Tag: Case Keenum

Texans have 4 former Broncos set to face their old team

Several former Broncos will face off against their former team on Sunday, including fullback Andrew Beck and running back Mike Boone.

When the Denver Broncos go on the road to face the Houston Texans this week, they will see some familiar faces.

Texans fullback Andrew Beck, who played for the Broncos from 2019-2022, has one rushing touchdown and one kickoff return for a touchdown this season.

Houston running back Mike Boone, who played in Denver from 2021-2022, has five carries and seven receptions this season. Boone has also returned four kickoffs.

Texans tight end Eric Saubert, who played for the Broncos from 2021-2022, is yet to catch a pass this season. Houston backup quarterback Case Keenum, who played in Denver in 2018, has only appeared in two games, completing two passes.

The Texans also have a former member of the Broncos’ coaching staff in tight ends coach Jake Moreland, who held that role in Denver last year.

Earlier this year, Houston also rostered former Broncos cornerback Darius Phillips and ex-Denver tight end Eric Tomlinson during training camp, but Phillips and Tomlinson failed to make the Texans’ 53-man roster this summer.

Beck, who has 236 snaps on offense and 128 snaps on special teams this year, will likely have the biggest role among ex-Broncos players this weekend.

11 QBs Vikings can acquire after Kirk Cousins’ torn Achilles

With the trade deadline looming, the Vikings could make a trade to acquire a quarterback

The Minnesota Vikings saw their season take a major blow this past Sunday as quarterback Kirk Cousins reportedly tore his Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers.

The Vikings are riding high on a three-game winning streak, but not having their starting quarterback with how the team is structured is heartbreaking and could crater the season.

There are multiple options that the Vikings could take and they start in-house. Jaren Hall replaced Cousins on the field Sunday afternoon and is the likely option moving forward. There is also Nick Mullens who can return from injured reserve next week against the Atlanta Falcons.

If they don’t like either of those two options, they can try and trade for someone at the trade deadline, which is Halloween. There aren’t going to be many teams who will want to trade a quarterback at the end of October, but its not unprecedented.

It’s slim pickings for a position that is very shallow but there are options available. Here are 11 quarterbacks that the Vikings could acquire after the unfortunate injury to Cousins.

3 veteran QBs Patriots could sign as No. 2 option behind Mac Jones

Here are three veteran quarterbacks that could serve as the new No. 2 option behind Mac Jones.

Bailey Zappe’s initial release had many shocked that the second-year player might have played his last snap in New England.

However, the Patriots signed Zappe back to the practice squad after he cleared waivers, but there was an initial report that stated the Patriots were still looking for a veteran backup for Mac Jones.

Do the Patriots really dislike Zappe? I get the sense that they still like him in the building, however, he was viewed as a “Matt Patricia guy” and a selection to fulfill the Kyle Shanahan-style offense that was a failure last season with first-time offensive coordinators trying to implement it.

Pierre Strong Jr. was another one of those picks that was supposed to thrive in that outside zone scheme, but he was recently traded to the Cleveland Browns for offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. It is possible the Patriots could be trying to right the ship internally with those picks from 2022, which are no longer deemed scheme fits in Zappe, Strong, and yes, Tyquan Thornton, too.

The Patriots still believe Cole Strange is a fit in the new offense and can adapt, even if he is more suited for the agile offensive line system Kyle Shanahan and many west coast offenses deploy.

There is still some belief that Zappe can develop the parts of his game to be a capable backup in the system, but the Patriots likely want to find a veteran quarterback who can step in now behind Jones to mentor him and jump in if needed due to injury.

After what we saw all summer, Zappe is not capable of doing that right now and would benefit from developmental reps. Zappe’s game, in its current state, is more suited for single-read offenses that are predetermined, which is very similar to those QB-friendly systems Shanahan runs.

If Zappe is more QB3 than anything, who could the Patriots bring in that fits the scheme, is good enough to run it in a pinch, and is mature enough to be comfortable as a mentor and backup?

Texans QB Case Keenum says C.J. Stroud ‘led well’ against the Patriots

Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum believes rookie C.J. Stroud did a good job leading the offense against the New England Patriots.

Case Keenum has been there before.

In 2012, Keenum got his first preseason work in the fourth quarter of the Houston Texans’ 26-13 win over the Carolina Panthers. The undrafted free agent from Houston went 2-3 for 33 yards in limited action.

Fast forward to 2023, and Keenum took notice of No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud getting his welcoming to the NFL. Stroud led the Texans on their first two drives and went 2-4 for 13 yards and an interception.

Nevertheless Keenum thought the rookie played at an acceptable level in the Texans’ 20-9 victory over the New England Patriots Thursday night.

“I thought he was good tonight, as far as demeanor goes,” Keenum said. “I thought he led well. First live action is tough. I’ve been in his shoes, too, where the first preseason game, you know, you’ve been getting a lot of reps in camp. Then, you come out and get one or two drives, you feel like you’re maybe about to get your rhythm, you get a hit a few times, and you start getting going, and then you get taken out, so it’s tough.”

The Texans replaced Stroud with third-year Davis Mills, who went 9-12 for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Keenum did not see action until the third quarter when he completed nine passes on 14 attempts for 79 yards and a touchdown.

“It felt good,” said Keenum. “We had a couple scoring drives, a couple times we went three-and-out even after the special teams did such a good job of getting us the ball back.”

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Ranking the QBs in the AFC South entering 2023

Taking a look at ranking the QBs in the AFC South entering 2023.

The quarterback position in the AFC South has been less than desirable since Andrew Luck’s retirement, Deshaun Watson’s fallout with the Houston Texans, and Trevor Lawrence’s disastrous rookie season under Urban Meyer.

For now, the future is bright for the division’s quarterbacks entering the 2023 season. Lawrence is coming off a strong Year 2 for the Jacksonville Jaguars while the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans are hoping they have found their long-term franchise quarterback coming out of this year’s NFL draft.

This will be the first season we could see all 32 teams carry three quarterbacks on their rosters due to the new third QB rule the league has implemented because of what happened to the San Francisco 49ers in last year’s playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Let’s take a look at how the AFC South quarterbacks rank heading into the upcoming season:

DeMeco Ryans pleased with development of Texans’ quarterbacks

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans likes what he has seen between the coaching staff and the quarterbacks throughout OTAs.

The Houston Texans need better play from their quarterbacks in 2023, and after spending their second-overall pick on C.J. Stroud in April, competition is fierce to take the coveted starting role for the regular season.

However, just because the club needs better play doesn’t mean C.J. Stroud is a shoo-in. While the organization is looking to the future with their No. 2 overall pick, coach DeMeco Ryans is looking at the present and who can win the team games.

“Our entire room of quarterbacks, all three guys, have done a really good job this entire spring,” Ryans told reporters June 7 after organized team activities. “Davis [Mills], C.J., and Case [Keenum], all are competing, all are doing things really well. Things are starting to click with the offense.”

What has pleased Ryans throughout the team’s voluntary workouts is how the three signal callers have responded to the coaching from quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

“Guys are moving the ball downfield, so I’m happy with where those guys are and their development,” said Ryans. “I think that’s a credit to the coaches — Coach Jerrod and Bobby have done a really good job of working with those guys and they are continuing to get better every day and I’m excited to see their improvement and growth.”

The intent is for Stroud to take the first snaps for Houston in their Sept. 10 premier at the Baltimore Ravens. Nevertheless Ryans and the coaching staff is going to ensure that the first snap of the Stroud era is heartily earned, whenever it takes place.

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Texans QB C.J. Stroud appreciates working with Case Keenum, Davis Mills

Houston Texans rookie C.J. Stroud says that he appreciates the experience that quarterbacks Case Keenum and Davis Mills bring to the QB room.

The Houston Texans may have drafted C.J. Stroud to solve their quarterback woes, but it does not mean the No. 2 overall pick is taking his teammates for granted.

Houston still has third-year quarterback Davis Mills on the roster and also brought back Case Keenum for his third tour of duty. Even though the plan is for Stroud to beat the two journeymen signal callers outright and earn the starting job, the Ohio State product is not discounting their contributions to the team.

“It’s a blessing,” Stroud said after organized team activities on Tuesday. “It’s being something that I definitely knew that I needed it. Just that guidance and confidence that they’ve had.”

For Mills, the confidence comes after playing 28 games for the Texans since being selected as a third-rounder in 2021. The Stanford product started 26 games and compiled a 5-19-1 mark over the past two seasons.

Keenum has fluctuated between backup and starter throughout his career. The most notable season for Keenum was in 2017 when he started 14 games for the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to an NFC North title and a first-round bye. The former Houston Cougar pulled off the Minneapolis Miracle against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium and had the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game.

Said Stroud: “They both played in the league as starters. They’ve been very helpful and have been very appreciative and very supportive of everything. We have constant communication on and off the field, so it’s been really great.”

A strong quarterback room led by quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, also a former NFL quarterback, is what the Texans need as they get Stroud ready to assume the position.

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Get to know Case Keenum: What has the QB been doing between Texans stints?

Case Keenum has returned to the Houston Texans for a third time. What can the former Houston Cougar provide for the Texans’ offense?

Pro football started for Case Keenum in the city where his college career ended.

The Houston Texans signed the Houston Cougars quarterback as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Keenum finally saw time in the moribund 2013 campaign, was sent packing to the St. Louis Rams for most of the 2014 campaign, but led Houston to two wins and a 9-7 finish for then-rookie coach Bill O’Brien.

Keenum had no staying power in Houston, and spent time with the Rams (2015-16), Minnesota Vikings (2017), Denver Broncos (2018), Washington (2019), Cleveland Browns (2020-21), and the Buffalo Bills (2022).

It seems strange to ask of a player who has 10 career starts with the Texans, but what exactly can Keenum bring to Houston?

To help provide some insight, Bills Wire managing editor Nick Wojton fielded some questions about the 35-year-old signal caller.

Texans’ signing of Case Keenum ranked 10th-best QB move of the offseason

The Houston Texans’ signing of Case Keenum has earned praise as the 10th-best quarterback signing of free agency.

The Houston Texans already acquired a quarterback in the 2023 offseason.

As part of the opening of the new league year and free agency, the Texans signed Case Keenum to be the backup for their incoming rookie quarterback. The 2023 NFL draft will sort out the details of who exactly that signal caller will be.

According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, the Texans’ two-year deal with Keenum is considered the 10th-best quarterback move of the offseason.

It’s a backup match made in heaven: A Texas native now on his third stint with the team, Keenum is an underrated off-script mentor whose experience in all kinds of systems — he’s started for six different clubs — should be instrumental to whichever top prospect Houston selects early in April’s draft.

Of course, Benjamin listed 15 quarterback transactions in all. Nevertheless the move was one that met the needs of where the Texans were at to start free agency. Houston wasn’t going to be big players for former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr or former San Francisco 49ers signal caller Jimmy Garoppolo. Houston is still in the midst of a rebuild, and adding that type of veteran talent could trap the Texans in a state of suspended mediocrity.

Not only does Keenum have experience with a variety of systems, but he has been a part of the Texans’ glory years. Although the former Houston Cougar was merely an undrafted free agent when he signed with the Texans in 2012 and was stashed on the practice, he was in the locker room at NRG Stadium when Andre Johnson, J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, Arian Foster, Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, and Duane Brown were vocal leaders and leaders by example for the organization.

As long as Keenum isn’t playing for the Texans in any significant capacity, he makes for a good backup.

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Texans considered ‘most improved’ team in free agency

The Houston Texans are considered to be the “most improved” team in free agency after the first wave.

The Houston Texans made a flurry of moves in free agency as general manager Nick Caserio seeks to cap off the rebuild.

With the Texans making their way through the first wave of free agency, all that remains to be filled on the roster is quarterback, receiver, edge defender, and arguably center.

According to Will Brinson from CBS Sports, the Texans are the “most improved” team to come out of free agency.

Surprise. When we talk about “biggest improvement” we need to remember this isn’t “who got the best players” it’s “who improved the most.” And I think you can squint at the Texans — particularly with their No. 2 overall pick and a QB likely coming — and see a team capable of winning 8+ games if everything breaks right. Adding Noah Brown, Dalton Schultz and Robert Woods (elite blocker, by the way) in the pass game, bringing back Laremy Tunsil and scooping the underrated Devin Singletary to pair with Dameon Pierce … this offense is interesting if they hit on the QB or Davis Mills surprises (don’t write him off yet). Defensively they piled up veterans and if you believe in DeMeco Ryans, it’s reasonable to think this team is a sneaky division contender. 

Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] on March 20 that the Texans will continue to evaluate players.

“We’ll continue to evaluate players throughout the course of the league, and if there is an opportunity out there that makes sense, then we’ll certainly consider it, which is what we have done here kind of on a yearly basis,” Caserio said.

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