Tag: Eric Murray

Bill O’Brien is ‘really excited’ about the Texans’ secondary

Houston Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has great enthusiasm about the team’s secondary heading into 2020.

Bill O’Brien’s overall thoughts on the Houston Texans’ secondary couldn’t be any clearer.

“I would say that I am really excited about the secondary,” O’Brien told Houston media on a conference call Thursday. “I think we have a very diverse secondary.”

The coach and general manager’s retooling of the secondary goes as far back as the end of the preseason in 2019 when the club was trimming down to a 53-man roster. With the philosophy of “versatility” in mind, the Texans added cornerback Keion Crossen in a trade with the New England Patriots on Aug. 31.

However, the additions didn’t stop there. Prior to the Texans’ Week 8 tilt with the Oakland Raiders, Houston traded with Oakland for former 2017 first-round cornerback Gareon Conley. The Texans picked up former 2016 first-rounder Vernon Hargreaves off waivers in November.

Hargreaves was released early in the 2020 offseason, but the Texans brought him back, as they did with Phillip Gaines and Bradley Roby.

Roby, a former 2014 first-round pick for the Denver Broncos, is another versatile cornerback that helps the Texans’ scheme.

“One of the things about Bradley Roby is the versatility that he brings, the ability to play outside, the ability to play inside, the ability to play a lot of different positions, play man-to-man, play zone,” said O’Brien.

One of the overlooked cornerbacks is Lonnie Johnson, who enters his second season after Houston took him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The former Kentucky Wildcat has been keeping in touch with strength and conditioning coach Mike Eubanks as he seeks to take a developmental leap in 2020.

“He’s another guy when you ask about off-field workouts and things, he’s doing a great job working out and staying in touch with Mike Eubanks,” said O’Brien. “Expecting big things out of him.”

The versatility isn’t limited to the cornerbacks. O’Brien likes the versatile roles that the safeties may be able to play in first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme.

Said O’Brien: “If you look at the safety position, Justin Reid, Eric Murray, Jaylen Watkins, A.J. Moore, just a real diverse group of guys. You know, Eric Murray played corner. Jaylen Watkins has played nickel. They’re not just safeties.”

Coverage and pass rush are intertwined aspects of a defense that feed off of one another. If the Texans’ coverage can improve, then the Texans ought to be able to improve upon their 31 sacks from 2019, tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the sixth-fewest in the NFL.

NFL officially process Texans WR Randall Cobb, S Eric Murray contracts

The NFL has officially processed the contracts for Houston Texans receiver Randall Cobb and Eric Murray, who the club signed in 2020 free agency.

The Houston Texans have officially processed the contracts of two free agents they signed 2020 free agency.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans have processed the contracts for receiver Randall Cobb and safety Eric Murray.

The Texans agreed to terms with Cobb for three years, $27 million with $18 million guaranteed. Their agreement with Murray was also for three years, but for $18 million with $10.75 million guaranteed.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected free agency in the NFL to where contracts that would normally be locked up within days of the start of the new league year are dragging out. Part of the hold up is the availability of doctors to execute physicals, and then players to sign the actual contracts.

“I still haven’t had my physical yet, so I actually haven’t signed,” Cobb said on March 27. “I live out in L.A. in the offseason right now. Everything is shut down out here, and I haven’t had the opportunity to a doctor’s office and get my physical yet.”

The former 2014 Pro Bowl wideout is now with the Texans, as is Murray.

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Houston Texans 2020 NFL free agency tracker

The Houston Texans announced their moves in the 2020 free agency period as official on Saturday.

The Houston Texans announced their moves in free agency as official on Saturday. Here is a breakdown of their actions:

Signed players

WR Randall Cobb

S Eric Murray

OT Brent Qvale

S Jaylen Watkins

Re-signed/returning players

ILB Tyrell Adams

CB Phillip Gaines

CB Vernon Hargreaves

QB A.J. McCarron

CB Bradley Roby

LS Jon Weeks

Tendered players

ILB Dylan Cole

OT Roderick Johnson

Outgoing players

WR DeAndre Hopkins

DT D.J. Reader

Acquired by trade

RB David Johnson

Ex-Browns DB Eric Murray to sign with Texans on a 3-year deal

Murray spent one year in Cleveland, starting 4 games at slot cornerback

Another 2019 Cleveland Browns starter is on the move. Defensive back Eric Murray has agreed to sign with the Houston Texans as a free agent, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The deal will be for three years and up to $20 million total.

Murray leaves the Browns after one season in Cleveland. The veteran started four games and played in nine, losing nearly half the season to a knee injury. He was signed by former Browns GM John Dorsey, who drafted him in Kansas City.

Murray predominately played as the team’s slot corner, though he also saw action at safety. His positional versatility should help a Texans defense that lacks depth across the secondary.

Report: Texans sign former Browns safety Eric Murray to 3-year contract

The Houston Texans have reached a three-year agreement with former Cleveland Browns safety Eric Murray.

The Houston Texans are addressing their secondary in the free agency period.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans reached an agreement with former Kansas City Chief and Cleveland Brown safety Eric Murray on Monday. The contract is worth three years and up to $20.25 million.

Adding Murray is a move the Texans needed to make after reports surfaced they would not reach a new contract with veteran safety Jahleel Addae.

Murray played in nine games for the Browns in 2019, starting in four of them. The former 2016 fourth-round pick from Minnesota collected 24 tackles, made three tackles for loss, notched 1.0 sack, and tipped away one pass.

The Browns came into possession of Murray’s rights in the 2019 offseason when they traded defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah to the Chiefs. Murray had previously collected 100 tackles, 1.0 sack, an interception, a fumble recovery, and seven pass breakups in his 45 games with the Chiefs, 11 of which he started.

Browns injury update: Olivier Vernon, Eric Murray still not practicing

The Browns could be without 3 starters on the DL vs. Miami

Already down two starters on the defensive line due to suspensions, the Browns could also be without starting DE Olivier Vernon for a third straight week.

Vernon missed Thursday’s practice session in Berea. He has been out since injuring his knee near the end of the loss to Denver in Week 9. It’s hard to envision Vernon playing against Miami on Sunday in FirstEnergy Stadium if he doesn’t return to at least limited duty in Friday’s final practice session.

If Vernon can’t go, the starting EDGEs figure to be Chad Thomas and Chris Smith, with Bryan Cox Jr. as the only healthy reserve currently on the active roster.

Defensive back Eric Murray also remains sidelined with a knee injury of his own. Murray has also missed the last two games.

They were the only two Browns players who did not participate on even a limited basis in Thursday’s practice.

Browns inactives for Week 11

The inactive players for the Cleveland Browns in the Week 11 visit from the Pittsburgh Steelers

Freddie Kitchens had a few choices to make in filling out the gameday inactives for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. With only DE Olivier Vernon and DB Eric Murray officially ruled out because of injury, Kitchens and the Browns had to sit some players who are healthy.

The short week of practice and rehab made it so neither Vernon nor Murray stood much of a chance of being healthy enough to play.

The full list of inactives from the Browns:

Here are the Steelers who will be sitting out Thursday night’s game, too:

Olivier Vernon officially ruled out for Week 11

Expect more of Chad Thomas, who played well vs. Buffalo

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The Browns defense will once again be without a key contributor when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday night. Starting defensive end Olivier Vernon has been ruled out for the Week 11 game with his lingering knee injury.

Vernon suffered the injury at the end of the Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos. He missed Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills, replaced in the lineup by Chad Thomas. The second-year end played well, containing Josh Allen’s running and notching a sack. Expect more of Thomas against Pittsburgh and the less-mobile Mason Rudolph at QB.

The only other Browns player ruled out is defensive back Eric Murray, who is also battling a knee injury. Like Vernon, Murray did not practice all week.

Olivier Vernon, Eric Murray still out from Browns practice

The quick turnaround doesn’t give much time to heal for the injured Browns

The short week leading into the Thursday night game at FirstEnergy Stadium doesn’t give the Cleveland Browns much time to lick any wounds from last week. Tuesday’s walkthrough (in lieu of a full practice) saw both DE Olivier Vernon and CB Eric Murray still out from the session.

Vernon and Murray both missed the Week 10 win over the Buffalo Bills with knee injuries. With just one more practice before the game, it seems unlikely either will play against Pittsburgh on Thursday. Coach Freddie Kitchens seemed more optimistic on Vernon than Murray, however.

The only other player with a limited status listing is tight end Ricky Seals-Jones. He also missed Week 10 with a knee injury. Kitchens termed Seals-Jones as “probably a game time decision” in his press address.