Tag: Houston Texans football 2024

All-Pro WR released by Dolphins before Week 15 matchup vs. Texans

As Week 15 approaches, the Miami Dolphins are making an aggressive move before taking on the Houston Texans.

Odell Beckham Jr. won’t be finding his way into the end zone at NRG Stadium this Sunday against the Houston Texans.

The former All-Pro receiver and Miami Dolphins mutually agreed to part ways after eight games Thursday evening with four games remaining in the regular season.

The Dolphins announced Friday morning that Beckham was waived. He’ll remain on waivers until Monday, where a team could claim him and pick up the remaining money on his one-year $3 million deal signed this offseason.

This seemed to be in the works leading up to Week 15’s showdown. Beckham missed the past two days of practice, citing “personal reasons” for his absence.

After undergoing knee surgery earlier in the offseason, Beckham started the season on the physically unable to perform list. Once activated, he was used in a limited role, hauling in nine passes for 55 yards in nine games.

When he initially signed, Miami figured the former Super Bowl champion would presumably be the third receiving option behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. That never happened since veteran tight end Jonnu Smith emerged as the team’s best option in the red zone.

Since inking a one-year deal this offseason, Smith has totaled 61 catches for 692 yards and five touchdowns.

“Jonnu’s really done a good job of just being another factor in some of those spaces if you’re committing too many resources to the outside part of the field, or whatever,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said Thursday. “He’s a good enough athlete, he always has been, that they interchange those positions.

“He’s another good athlete that can create matchup problems for you. So, we’re going to be at the task, but it’s a challenge for us to matchup with all of those guys and keep them from, again, like I said, getting into open space.”

The Dolphins have also gotten exceptional play out of rookie receiver Malik Washington and veteran receiver River Cracraft in short throws and on special teams. Running back De’Von Achane also is a factor in the passing attack for a surging Tua Tagovailoa.

Miami has won four of its past five games heading into Sunday. With a win and a Colts’ lost, the Texans would clinch a second consecutive AFC South divisional title.

New mock draft has the Texans adding a running mate for Joe Mixon

The Texans are building up their running back room in the latest 2025 NFL mock draft heading into Week 13.

If the Houston Texans are going to keep the same offensive approach behind second-year coordinator Bobby Slowik, they’ll have to emphasize the run game.

Joe Mixon, who’s inching closer to becoming the first Texans’ running back since Carlos Hyde in 2019 to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, remains the workhorse for Houston’s rushing attack. He’s posted four 100-yard outings and continues to be a touchdown machine.

He’s also set to turn 30 next year and might begin to lose steam over the final three years of his new contract. Alleviating pressure off second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud is essential for Houston’s offense to thrive and while Mixon has provided that in 2024, it must carry over into the final three years of his rookie deal.

One mock draft would tend to agree.

In  Daft on Draft’s new mock draft, the Texans bolster their running back room with the selection of Iowa tailback Kaleb Johnson at pick No. 22. A Doak Walker Award finalist, Johnson’s physical north-to-south running approach would be an ideal fit in Slowik’s offense.

Joe Mixon has had a productive season for the Texans this season, but he will be entering his ninth season in 2025. We all know the shelf life of a running back and why a contingency plan is needed. Kaleb Johnson is an excellent scheme fit and gives the Texans that plan for life after Mixon.

In his first year as the Hawkeyes’ top runner, Johnson’s productivity has carried Iowa toward another potential eight-win season. Not only does he lead the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,492), but he also leads the conference in yards per attempt (6.7), rushing touchdowns (21) and carries (223).

The junior has also rushed for 100-plus yards in eight of his 11 appearances this year. He’s considered by multiple analysts as the No. 2 running back prospect behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who landed with the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick.

The Texans must build a new offensive line to protect Stroud, but that’s where free agency could factor in. Adding a cost-friendly running back on a potential five-year deal might benefit Houston tenfold should Johnson eventually surpass Mixon as the long-term RB1 in Houston.

Texans add offensive lineman to practice squad before trade deadline

The Houston Texans are bringing in another offensive lineman before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday afternoon.

The Houston Texans might not have added a top-level offensive lineman before the trade deadline, but they’ve added at least one new member to their trenches.

According to KRPC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Houston signed former Tennessee starter Jerome Carvin to the practice squad. A former member of the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs, Carvin has experience at both guard and center.

A two-year starter for the Volunteers, Carvin played left guard and center for the Bears in the preseason. He posted a 72.0 overall Pro Football Focus analytics grade.

https://x.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1853447385831055718

The Texans need depth in the interior offensive line in the wake of struggling starting left guard Kenyon Green dislocating his shoulder and is slated to be placed on the season-ending injured reserve. Fellow offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson remains in concussion protocol.

The Texans (6-3) return to NRG Stadium to take on the Detroit Lions this Sunday at 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally broadcast on NBC.

Has Kenyon Green played his last down with Texans?

Kenyon Green will miss the remainder of the regular season after leaving in the second quarter of Thursday’s game against the New York Jets

Kenyon Green is headed back to the injured reserve.

Green, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the Houston Texans’ loss to the New York Jets on Thursday night, is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.

The Texans (6-3) could potentially bring him back if they were to go on a postseason run, the but odds are unlikely given the severity of the injury.

Could Thursday have been Green’s final time in a Texans’ uniform? It’s possible given his insufficient play and injury concerns over the past three seasons.

Green, a native of Humble and former first-round pick out of Texas A&M, has failed to live up to his top-15 draft status. While his run blocking improved, his protection remained a liability up the middle while protecting C.J. Stroud.

According to multiple reports, Houston tried shopping Green around to other teams but received no interest. The Texans also have been linked to potentially adding a veteran like Chicago Bears offensive lineman Nate Davis.

Quick Bits: I’m told the #Texans explored preliminary trade interest with an NFC East team for 2022 1st-rounder G Kenyon Green, as of at least two weeks ago, per source. There was not an immediate appetite for a deal. @BovadaOfficial

 

As Carousel Season approaches, league… pic.twitter.com/NRwgnHILrO

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 31, 2024

 

A two-time All-American at Texas A&M, Green will enter the final year of his rookie contract next season. Houston could elect to trade him for minimal value since there’s no guarantee he will make the active 53-man roster.

It’s unlikely that Houston will pick up his fifth-year option, making Green a free agent in 2026. He has a $5 million cap number for the 2025 season.

Kendrick Green replaced the former first-round and fared slightly better but not by much. He allowed six pressures and a sack against the Jets and was a key contributor to allowing a season-high eight sacks on the evening at MetLife Stadium. 

What will the Texans do in Kenyon Green’s place?  Houston will likely start guard/center Jarrett Patterson, whenever he returns from concussion protocol if it doesn’t make a move before the Nov. 5 deadline if the right player appears. 

Houston might also consider moving Patterson to center and allowing Juice Scruggs to see reps at guard. Last season, the second-round pick started the final five games at left guard after clearing the injured reserve. 

As for Kenyon Green, even with a promising offseason, his days in Houston could be numbered.

Houston returns to NRG Stadium next Sunday to take on the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football at 7:15 p.m. CT.  

Texans TE Brevin Jordan out of the year with torn ACL

Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan’s breakout season is over before it began.

Brevin Jordan’s breakout season has officially come to a close.

According to Fox26 Houston’s Will Kunkel, the fourth-year tight end is out for the year with a torn ACL. Jordan, who’s currently in a contract year with the Houston Texans, was placed on the injured reserve Wednesday before practice.

https://twitter.com/WillKunkelFOX/status/1836862624505733280

“It’s really heartbreaking losing Brevin,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He was on his way to a breakout year. I was really excited with where he was heading. Cade (Stover), Dalton Schultz will have to step up to fill that role.”

Jordan played in Sunday’s 19-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Since being drafted out of Miami in 2021, he’s improved as a route-runner, run blocker and overall dual-threat option who adds value in multiple positions.

Last season, Jordan saw reps at both tight end and H-back, an offset role that’s usually filled by the fullback position. He’s been the No. 2 option behind Schultz and Jordan Akins while remaining a quality target for C.J. Stroud.

https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1836869889304179027

“If you want to talk about the heartbeat of this team, it’s just who he is,” Stroud said Wednesday following practice. “Somebody who loves hard and he loves everyone in this building. He loves ball and I think he was really getting his momentum on just who he wanted to be in this league and how he wanted to approach practice.

“I love Brev and he is my brother for the rest of my life. I know that he’ll be back soon and he’ll do great things when he comes back.”

Houston now turns to Stover, who previously played with Stroud at Ohio State. In 2022, the duo connected 36 times for 406 yards and five touchdowns en route to a College Football Playoff berth.

On Sunday, Stroud found Stover for an 18-yard pickup on a 4th-and-1 call that eventually led to a 28-yard touchdown for Nico Collins in the first quarter of Sunday’s game. The Texans also signed Irv Smith Jr. to the practice squad.

https://twitter.com/Brevinjordan/status/1836868711518511145

The Texans travel north to take on the Minnesota Vikings for a chance to begin the year 3-0. Kickoff from U.S. Bank Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.