Tag: Geron Christian

Report: Chiefs to sign former Texans OT Geron Christian

The #Chiefs are set to sign former #Texans and #Commanders OT Geron Christian according to a new report.

The Kansas City Chiefs have made an addition along the offensive line in free agency.

According to a report from Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, the Chiefs are set to sign former Washington Commanders and Houston Texans OT Geron Christian. A former third-round draft pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of the University of Louisville, Christian started eight games in Houston last season, playing 560 snaps at left tackle and 28 snaps at right tackle. In total, Christian has appeared in 38 career games with sixteen starts since entering the NFL back in 2018.

Last season, Christian allowed just one sack and 17 pressures in 14 games played. The season prior he allowed 6 sacks and 24 pressures while playing 395 snaps at left tackle for Washington per Pro Football Focus. There are clear signs of improvement in his game, but one area of concern is run-blocking, which graded out as a career-low 39.6 in 2021.

Given how the market has been for offensive tackles, I’m not surprised to see the Chiefs take another swing at this position. Christian has experience playing both left and right tackle, so he has the makings of a swing tackle in Kansas City. He’ll likely be competing with Andrew Wylie at the right tackle spot in training camp. Remember, Lucas Niang is dealing with a significant knee injury and if he starts the season on the PUP list, he won’t be available to play until midseason at the earliest.

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Texans should keep Fresno State OL Alex Akingbulu in mind for day 3 solution at tackle spots

The Houston Texans should keep in mind Fresno State OL Alex Akingbulu as a day three solution to any tackle problems that sill persist by draft time.

As the Houston Texans complete their rebuild under general manager Nick Caserio, the philosophy is to add players who can provide competition and love football. As was proven in the 2021 NFL draft, Caserio may package picks to get the guys wants, even if it means Houston walks away with a five-man draft class.

One player the Texans should have on their radar is offensive lineman Alex Akingbulu.

Jacob Infante from the Draft Wire had a chance to talk with Akingbulu, and the former Fresno State product revealed what he can bring to an NFL team.

One thing I can say is, I know now with all the maturity that I have, leadership roles do not necessarily have to come with age. I can bet on me being a vocal leader in any aspect of the team, just coming in and being humble, ready and hungry to learn and work. I’m always trying to better my game and just being taken under anybody’s wing, just pretty much hungry and ready to do anything and set my role. I can play either side and pretty much any position on the line, as well. [I bring] versatility and being able to be hungry.

Akingbulu also stated he watches copious amounts of tape of San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams.

Houston had a difficult time at their bookend positions in 2021. Tytus Howard was splitting time at left guard before being kicked out to left tackle. Laremy Tunsil only played five games. The Texans had to rely on Charlie Heck, Geron Christian, Cole Toner, and Jordan Steckler to get through the season.

The rest of the draft process will reveal where Akingbulu ultimately ends up. According to Luke Easterling’s latest mock draft, Akingbulu doesn’t even appear in the first two days of the draft, rendering him a day three pick.

Assistant directors of player personnel James Liipfert and Matt Bazirgan proved in last year’s draft they can find valuable picks on day three. Enter sixth-round defensive tackle Roy Lopez from Arizona. Akingbulu will have to prove he is of that caliber throughout the spring.

Texans OT Geron Christian has built ‘pretty good relationship’ with Laremy Tunsil

Houston Texans offensive tackle Geron Christian says that he has forged a good connection with Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

When Geron Christian became a part of the Houston Texans, he knew what he had to do in order to have staying power at NRG Stadium.

The former Washington 2018 third-round pick from Louisville developed a connection with starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Christian has worked to be an effective understudy of the two-time Pro Bowler.

““Since being here, me and L.T. have built a pretty good relationship,” said Christian. “At meetings and stuff, we sit together and just talk since we play the same position. We talk about whatever, regardless if it’s me or him. Just whatever it can be, the plays, asking what he will do, how he will approach, if he’s doing this or if he’s doing that, whatever it is. We’ve got a good relationship, so we pretty much have had a wide conversation about everything since I got here.”

Christian will take more than a few pointers from Tunsil as he fills in for the starting left tackle. Tunsil is expected to miss the next four weeks as he recovers from surgery on his thumb.

As Christian took the first-team reps at left tackle, the 6-6, 315-pounder says he felt prepared to take over for rookie quarterback Davis Mills’ blindside.

“I felt good,” said Christian. “Just taking the reps and stuff throughout the week. I still get some reps, and then just focusing on what I need to improve on personally. What I do during the scout reps, I felt pretty prepared going into the game.”

The Texans face the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time from Lucas Oil Stadium in a battle of two 1-4 clubs.

Texans confident Geron Christian, Charlie Heck can hold forth as starting tackles

The Houston Texans are going to have to rely on backups Geron Christian and Charlie Heck at their tackle spots against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Houston Texans aren’t going to play the tackle duo they would have liked against the Indianapolis Colts when the AFC South foes meet Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Lucas Oil Stadium.

For Houston, the availability issues at tackle started the day before their 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 5 when they placed right tackle Marcus Cannon on injured reserve with a back injury.

After the loss to the Patriots, the Texans discovered that left tackle Laremy Tunsil had a thumb injury and would be sidelined for at least the next four weeks as he needed surgery.

The Texans will have to turn to reserve tackles Geron Christian and Charlie Heck to fill out the left and right sides, and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly has confidence they can get the job done.

“I’m expecting them to come out and do their job,” Kelly said. “Charlie had a really good preseason. Unfortunately, he got sick at the end so it kind of derailed him a little bit, but he was on track and he was playing really well and he’s picked up right where he left off.”

Where Heck picked up was against the Patriots, filling in for Cannon. Kelly believes that Heck will “execute at a high level.”

As for Christian, Kelly says that he hardly notices the former Washington 2018 third-round pick in the game.

Said Kelly: “When he’s in there you don’t notice him, as an offensive lineman we all know that’s one of the highest compliments you can get. We are looking for them to come in and play well and play physical and make sure we can get moving the running game and protect us in the pass game.”

The Colts have generated 27 pressures, the fewest in the NFL. Indianapolis’ pass rush has also generated just 10 sacks, tied for the 10th-fewest in the league.

Dolphins placed waiver claim on offensive tackle Geron Christian

Dolphins placed waiver claim on offensive tackle Geron Christian

The Miami Dolphins’ efforts to fortify their roster with the best possible talent are still very much at work — with the Dolphins being active this past weekend on several fronts. The Dolphins welcome free agent pass rusher Melvin Ingram to the team facility on Monday for a free agent visit; that would be an impressive addition to Miami’s pass rush group that already is looking to be on the upswing courtesy of the drafting of Jaelan Phillips in the 1st-round of last month’s NFL draft.

But the Dolphins were also apparently quite close to nailing down another body to compete along the Dolphins’ offensive line — ESPN’s Field Yates is reporting that the Dolphins were among three teams across the NFL to have placed a waiver claim on former Washington offensive tackle Geron Christian.

Christian, who as a 3rd-round draft choice back in 2018,  has played in 24 career games through three NFL seasons with 8 starts. Christian was ultimately awarded to the Houston Texans on waivers and figures to serve as the backup to former Miami Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

It would not have been easy for Christian to find a starting job here in Miami, although he would have perhaps provided some intriguing competition for 2020 1st-round choice Austin Jackson, who is perhaps the most firmly entrenched player on Miami’s line. The competition to push him into improvement is limited to the likes of Jesse Davis and 2021 7th-round choice Larnel Coleman.

But even if the Texans had not claimed Christian, the Raiders still would have edged out Miami based on the current status of the waiver wire; which mirrors the most recent 1st-round NFL draft order from last month. Miami will continue to sit lower on the wire and, if all goes according to plan this season, won’t be getting first dibs on waivers any time soon. But we think they’d probably be okay with that, too.

Texans claim OT Geron Christian, waive C Cohl Cabral

The Houston Texans made some changes to their offensive line as they claimed OT Geron Christian and waived C Cohl Cabral.

The Houston Texans made some changes to their offensive line and used the waiver wire to find the help.

The Texans announced May 21 they had claimed offensive tackle Geron Christian off waivers. To allow for the waiver claim, the Texans’ corresponding move was to waive center Cohl Cabral.

Christian was a third-round pick for Washington in the 2018 NFL draft. The former Louisville product played 24 games for Washington, starting in eight games. In 2020, Christian started all six of his games played for the NFC East club. Washington waived Christian on May 20.

Cabral was 6-5, 304 pounds and was a 2020 undrafted free agent from Arizona State. His hometown is Rancho Cucamonga, California, and he attended Los Osos High School.

Washington signs former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Charles Leno

The Washington Football Team continued to add depth to the offensive line on Wednesday, signing former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Charles

The Washington Football Team continued to add depth to the offensive line on Wednesday, signing former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Charles Leno to a one-year contract.

Leno, who was released by the Chicago Bears last week, visited Washington on Monday. The deal is worth up to $5 million, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Washington selected Texas offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, giving it plenty of options heading into the 2021 season.

Last season’s starter, Cornelius Lucas, who expressed his displeasure with a Rapoport tweet saying the team had a “big hole” on the left side of the offensive line, is also back in 2021. Former third-round pick, Geron Christian, who began 2020 as the starter at left tackle is also on the roster.

Last year’s fourth-round pick, Saahdiq Charles, is also on Washington’s roster. It’s expected that Charles will play guard.

Veteran Morgan Moses is entrenched as Washington’s started at right tackle.

After Leno’s signing, it is expected he will compete with Lucas and Cosmi for the starting job at left tackle. Christian may be firmly on the roster bubble.

Washington places Geron Christian on IR; signs Maryland RB Javon Leake to practice squad

Washington’s depth on the offensive line is depleting, with Geron Christian now being sent to the IR and Cornelius Lucas in doubt for Sunday.

The Washington Football Team made a couple of roster moves on Thursday morning, signing former Mayland running back and returner Javon Leake to the practice squad, while also placing former starting left tackle Geron Christian on the injured reserve.

The news about Christian is potentially big for Washington, as it leaves their depth at the left tackle position extremely thin. Coming into this season, the team had Geron Christian, Saahdiq Charles, Cornelius Lucas and David Sharpe at that position. Now, with the first three players injured, Washington has been moving RT Morgan Moses over to the LT spot, while putting Sharpe at RT.

Lucas is not on the IR, but he got injured in last week’s game against the Lions and is uncertain to play this week against the Bengals.

The addition of Leake to the practice squad should be noted too, as the young RB and dynamic returner had a solid career at Maryland. In three years in college, he had a total of 17 touchdowns from scrimmage, and could hopefully be able to work his way up to the active roster in D.C. someday.

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Injury Report: Deshazor Everett, Cornelius Lucas, Geron Christian absent from walk-through

The left side of Washington’s O-line is banged up, causing a shake-up in the front while a replacement for Everett needs to be found.

Things looked a bit different for Washington on Wednesday, as the team went through a walk-through rather than a padded practice due to the intensive protocol they were placed under after a player tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday.

That player, Matt Ioannidis, has been on the injured reserve since early October, and did not travel with the team to Detroit last week, so there is some optimism that Washington won’t be extremely effected by this, but precautions have still been put into place for the right reasons.

Nonetheless, there were a few notable players that were absent from the walk-through on Wednesday, namely LTs Geron Christian and Cornelius Lucas. Christian has been dealing with an injury for the past couple of weeks, and now his replacement is also banged up and went down after getting rolled up on in Sunday’s game. Right tackle Morgan Moses stepped in at the LT position, putting David Sharpe at RT, and it appears the same might happen this week as well.

Safety Deshazor Everett was also absent on Wednesday after suffering a high-ankle sprain against the Lions. Washington doesn’t have a clear timetable for his return, so we will have to keep an eye on that one.

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Morgan Moses looks to be making switch to LT as injuries continue in Washington

Injuries to both Geron Christian and Cornelius Lucas caused Morgan Moses to switch the LT last week, and that trend may continue this week.

After left tackle Cornelius Lucas went down for Washington in the game against the Detroit Lions last week, we saw a bit of a shake-up on the offensive line, with veteran RT Morgan Moses switching over to the left side, and David Sharpe coming in at RT.

It looks like we may see that a bit more going forward, as Washington continues to deal with injuries on the front line. In Wednesday’s practice, reporters noted that both Geron Christian and Lucas were absent from practice, and Moses was lining up at the left side. With his experience on the line, it makes sense that you would plug Moses in at the most important spot up front.

Credit to Washington, they played very well with the make-shift unit up front, and continued to buy Alex Smith some time in the pocket, giving him a chance to march the team down the field routinely in the second half, allowing Washington to mount a comeback from down 24-3. Though they eventually lost the game, one still has to feel confident about Moses’ abilities at the LT position, at least while Washington is looking for some of their players at the position to get healthy. While they entered the season with Christian, Lucas, and rookie Saahdiq Charles all on the depth chart at LT, the three of those players have been injured, and none are likely to be available this week, it appears.

Good thing you have a veteran player like Moses to turn to in times like this.

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