Tag: Derek Rivers

49ers should look into signing recently-released Colts DE

The 49ers should take a look at the DE the Colts just released.

There’s a clear problem brewing on the San Francisco 49ers roster.

Depth on the defensive line has typically been a strength for the 49ers during the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era. This year has signaled a departure from that norm with a relatively thin group of pass rushers that features only three proven commodities on the edge.

The matter was exacerbated in the 49ers’ preseason finale when two of those proven commodities, Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos, went down with knee sprains. Their near-term availability is still in question.

Adding another defensive end was always in the cards for the 49ers, but the two injuries ramps up the urgency for them to make an addition or two on the edge. One potential solution could come via free agency where recently-released Indianapolis Colts defensive end Derek Rivers now resides.

Rivers was the No. 83 overall pick in the 2017 draft by the New England Patriots. A torn ACL derailed his rookie season, and might have derailed his career entirely. He debuted in 2018 and posted 1.0 sacks in six games. Then in 2019 an injury in the preseason ended his year early. He returned in 2020 and played only eight games for New England before getting released. The Los Angeles Rams picked him up for the rest of the 2020 campaign, and he spent 2021 with the Houston Texans.

An injury in training camp two seasons ago ended his 2022 season before it started, and he spent most of the 2023 season on the Colts practice squad. Rivers was only with the Colts for a couple weeks in this year’s training camp before his release.

Any DE the 49ers acquire via free agency at this point is going to have some kind of significant warts. For Rivers it’s that his injury woes have limited him to only 24 NFL games, in which he’s totaled only 3.5 sacks.

San Francisco would be banking on a decent athlete at 6-foot-4, 248 pounds to come in and finally develop under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. Rivers hasn’t really gotten consistent opportunities to play and the 49ers have been willing to take swings on players with some upside. They’d also be able to do so without making a waiver claim since Rivers’ veteran status allows him to avoid the waiver wire and enter free agency.

Perhaps Rivers just won’t ever be an effective NFL player. The 49ers need pass rushing depth though and a former top 100 pick is the type of player they’re liable to take a flyer on in hopes of reaching any remaining untapped potential.

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Colts make an addition at defensive end to bolster depth

The Indianapolis Colts made an addition at defensive end to help bolster their depth. Here is what you need to know.

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly signing defensive end Derek Rivers, according to Joel Erickson of the Indy Star.

Rivers was one of 12 players in for a workout on Tuesday. The Colts also reportedly signed wide receiver Greg Ward.

Rivers was a third-round pick by the New England Patriots back in 2017. In his NFL career, he has played 336 defensive snaps and 119 special teams snaps. His last regular season snaps in either phase of the game came in 2021 with Houston.

Over his 210 career pass rush snaps, Rivers has recorded 14 pressures and four sacks, according to PFF, along five of his 27 total tackles coming behind the line of scrimmage.

The addition of Rivers bolsters the defensive end depth for the Colts. Last week, Genard Avery sustained an upper leg injury, and hasn’t practiced or played since. In the coming days, the Colts have two joint practices with Arizona followed by a preseason game on Saturday.

In order to make room on the roster for Rivers and Ward, two corresponding roster cuts had to be made. The Colts announced that they released safety Kendell Brooks and waived/injured wide receiver Ethan Fernea.

Colts sign DE Derek Rivers to the practice squad

The Colts signed DE Derek Rivers to the practice squad.

The Indianapolis Colts signed defensive end Derek Rivers to the practice squad, the team announced Thursday.

A third-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2017 NFL draft, Rivers spent four seasons with the team that drafted him. He also spent time with the Los Angeles Rams (2020) and Houston Texans (2021-2023).

In 24 career games (one start), Rivers has recorded, 16 tackles (11 solo), 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits.

Rivers missed the entire 2022 season due to a torn biceps and has spent the majority of the 2023 season on the Texans practice squad. He has not seen game action since the 2021 campaign.

Texans make adjustments to practice squad entering Week 9

The Houston Texans made some changes to their practice squad as they prepare for Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Houston Texans have made some changes to their practice squad as they entering Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Texans have signed running back J.J. Taylor and center Lecitus Smith to the practice squad.

As a corresponding move, the Texans released defensive end Derek Rivers and cornerback Alex Austin.

Smith is a former Arizona Cardinals 2022 sixth-round pick and started two of 10 games active as a rookie. The Cardinals released Smith at the end of preseason.

Taylor is a former New England Patriots running back, who spent three seasons with the AFC East club from 2020-22. The 5-5, 185-pound running back has carried 52 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns through 12 games.

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Texans place C-G Kendrick Green on injured reserve among roster moves

The Houston Texans moved Kendrick Green to injured reserve among their other roster moves on the first practice day of Week 5.

The Houston Texans have been busy on the first day of practice for Week 5.

The Texans placed center-guard Kendrick Green on injured reserve. Houston will now have to come up with another solution at left guard.

Houston also signed defensive end Derek Rivers from the practice squad to the active roster.

The Texans restored safety Brandon Hill to the practice squad. The seventh-rounder had been placed on the practice squad/injured list in Week 1.

Houston also signed defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth to the practice squad. The 28-year-old played only in Week 14 for the Texans last year, but recorded four combined tackles and a tackle for loss.

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Texans sign DE Derek Rivers to practice squad

The Houston Texans signed defensive end Derek Rivers back to the practice squad.

The journey for defensive end Derek Rivers continues.

The Houston Texans signed the former New England Patriots 2017 third-round pick to their practice squad Monday.

Rivers has been with the Texans in some capacity since signing a free agent contract in March 2021. For 2023, Rivers re-signed with the Texans in March and remained a member of the team’s offseason roster.

At the end of preseason, the Texans waived Rivers and signed the Youngstown State product to the practice squad. On Sept. 12, the Texans signed Rivers to the active roster, but released the defensive end the day before the Week 2 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.

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Texans sign DE Derek Rivers to active roster

The Houston Texans are giving Derek Rivers a shot. The club announced Tuesday the signing of the defensive end from the practice squad to the active roster. Rivers, 29, has not played for the Texans in a regular season game since Dec. 19, 2021 in …

The Houston Texans are giving Derek Rivers a shot.

The club announced Tuesday the signing of the defensive end from the practice squad to the active roster.

Rivers, 29, has not played for the Texans in a regular season game since Dec. 19, 2021 in Week 15 at the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rivers collected 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit, and three tackles as the Texans prevailed 30-16 at TIAA Bank Field.

The former New England Patriots 2017 third-round pick missed all of last season with a torn biceps sustained in preseason. Going from the practice squad to the active roster in Week 2 could be the start of retribution for lost time.

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4 facts to remember about the Texans’ practice squad

The Houston Texans completed their practice squad. Here are four facts to keep an eye on.

The Houston Texans completed their practice squad Wednesday. While the bulk of the Texans’ construction centers around the 53-man roster, assembling a practice squad that can supplement the needs of the main roster is also key.

Khalil Davis

DT

6-1

308

27

3

Nebraska

Austin Deculus

T

6-5

321

24

2

LSU

Cobi Francis

CB

5-11

193

24

2

Memphis

Ali Gaye

DE

6-6

265

25

R

LSU

Brandon Hill

S

5-11

195

22

R

Pittsburgh

Johnny Johnson III

WR

6-1

199

24

1

Oregon

Dalton Keene

TE

6-4

251

24

2

Virginia Tech

Jimmy Morrissey

C

6-3

303

25

3

Pittsburgh

Adedayo Odeleye*

DE

6-5

271

25

1

Loughborough (U.K.)

Steven Sims

WR

5-10

176

26

4

Kansas

Garret Wallow

LB

6-2

230

24

3

TCU

Ty Zentner

P

6-2

199

25

R

Kansas State

Derek Rivers

DE

6-5

250

29

7

Youngstown State

Michael Deiter

C-G

6-6

315

26

5

Wisconsin

Dieter Eiselen

G

6-4

320

27

2

Yale

Lance McCutcheon

WR

6-3

202

24

2

Montana State

Here are four facts to keep in mind regarding the formation of the Texans’ practice squad.

Report: Texans to re-sign DE Derek Rivers

The Houston Texans are working to re-sign defensive end Derek Rivers.

The Houston Texans aren’t giving up on Derek Rivers.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans are in the process of re-signing the defensive end to a one-year contract.

Rivers missed the entire 2022 campaign with a torn triceps sustained during the preseason. Since his arrival in 2021, Rivers has provided the Texans with nine combined tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and 1.0 sack through five games, one of which he started.

The former New England Patriots 2017 third-round pick was ecstatic when speaking with reporters on Aug. 16, 2022, about what it meant to finally find a football home with the Texans.

“Man, honestly it’s God be the glory,” said Rivers. “It’s all Jesus for real. To be real with you, that’s all it is. Ain’t nothing but the grace of God. Been a blessing to come from obviously like Kinston (North Carolina) and then from New England to here to here I didn’t — shoot, I really didn’t think I would be here today to be real with you. It’s been a blessing to get here and Houston has been a special place for me and my family. We just love it. Shoot. Everybody goes through stuff, brother. Just like everybody in this room. Life ain’t a walk in the park, but God is good. So with that, you can go through those difficulties and you’ve got good family around, good people here, it helps.”

Rivers will need that same attitude as he prepares for the 2023 campaign with new coach DeMeco Ryans.

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Texans with 2 defenders who make Touchdown Wire’s preseason Week 3 ‘secret superstars’ list

Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre and defensive end Derek Rivers landed on the Touchdown Wire’s “secret superstars” list for preseason Week 3.

The Houston Texans’ roster has had its chance to showcase to the rest of the NFL that there is some budding talent.

According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, the Texans had two defensive players who landed on their “secret superstars” for the third week of the preseason.

Defensive end Derek Rivers made the list. Unfortunately, Rivers may be lost for the season as he has a torn biceps, anything but a fitting conclusion to his productive exhibition campaign.

Pitre, a second-rounder from Baylor, caught Farrar’s attention.

Pitre has more than earned Smith’s confidence. Opposing quarterbacks tested Pitre with three targets this preseason, and he didn’t allow a single completion. Smith has to love how aggressive and accurate Pitre is as a run defender…

Smith also had to like this play, where Pitre (No. 5) locked George Kittle up from the line of scrimmage, preventing Trey Lance from going to the easy outlet, and allowing cornerback Steven Nelson to break up the deep pass.

“What we notice, is when you’re making a whole lot of big flash plays,” Smith said after the 49ers game. “Jalen has been consistent throughout. He’s a smart player. He’s been like a sponge as far as learning. But he’s going to be around the ball. That’s what we’ve seen since OTAs. I’m excited about going forward with him and him lining up for us when Indy comes into town.”

And there you have it.

The Texans will be able to take on of their dynamic defenders from the preseason into the regular season as Pitre will make his debut against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 11 at NRG Stadium. With Houston having a defensive back who can play various roles in coach Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme, it should give the Texans an impactful defense to strike fear in opposing offenses.

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