should factor into the game plan for the postseason.

The Texans close out their 2024 regular season on the road against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff from Nashville is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans recreate Ohio State magic with C.J. Stroud and Cade Stover vs. Titans

The Houston Texans rookie tight end Cade Stover recorded his first touchdown in the NFL on Houston’s first offensive play on Sunday

From Columbus to Houston. It only took 12 weeks to happen.

The Texans secured a 7-0 lead against the Tennessee Titans following Dameon Pierce’s 80-yard return on the opening kickoff. Second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud found a wide-open Cade Stover in the end zone for his first professional touchdown.

Here’s a look at the score below.

Houston has been the first team to score in nine of its 12 games. The touchdown pass was Stroud’s first since the second quarter during the Week 10 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Stover, Stroud’s go-to. target during Stroud’s senior season at Ohio State, was expected to be a difference-maker in Houston’s 12-personnel offensive look when drafted in April. Stroud mentioned where they became close en route to a College Football Playoff berth in 2022.

In Columbus, Stover caught 36 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns. Stroud advocated for Houston to pick Stover on Day 3 of the draft, leading to Houston trading up to the No. 123 pick with the Cleveland Browns.

Stover entered the season as the No. 3 tight end on the depth chart, but saw an increase in playing time after Brevin Jordan’s season-ending injury.

Entering Sunday, Stover had 10 receptions for 102 yards.

Texans rookie TE Cade Stover garners praise from C.J. Stroud following strong debut

Cade Stover made his presence felt during Sunday’s win over the Colts and C.J. Stroud wanted everyone to know about it.

Joe Mixon credited his offensive line for paving the way to a stellar Houston Texans’ debut against the Indianapolis Colts.

Traded from Cincinnati, Mixon lived up to the billing as a bell-cow back by rushing for 159 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. The offensive line looked at its peak by creating lanes for the Pro Bowl runner to set the tone at Lucas Oil Stadium.

But Mixon, who currently leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with 178 heading into Week 2, gave one more thank you in the locker room before boarding a flight back home.

“Special shout-out to (Cade) Stover,” Mixon told reporters. “He made critical blocks. … I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a fullback in front of me. It’s a hell of a feeling, man.”

Stover, the Texans’ fourth-round pick of Ohio State, will carve out playing time in 2024, but where remains the mystery. With Dalton Schultz missing practice, the former Buckeye could see reps at his natural tight end position.

He also could remain Houston’s lead fullback while learning on the fly. Learning positions is nothing new for Stover since he committed to Ohio State as a linebacker before swapping sides in 2020.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Stover earned the trust to learn a new position. After roster cutdowns, Houston was left without a full-time fullback, so Stover and undrafted rookie British Brooks began to take reps in practice.

 On Sunday, Stover saw the most action with 15 reps. He stepped up late in the fourth quarter by setting up a block to help Mixon pick up a first down. He also helped keep his former college quarterback C.J. Stroud upright on two pass attempts.

“Cade is somebody who’s very selfless,” Stroud said Wednesday. “He’s been like that since I met him. And he’s willing to do everything to win and I think he played great in his first game.”

Stroud, who trusted Stover to be his top red zone target in 2022 in Columbus, knows the transition period is the toughest, but nothing a player who’s been through this before can’t tackle head-on.

“It’s not easy going out there, not knowing – not getting a whole bunch of reps doing a new position but he attacked it and he really just wants to win and I love that dude,” said Stroud.

Stover will have a chance to improve his rep count

Former Ohio State tight end sheds new light on Michigan sign stealing controversy

The film doens’t lie #GoBucks

The saga continues and the more we find out the more shocking it becomes. Recently former Ohio State star turned Houston Texans tight end, Cade Stover, was asked if he had taken the time to watch the Connor Stalions documentary. At first, Stover shied away from the question, but then he opened up saying he didn’t need to watch it because he lived it.

He then went on to detail a play from the 2022 game where the Buckeyes called a tight end screen, a play that Stover says the offense had never run before nor a formation they had ever even lined up in before. He claims he heard the Michigan sideline calling out the play as Stroud was getting ready for the snap. If true, these claims would seem to go even further than just the sign stealing scandal, which some believe practice tape was illegally obtained. Listen below to Stover’s own words.

Beyond that, Josh Poloha of Eleven Warriors went back through the 2022 game and found the play in question. Watching the video, the play does seem very suspicious as the defensive line does not swarm after C.J. Stroud as you might expect on a screen. Instead, three Wolverine defenders immediately surround Stover blowing up the play and forcing Stroud to take off using his feet. Watch for yourself.

The evidence seems to keep mounting against Michigan. It certainly feels like there is substance to the allegations that have been made of competitive advantages for the Wolverines.

Sour grapes from a former Buckeye? Doubtful. Stover is a straight shooter and the video supports his story. He even went on to suggest the Buckeyes still had to get the job done. The more these allegations come out the more animosity towards The Team Up North builds.

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Giants vs. Texans features two potential rookie stars at tight end

Two rookie tight ends — New York Giants TE Theo Johnson and Houston Texans TE Cade Stover — will be on display during Saturday’s game.

The New York Giants head down to the Lone Star State this Saturday afternoon to face the Houston Texans in Week 2 of the NFL preseason.

There are loads of backstories to follow in this game including Daniel Jones’ first game action since last November and Houston’s sudden emergence as a Super Bowl contender.

One backstory many may have missed focuses on two rookie tight ends, both who played in the Big Ten and were taken in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft.

The Giants drafted Penn State’s Theo Johnson with the 107th overall selection. The Texans followed that with Ohio State’s Cade Stover 16 picks later.

The Giants took Johnson in response to Darren Waller’s expected decision to retire. Yes, they were looking to add a tight end or two this offseason but they could not pass up on the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Johnson in the fourth round.

Stover was taken mainly for his connection with Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud, his college teammate. Stroud apparently lobbied the Texans’ front office to draft Stover. It worked.

Johnson seems to be a developing player that could go either way. Boom or bust, they call it. The Giants are readying for the boom.

“He’s smart. He’s a young professional, a true pro, loves the game,” head coach Brian Daboll said of Johnson at the outset of training camp.

“Has good size. Can bend. Can run. Obviously tested really well. But had a really good pro day, too, at Penn State, moving around, running his routes, hitting the bag. You can only get so much out of it. You can tell his bend, you can tell he’s athletic. He’s a good guy we thought we could work with.”

Johnson began camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a hip flexor issue but only lasted a short while. When he came back, he hit the ground running.

The Giants know that Johnson can catch the ball in space and go. What they need to see — and what will determine his playing time — is Johnson’s ability to block.

That question was answered quickly when the Detroit Lions came to town. Johnson was pitted against the Lions’ star defensive end, Aiden Hutchinson, and more than held his own.

“That was a big part of my job at Penn State,” Johnson said of his blocking. “We took a lot of pride in it. We had those big packages, three tight ends, two running backs. I do enjoy it. It’s something I take a lot of pride in and something I’m going to continue to work at every day.”

Stover has also garnered praise this summer from his coaches. Originally recruited as a linebacker, Stover went on to become the second most-prolific tight end in Buckeyes history. In 2023, he was named Big Ten Tight End of the Year.

“Cade has been the guy we saw on tape at Ohio State, just tough,” DeMeco Ryans said, via KPRC 2. “Making tough competitive catches, finishing strong with the football. Like the couple plays he made in the game last Thursday (in the Hall of Fame game versus Chicago), it’s cool to see a guy you see in practice, but you’re never quite sure how they’re going to respond when they get in the game, but it was cool to see Cade just be who Cade has been.”

Stover appears to be a complete tight end, much like what the Giants believe they might have in Johnson. The two have similar mindsets and it will be interesting to see the two on the same field this weekend.

“Right now, the hardest part of this is just the mental toughness of it all,” said Stover. “Physical toughness, you either have it or you don’t, in my opinion. I always felt like I was bred in that area with things and that is just how it happens naturally. Just play after play, that is how we roll.”

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Texans training camp: Tight ends fighting for playing time

The Houston Texans have a lot of offensive weapons including their tight ends, which have flown under the radar until Wednesday’s action.

The Texans’ receiver room is not just deep but also filled with quality contributors who could start elsewhere. Nico Collins, Tank Dell and newcomer acquired Stefon Diggs form a fearsome trio. Meanwhile, Noah Brown and John Metchie III serve as depth pieces.

The group has deservedly received its share of attention, but the Texans tight ends were a big part of the action at Wednesday’s practice.

 

Dalton Schultz, who bet on himself last offseason when he signed a one-year deal with Houston, re-upped with the team on a three-year, $36 million contract before the start of free agency.

His spot is secure after hauling in 59 passes for 635 yards with five touchdowns, but the Texans wanted more depth behind him. In the draft, they bolstered the room by selecting former Ohio State star and C.J. Stroud’s top red zone target in Cade Stover.

Stover, the No. 123 pick, is a front office favorite, as evidenced by general manager Nick Caserio’s gushing over the Buckeyes’ product after the draft.

He also has a rapport with Stroud from their time together at Ohio State. In 2022, he helped the future Offensive Rookie of the Year lead the Buckeyes back to the College Football Playoff while catching 36 passes for 406 yards and five scores.

“I was already on the phone with him before I got drafted that morning,” Stover told Texans TV host Drew Dougherty. “He was like, ‘Dude, we’re coming to get you. Tell me who likes you.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, these [teams] kind of like me, so if you could get in front of them, it would be real nice.”

Houston used multiple tight ends sparingly last season, running 12 personnel—one running back and two tight ends—on 9.1 percent of its plays, below the league average of 19.2 percent, according to Sumer Sports. 

Stover’s arrival adds to Houston’s offense’s versatility, providing an inline option at tight end. However, Brevin Jordan and Teagan Quitoriano aren’t letting Stover take over No. 2 duties without a fight.

A fifth-round pick of Miami in 2021, Jordan is coming off his best professional season. He had a career-best 219 receiving yards last year and made a game-altering play when he scored a 76-yard touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in Houston’s 45-14 wild-card round victory.

“I’m excited to see Brevin’s growth. Brevin is a young player that I think has even more in the tank,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following Friday’s practice. 

Jordan is heading into a contract year and, by all accounts, had a strong offseason to prepare for another career campaign. 

Quitoriano has never been a huge target earner and has been more known for his blocking. He caught less than 20 passes at Oregon State in all four seasons. During his first two years with the Texans, he had 17 targets in the 16 games he appeared in.

Two trips to the IR also have factored into his limited progression.

Schultz will likely play sparingly in the preseason, allowing the three tight ends behind to see time and compete for a higher spot on the depth chart.

Houston opens its preseason next Thursday against the Bears at the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud excited to play with ‘brother’ Cade Stover

C.J. Stroud and Cade Stover plan to bring a bit of the 2022 Ohio State Football magic to NRG Stadium this fall with the Houston Texans.

A quarterback must form strong bonds with his receivers if he plans to have everyone on the same page.

Some relationships are formed during the early days of training camp.
Others are created back in college and only grow once at the professional level.

For Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and rookie tight end Cade Stover, it’s more so the latter. While no longer in Columbus, the duo plans to make a similar impact as the one left at Ohio State.

“Me and Cade are brothers,” Stroud said of  Houston’s fourth-round pick earlier this week. “Somebody who I had the chance to play with in college, but spend a lot of time with him off the field in college, barbecuing, just chilling, playing the game, all type of stuff. That’s somebody I consider my brother.”

A two-time Heisman finalist, Stroud showed off his first-round talent during his final season with the Buckeyes. Completing 66.3 percent of his passes, Stroud threw 41 touchdown passes against six interceptions to help Ohio State clinch a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Stover, a 2023 finalist for the John Mackey Award, was a go-to target for the former No. 2 overall pick inside the red zone. During the 2022 season, Stroud found Stover 36 times for 406 yards and five touchdowns.

Drafted No. 123 overall, Stover must earn reps in practice to reunite with Stroud on Sundays. Dalton Schultz, who served as Stroud’s security blanket last season while helping him win Offensive Rookie of the Year, isn’t in jeopardy of losing starting reps after signing a three-year contract to return this offseason.

Brevin Jordan served as Houston’s No. 2 tight end and offers position flexibility, lining up in multiple spots, including fullback. Entering a contract year, the Texans could have drafted Stover as Jordan’s replacement once free agency hits next offseason.

It’s still early in camp, but the former linebacker-turned-tight end has caught his quarterback’s attention while running with the second-team offense.

“He’s been doing really well out here blocking, catching, running good routes,” Stroud said. “He’s owning the offense, which is really exciting to see.”

While Stroud likely won’t suit up, fans will probably get a first glace of Stover when the Texans take on Chicago in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on August 1.

C.J. Stroud played vital role in Texans landing Ohio State TE Cade Stover

C.J. Stroud might have played a role in helping the Houston Texans land former Ohio State tight end Cade Stover.

C.J. Stroud is running the offense for the Houston Texans and might be the reason why another AFC South division title is on the horizon in 2024.

Naturally, the former No. 2 overall pick isn’t running the draft room behind closed doors alongside general manager Nick Caserio, but his input is warranted. It’s potentially a factor as to why Houston traded up in the fourth round with the Cleveland Browns to land Stroud’s former Ohio State teammate Cade Stover. 

Stroud knew if the moment presented itself, adding Stover to the Texans’ loaded arsenal would be a win for all parties. According to the former Buckeye, on the morning of Day 3 of the draft, he and Stroud were already discussing reunion plans at NRG Stadium. 

“I was already on the phone with him before I got drafted that morning,” Stover told Texans TV host Drew Dougherty on the Texans All Access podcast. “He was like, ‘Dude, we’re coming to get you. Tell me who likes you.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, these [teams] kind of like me, so if you could get in front of them it would be real nice.'”

Houston moved up to pick No. 123 after initially trading the selection in the third round to land USC defensive back Calen Bullock. Of course, Caserio could have already been planning to draft Stover, but hearing that Stroud was in talks with ‘Farmer Gronk’ that morning, it seemed like a done deal. 

Stover, a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award last season, isn’t expected to be a focal point in Houston’s passing attack in Year 1. The Texans re-signed Dalton Schultz to a three-year deal and still have Brevin Jordan and Andrew Beck entering contract years, 

Still, having a rapport with his new quarterback might be a difference in Stover’s progression to the pros. During Stroud’s final season in Columbus, the 6-foot-5 former defensive end finished third on the team in receptions (36), fourth in receiving yards (406) and fourth in touchdowns (5). 

There’s a scenario where Stover and Stroud have designed plays in the red zone similar to concepts run at Ohio Stadium in 2022. While becoming a fixture of the offense, he’ll have time to learn under Schultz, someone Stover has admired since transitioning to tight end full-time after his sophomore season. 

“I like him — he is a hardworking kid,” Schultz said of Stover earlier this offseason. “He is very eager to learn. He made some nice catches out there. I am excited for him.” 

Stover, Stroud and the rest of the Texans return to NRG Stadium to begin training camp practice on July 18. Houston will kickstart the preseason with a showdown against No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears at the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio on August 1.