Tag: Chad Hansen

2021 Lions roster cuts: Shaun Dion Hamilton to I.R. among injury-related moves

Shaun Dion Hamilton had a good chance to make the team

The Lions finished their series of moves to get to the 85-man roster deadline on Tuesday.

The most notable of the moves is linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton, who was placed on the injured reserve list. Hamilton consistently performed well all summer and was considered likely to make the 53-man roster by most analysts. Because he’s been placed on injured reserve prior to the final roster cuts, Hamilton is now out for the year.

Wide receiver Chad Hansen was waived with an injury settlement, while defensive lineman Michael Barnett was waived. Barnett was just added to the team last week.

These cuts follow some injury-related moves from Detroit on Monday that lowered the roster to 87.

On Monday, the Lions placed offensive lineman Evan Boehm on injured reserve and waived tight end Charlie Taumoepeau with a non-football injury designation. Taumoepeau was injured in a car accident where cornerback Alex Brown faces charges as the driver. Brown was released on Sunday after the incident.

Lions sign free agent WR Chad Hansen, cut Jonathan Adams

Hansen played in college with Jared Goff

The Detroit Lions have made a move at wide receiver. On Friday, the team announced it has signed veteran free agent wideout Chad Hansen.

Hansen, 26, played for the Houston Texans in 2020. He hauled in 17 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown in five games, starting two. It was his most prolific season since joining the NFL as a fourth-round pick with the New York Jets in 2017. Hansen played his college ball at California, where his quarterback for most of his Bears tenure was new Lions QB Jared Goff. He has been a frequent offseason workout partner with Goff.

To make room for Hansen, the team cut undrafted rookie Jonathan Adams from Arkansas State.

Is the Chad Hansen release a morning star to the end of the Deshaun Watson era?

The Houston Texans released WR Chad Hansen, who had good chemistry with QB Deshaun Watson. Is the three-time Pro Bowler never coming back?

The Houston Texans released receiver Chad Hansen on March 23. Normally, the release of a mid to bottom roster player would not mean much amid the transactions and team construction of the offseason, but the release of Hansen could signal there is no going back for the organization as it relates to quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Hansen’s foray into the Texans’ organization was during training camp in July of 2019. The former New York Jets 2017 fourth-round pick had spent all of 2018 and much of the 2019 offseason bouncing off of the different 90-man rosters and practice squads of the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, and New Orleans Saints. With Houston, though he was a practice squad player for the 2019 season, Hansen had found a home.

In the 2020 offseason, Hansen followed Watson wherever he traveled and accompanied him at all of his offseason workouts.

When Will Fuller was suspended for the final five games, and Randall Cobb’s availability was compromised with nagging injuries, Hansen was called up to the practice squad and played against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 6, 2020. The 6-2, 202-pound wideout caught five passes for a career-high 101 yards.

“He can go up there and make contested catches, he’s going to be where he needs to be and he’s going to catch the ball,” Watson told reporters on Dec. 10, 2020. “He’s going to compete. That’s the biggest thing. We’ve got guys that’s going to compete and that care about winning, that care about the success of the team. That’s what Chad is all about. He cares about the team. He doesn’t say much. He just goes to work each and every day. Anything that we ask him to do, he’s going to do it full speed and he’s going to go out there and do whatever he can to help us win.”

Hansen was a receiver that Watson made. With the Jets, as a rookie, Hansen caught just nine passes for 94 yards in 15 games, only one of which he started. If the Texans don’t intend to keep Watson, then why keep a receiver of his that only seemed to be productive when he was on the field?

Texans QB Deshaun Watson excited for WR Chad Hansen’s progress

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is pleased with the success receiver Chad Hansen had in the 27-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is very familiar with receiver Chad Hansen; the two were workout buddies during the offseason with the former 2017 New York Jets fourth-round pick following the two-time Pro Bowler around at his various workout locations in the offseason.

Hansen collected two catches for 55 yards and a touchdown, the first of his career, in the Texans’ 27-20 loss. In the past three games, Hansen’s first since Dec. 31, 2017, when he was a rookie in New York, the 6-2, 202-pound wideout has produced 14 catches for 212 yards and a score.

Watson is pleased to see the gains Hansen is making on the field.

“Yeah, most definitely it was good for him,” Watson said of Hansen’s 38-yard touchdown in the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium. “I was hoping that he didn’t run out of bounds. He kept running full speed so I kind of fit a two ball and kind of left it inside so he could re-direct and he did a good job of stopping on a dime to catch the ball.”

What excites Watson about Hansen’s effort is that it is a payoff for all of the hard work the 25-year-old has put in, not only in the 2020 offseason, but ever since his arrival in Houston back in training camp of 2019.

Said Watson: “I’m excited for him and this is what he’s been working for to be able to play at a high level against a playoff team and be productive. He’s definitely a guy that’s helping us be successful and just going to continue to grow.”

Hansen was signed to the active roster ahead of Sunday’s game with Indianapolis. Unlike the first two games, Hansen won’t revert back to the practice squad. As a result, he can stay on the active roster and the Texans can use their open practice squad spot for another player of interest.

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WATCH: Texans QB Deshaun Watson throws 1st TD to WR Chad Hansen

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson threw his first touchdown to receiver Chad Hansen against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass to receiver Chad Hansen, the first touchdown reception of his career.

With 3:56 to go in the second quarter, Watson threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Hansen on first-and-10. It allowed the Texans to chip into the Indianapolis Colts’ 14-0 lead they had over their AFC South rivals.

In Week 13, Hansen’s first career game since Dec. 31, 2017, the former New York Jets wideout caught five passes for 101 yards — a big debut for Hansen.

The Texans trail the Colts 14-7 with 2:00 to go in the first half.

Texans sign WR Chad Hansen to active roster, other roster moves

The Houston Texans have signed receiver Chad Hansen to the active roster among other roster moves ahead of Week 15 at the Indianapolis Colts.

The Houston Texans made a series of roster moves as they get ready to take on the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The first was to sign receiver Chad Hansen to the active roster from the practice squad. After the Colts game, Hansen will remain on the roster, not revert back to the practice squad as he did the previous two weeks.

Houston did elevate undrafted free agent defensive lineman Auzoyah Alufohai and cornerback Anthony Chesley from the practice squad to the active roster for game day.

Receiver Steven Mitchell was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the third straight week. Unlike the past two weeks, Mitchell was activated as part of a COVID-19 roster replacement for guard Hjalte Froholdt.

The Texans also activated outside linebacker Brennan Scarlett from injured reserve.

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6 waiver wire targets for fantasy football in Week 15

Waiver wire targets in Week 15.

The final weeks of the fantasy football season are full of playoff stress, and setting your lineup with the best players is vital to your team’s success.

It can be tough to switch out players in your starting lineup for those on the waiver wire, but sometimes a move is necessary. Here are six waiver-wire targets for Week 15 of fantasy football:

Texans elevate WR Chad Hansen from practice squad, other roster moves for Week 14

The Houston Texans elevated receiver Chad Hansen from the practice squad, among other roster moves ahead of Week 14 at the Chicago Bears.

The Houston Texans announced a series of roster moves as they gear up for the Chicago Bears in Week 14 Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Soldier Field.

Chad Hansen, one of the stars of last week’s 26-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, is getting another shot at it. The Texans are elevating him from the practice squad along with cornerback Anthony Chesley, who will fill in for Phillip Gaines and John Reid, who did not make the trip to Chicago.

Because of running back David Johnson being placed on COVID-19 reserve on Friday, the Texans will get to use receiver Steven Mitchell as his replacement from the practice squad.

Houston also signed safety Jonathan Owens from the practice squad to the active roster.

The Texans waived defensive end Nate Orchard, who the Texans claimed off waivers from Washington on No. 9.

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Texans OC Tim Kelly ‘proud as hell’ of WRs Keke Coutee, Chad Hansen

Houston Texans receivers Chad Hansen, Keke Coutee, and Steven Mitchell made offensive coordinator Tim Kelly proud in Week 13.

The Houston Texans had a welcome surprise from receivers Keke Coutee and Chad Hansen in Week 13’s 26-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

In the wake of receiver Will Fuller’s six-game suspension and receiver Randall Cobb being placed on injured reserve with a toe injury, Coutee stepped up with eight catches for 141 yards. Additionally, Hansen provided five catches for 101 yards.

Though Coutee and Hansen are getting the credit this week, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly includes Steven Mitchell in that group, though the undrafted free agent from USC played just six offensive snaps and was not targeted.

“I think that’s a testament to really those two and Steven Mitchell,” Kelly said. “Those guys did a great job, even before last week, of coming and preparing like they were going to play, so if a situation arose and they had to come and their number was going to be called, they were going to be ready.”

With the Texans already struggling to run the football, there were some concerns as to how Houston would be able to keep drives alive with Fuller and Cobb sidelined. However, Coutee and Hansen were able to meet the challenge and keep the Texans’ passing game as potent as before.

What helped was the work ethic that the receivers displayed behind the scenes, in practice, in training camp, and in offseason workouts with Deshaun Watson that developed cohesion with the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

Said Kelly: “They had already earned the trust of Deshaun to be able to go out there and make plays. Really, I was proud as hell of all three of those guys for them being able to come in and make those plays and really not skip a beat there as an offense.”

Hansen and Mitchell reverted back to the practice squad after Week 13. However, they could be called up again as the Texans take on the Chicago Bears Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Soldier Field.

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Chad Hansen, Keke Coutee breakout performances suggest Texans should let Will Fuller walk

With Houston Texans WRs Keke Coutee and Chad Hansen exploding in the absence of Will Fuller, it does not bode well for Fuller getting an extension.

Will Fuller announcing his suspension on Nov. 30 was a gut punch to the Houston Texans.

The defending AFC South champions were 4-7 and coming off a two-game winning streak. What would they do now that their leading receiver would miss the final five games serving a six-game suspension?

Enter Keke Coutee and Chad Hansen.

Coutee had already made his reentry into the Texans’ passing game in Week 11’s 27-20 win over the New England Patriots. The former 2018 fourth-round pick caught a 6-yard touchdown after slot receiver Randall Cobb left the game with a toe injury.

Coming off a short week and playing the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, Coutee provided two catches for 17 yards.

Against the Indianapolis Colts, despite the 26-20 heartbreaking loss, the former Lufkin Panther had a signature performance with eight catches for 141 yards.

One could dismiss that performance as Coutee going off on the Colts. For some reason, the former Texas Tech Red Raider has found a way to exploit defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ schemes. In Coutee’s rookie year, he caught 11 passes for 109 yards in his debut game and then another 11 for 110 and a touchdown in the 2018 AFC wild-card against Indianapolis.

However, Hansen’s breakout game was a little different. The former 2017 New York Jets fourth-round pick had not played a down in the NFL since Dec. 31, 2017, and he had been on the Texans since training camp of 2019. There was no ramp up to his five catches for 101 yards against the Colts; they just manifested immediately in that game.

Fuller will be a free agent at the end of the season. Houston could bring back Fuller, but never has he produced a season that has not been pockmarked with availability issues. In a season where Fuller is healthy and doesn’t miss one of the team’s first 11 games, he gets suspended and has to miss the final five. Given his suspension is six games, that also means he will miss Week 1 of the Texans’ 2021 season, meaning all six of his seasons in Houston are fewer than a full 16 games.

What Houston has is a franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson that can elevate the game of any receiver. Watson’s favorite receiver is an open receiver, and one that is really to develop chemistry. Fuller already had that with Watson from their first three seasons together, but Hansen and Coutee were working out constantly with Watson during the COVID-19 offseason, following the two-time Pro Bowler wherever he vacationed to put in the time to form cohesion.

Imagine what Watson could do with a real offseason with Hansen and Fuller. Imagine what he could do with a talented rookie taken in the third round.

As long as the Texans have Watson under center, the Texans will have all the tools they need to boost their receiving corps. If Watson has proven anything in 2020, it is that the organization can feel safe in not getting attached to any particular wideout.

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