Tag: commissioner permission list

Texans activate DE Nate Orchard from commissioner permission list

The Houston Texans have activated defensive end Nate Orchard from the exempt/commissioner permission list.

The Houston Texans have activated defensive end Nate Orchard from the exempt/commissioner permission list.

Orchard, 27, is a former Cleveland Browns 2015 second-round pick from Utah. The 6-3, 251 edge defender was previously with Washington, from 2019-20, where he played in eight games. Orchard collected 16 tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, 1.0 sack, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup in eight games with the NFC East club.

Over his career, Orchard has also played for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, recording 85 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, six pass breakups, and an interception in 46 career games, 13 of which he started.

For Washington, Orchard played 29 special teams snaps over three games this season compared to 33 defensive snaps, where he collected two combined tackles.

The Texans recently placed inside linebacker Dylan Cole on injured reserve with a back injury. Outside linebacker Jacob Martin is still working his way through the COVID-19 protocol.

QB Josh McCown to join Texans on Friday

The Houston Texans have activated QB Josh McCown from the exempt/commissioner permission list, and he is set to join the team on Friday.

The Houston Texans have activated quarterback Josh McCown from the exempt/commissioner permission list.

The 41-year-old former Jacksonville (Texas) High School product is set to join the Texans on Friday after he has passed all of the necessary COVID protocols.

According to offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, the staff is looking forward to working with the former 2002 Arizona Cardinals third-round pick.

“I’ve had a conversation with Josh,” Kelly said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know him even more so. Obviously, you look at his career and all the different schemes he’s been in, the players he’s been around, the coaches he’s been around, he’s got an unbelievable amount of knowledge that we’re going to look to learn from, and again, we’re going to get him ready to go out there and learn our offense also. Looking forward to getting him in the building so we can start to work together.”

McCown won’t supplant two-time Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson as the starter, and he may not even take over A.J. McCarron’s job as backup quarterback. However, the Texans, like many teams in the COVID era who missed out on training camp and offseason programs, are trying to build knowledgeable quarterback rooms that empower the position.