Tag: NFL Week 17

ILB Tyrell Adams is a ‘fabric guy’ for AFC South champion Texans

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien says backup inside linebacker Tyrell Adams “exemplifies what pro football is all about.”

There are household names, and then there are ones who are working to become one. Houston Texans linebacker Tyrell Adams fits in the latter category.

On Saturday, Adams took another step in his quest to fit in the former category.

Adams, 27, has played on more practice squads than a hand has fingers. In 2018, he signed with the Texans after his release from the Indianapolis Colts. He had a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers before returning to Houston in 2019.

Filling in for starter Benardrick McKinney (concussion), Adams received his first start in a 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While playing his first defensive snaps of the season, he didn’t fail to make an impression.

“I thought he played very well,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said on Monday. “I think Tyrell Adams, over the last two years especially, when we’ve asked him to step up his role — sometimes he’s been inactive and then other times we’ve asked him to come in and play on special teams.”

In the second quarter of the three-point win, Adams popped the ball out of running back Peyton Barber’s hands. It fell into the out-reaching arms of safety Justin Reid. That left an impression on O’Brien, just as his blocked punt in 2018.

“Last year he blocked a punt, this year he comes in, he plays well on special teams then last week he causes a fumble,” O’Brien said.

In the eyes of the head coach, Adams exemplifies what it means to be a professional football player. A selfless character, he does what the Texans ask of him no matter the question.

“The guy’s just, he’s really one of those guys, in my opinion, that really exemplifies what pro football is all about,” O’Brien said. “It’s about the fabric guys and the role players doing their jobs at the highest level when you ask them to do that. That’s what Tyrell does.”

How has rookie LG Max Scharping progressed for the Texans?

Houston Texans left guard Max Scharping takes coaching to heart, as Bill O’Brien said on Monday. The Northern Illinois product has impressed.

Max Scharping didn’t play left guard in training camp. He didn’t play left guard at Northern Illinois. Yet, the Houston Texans rookie is a left guard.

A tackle playing in the MAC at Northern Illinois, Scharping became a second-round pick for the Houston Texans in April. He played around the offensive line in the preseason before, in stunning fashion, earning the starting gig at left guard in Week 3.

Scharping’s ability to switch positions is a testament to his work ethic and ability to take coaching.

“Max works very hard, works hard in the weight room, works hard to improve, very coachable,” coach Bill O’Brien said on Monday. “You’re really looking for coachable guys. He takes the coaching to heart, he tries to get better every week and I do think you’re right, I think he’s improved. I don’t think it’s easy to play left guard as a rookie when you’re blocking grown men.”

In recent years, the Texans have keyed-in on versatile players in the draft. They saw that in Scharping, who measures in at 6-6, 327 pounds. His length at 33-five-eight-inch arms dissuaded some from him playing at tackle. In Houston, they don’t see that.

In practice, Scharping flashes that versatility.

“I think he’s definitely one of those guys that’s a five-tool player,” O’Brien said. “I think he can play center, I think guard is his best spot, but I think in a pinch he can play tackle for us and he can play center. He trains at center in pre-practice and we used him at a lot of different places in training camp.”

Scharping has his struggles, as all rookies do. However, as Aaron Reiss of The Athletic notes via Pro Football Focus, his play does not resemble a rookie as of late. One of his 27 pressures has occurred in the last two weeks.

Though not a flashy pick in the second round in April, Scharping may be the right one. Alongside Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard and Nick Martin, the coachable Northern Illinois product should be a mainstay for the Texans’ offensive line for some time.

Safety Justin Reid is one of the Texans’ most important players

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien calls second-year safety Justin Reid one of his team’s best players.

Safety Justin Reid is exactly who the Houston Texans thought he was when they took him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

A rangy Stanford product with a penchant of making big hits, Reid found himself suddenly slipping to the third round of the draft despite earning hype pre-draft as a first-round caliber player.

Now, “Justin’s one of our best players,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien explained on Monday.

Despite dealing with shoulder injuries throughout the season and a concussion (he missed a game for), the 22-year-old Reid is a leader and building block in the Texans’ secondary. On the season, he has 76 combined tackles, five pass deflections and a pair of interceptions.

“Justin is a leader, very smart player and he’s got good ball skills,” O’Brien said. “He’s a good tackler, he’s tough. I mean, he is tough. He is a tough guy that wants to be out there every snap for his teammates. He is a very important part of our team.”

The Texans named Reid their Ed Block Courage Award winner before their Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game that he got an interception and fumble recovery in. The award is given to the player that best epitomizes toughness and bravery both on-and-off the field.

Reid’s ability to play through injuries and stand out while doing so earned him the award.

“Everybody play a little bit banged up,” Reid said on Dec. 17. “Shoot, if your team is healthy all the way though you’re having one hell of a lucky year. So, it’s just all about being tough and dependable. Sometimes you’ve got to play through stuff and that’s just what I’ve been doing.”

If Reid’s first two years in the NFL indicate anything, it’s that he is a leader in play and mindset in a young defense.

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Texans coach Bill O’Brien calls Will Fuller, Benardrick McKinney ‘day-to-day’

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien says that Will Fuller and Benardrick McKinney are “day-to-day” with their respective injuries.

Injuries are piling up for the Houston Texans. However, according to their coach, Bill O’Brien, they may not be as bad as perceived.

On early Monday, the rumor mill flooded with information of wide receiver Will Fuller’s groin injury, which he suffered in Saturday’s 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that he will be out for three weeks.

O’Brien, on the other hand, does not use the same diction. The coach said on Monday, after the report, that the wide receiver is “day-to-day.”

“I think he’s making progress and I would say right now that’s just a day-to-day. I wouldn’t be able to answer what’s going to happen on Sunday but I think he’s definitely making progress.”

That does not mean that Fuller will play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Considering his injury history it should be a guarantee that he doesn’t. He has either missed or not finished six games in 2019. The Texans will likely use Kenny Stills in his No. 2 role while he is out.

Whether or not that means Fuller will be available for the first round of the playoffs is unknown. On the season, he has 49 receptions for 670 yards and three touchdowns.

2018 Pro Bowl inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney suffered a concussion in Week 15’s win over the Tennessee Titans. He did not play in the contest against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Similar to Fuller, McKinney is day-to-day, according to O’Brien.

“Both of those guys are making progress,” O’Brien said. “Relative to Sunday, I’d say both of those guys are in the day-to-day category.”

McKinney has tallied 101 combined tackles, four tackles for loss and three pass deflections. He wears the green dot on his helmet, indicating that he relays defensive play calls and adjustments to the defense.

While O’Brien calls the two starters day-to-day, officially injury reports will indicate whether or not that is true.

Report: Texans work out rookie QB Nick Fitzgerald

The Houston Texans worked out rookie quarterback Nick Fitzgerald on Monday, as well as others including CFL standout RB William Stanback.

Mondays are for workouts. In addition to working out running back Jeremy Cox, the Houston Texans hosted a slew of hopefuls, including quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, running back William Stanback and tight ends Matt Flanagan and Cole Herdman, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Fitzgerald, an undrafted rookie of Mississippi State, started for three years in the SEC, acting as Dak Prescott’s replacement. In 44 career games, he recorded 6,207 passing yards, 55 touchdowns and 30 interceptions on a 54.2% completion rate.

A dual-threat, Fitzgerald tallied 3,607 yards and 46 touchdowns on 601 rush attempts.

Stanback played his college football at Virginia Union and UCF before joining the Montreal Alouettes in 2018. In 2019, the CFL named him an All-Star. He recorded 1,048 yards and five touchdowns on the year.

Flanagan went undrafted out of Pittsburgh in 2018. He last spent time with the Washington Redskins training camp before his release on Aug. 31. In 2018, he logged one reception for 14 yards in Washington.

Herdman went undrafted out of Purdue in 2019. He recorded 91 receptions for 1,010 yards and eight touchdowns in his four seasons playing in the Big 10.

Lamar Jackson, other key starters to not play vs. Steelers

The Baltimore Ravens are limiting their risks in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the AFC’s top seed already locked up by Baltimore, they have very little to play for next week and will use the time to rest instead. Coach John Harbaugh …

The Baltimore Ravens are limiting their risks in Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the AFC’s top seed already locked up by Baltimore, they have very little to play for next week and will use the time to rest instead.

Coach John Harbaugh said quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Mark Ingram, guard Marshal Yanda, safety Earl Thomas and defensive tackle Brandon William’s will be among those sitting in Week 17.

After seeing Ingram go down with a calf injury and both Jackson and Mark Andrews limping at one point against the Browns, it only proved the idea the Ravens should be cautious.

Baltimore looks like the best team in the league right now, in the midst of an 11-game winning streak and sitting at a league-best 13-2. To jeopardize one of their top players for a meaningless game would have been foolish.

Instead, the Ravens will give their key starters three weeks of rest with Week 17 off and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

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Texans coach Bill O’Brien mum on the return of J.J. Watt

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien would not comment on defensive end J.J. Watt’s return to the roster from a torn pectoral.

The rumor mill is running.

Before the Houston Texans beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 on Saturday, reports flew throughout the NFL landscape that their defensive end J.J. Watt is set to return off the injured reserve after tearing his pectoral in Week 8 against the Oakland Raiders.

Though reputable reports point to Watt returning for the playoffs, Texans coach Bill O’Brien is mum on the situations.

“I’m going to pass on that question,” O’Brien said on Monday. “I’m not up here to talk about J.J. We’ll get to that when we get to that, whether it’s this season, the offseason or whatever.”

On Dec. 19, Watt added fuel to the fire before rumors pointed heavily to his return, tweeting, “It’s not over though.”

Watt would aid a struggling Texans pass-rush. Despite playing half of the season, he ranks second on the team in quarterback pressures with 24, according to Pro Football Reference.

Pro Football Focus has Watt graded as their third-best edge defender, sitting at an 89.6. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, he tallied four sacks, 20 quarterback hits and a forced fumble before suffering the torn pectoral. It’s fair to say that his impact on the Texans’ defense is great.

“I mean anytime you have any player,” O’Brien said. “I mean, obviously with J.J., everything that he’s done for our football team. Anytime you have a great player that’s been out and the rules allow you to bring them back, you know, it would help the team.”

If he were to make it back for the playoffs, the Texans’ reeling pass-rush would see a massive boost in star power. Often, since his injury, Houston’s defensive line has struggled to get consistent pressure outside of blitzes. Watt would change, forcing double teams, in turn, free rushers to get to whichever quarterback they play in the postseason.

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Report: Texans working out RB Jeremy Cox

On Monday, the Houston Texans worked out rookie undrafted running back Jeremy Cox according to reports.

The Houston Texans are tinkering with their running back room as they near the playoffs.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans are working out former Los Angeles Chargers running back Jeremy Cox on Monday.

Cox previously worked out for the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. He went undrafted out of Old Dominion earlier in 2019.

Cox measures in at 6-foot, 230-pounds. He tested well at his Old Dominion pro day, posting a 4.42-second 40-yard-dash, a 39-inch vertical jump and 25 reps on the 225-pound bench press.

In his four seasons at Old Dominion, Cox tallied 451 rush attempts for 2,175 yards and 23 touchdowns. In 2016, as a sophomore, he recorded 13 touchdowns on the ground.

Cox also recorded 75 receptions for 532 yards and a touchdown while playing C-USA football.

The Texans currently have four running backs on their active roster in Carlos Hyde, Duke Johnson, Taiwan Jones and Buddy Howell. They also have undrafted rookie Karan Higdon on the practice squad.

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Ravens should rest Lamar Jackson, other key starters vs. Steelers

With some injury scares and nothing meaningful to play for in Week 17 against the Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens should be cautious

The Baltimore Ravens have an interesting predicament to face in Week 17. With their playoff seeding already decided — grabbing the top spot with their win in Week 16 — there’s little for the Ravens to play for against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though pride, sweeping a division rival, keeping them from the playoffs and going 14-2 with a 12-game winning streak are pretty amazing things; they’re not all that important in reality. At least not given what Baltimore’s ultimate goal is this season: the Super Bowl.

So with no weight put on Week 17 for the Ravens, why should they risk the guys that got them this far? I contend they absolutely shouldn’t and outside of some light practice to keep everyone warm and in the right mindset, many of Baltimore’s starters should be seen in sweatpants on the sideline instead of jerseys, pads and helmets come Sunday.

There are a few arguments to be made against sitting key players next week. Some would argue not playing a game in two weeks would make those players rusty when they finally get to play. There’s also an argument for doing everything possible to keep the Steelers from the postseason. But I don’t particularly buy either notion and see the potential harm far outweigh the potential benefits.

Every NFL team already gets a bye week and you better believe players look forward to the extra bit of rest in a long season. It allows those players that are a little banged up some extra time to recuperate and get closer to full health. And at this point in the season, all 53 players are nursing cuts, bumps, bruises and worse. Safety Earl Thomas already told ESPN’s Josina Anderson he’s not planning on playing this final game because his body needs the extra rest and that should be a good enough indication for coach John Harbaugh on the state of his players.

While practice is not real football, that should be enough to limit any major rust the players have by missing this final game. And a sluggish start to a game would be far preferred over potentially losing a key player like Lamar Jackson or Thomas in a game that ultimately didn’t matter. The Ravens already got a taste of what that scare feels like against the Browns, seeing Mark Ingram leave the game with a calf injury, both Jackson and Mark Andrews limping at one point, and both Jimmy Smith and Marcus Peters had to miss some time with ailments of their own. Why put them in harm’s way for a game where the only purpose for Baltimore is possibly keeping them in a better rhythm?

Though it would be nice to ensure Pittsburgh misses the postseason by starting everyone, it might not even be necessary given the state of the Steelers.

They can’t decide which quarterback they want to start, bouncing between Devlin Hodges and Mason Rudolph this season, benching both quarterbacks at points after poor showings. Pittsburgh also isn’t likely going to be very healthy for this game either, seeing Rudolph, running back James Connor and center Maurkice Pouncey all leave Week 16 with injuries. Their statuses for Week 17 are far from finalized but it’s doubtful they’ll be 100% by Sunday afternoon even if they do play.

To recap: The Ravens might not even need their starters to beat the Steelers, the game means nothing to Baltimore either way and they could really use the extra week of rest to get healthy . . . It seems like a no brainer to me.

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Ravens vs. Steelers in Week 17 flexed to 4:25 p.m.

The Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game in Week 17 has bigger playoff ramifications, forcing the game to be flexed to later.

The Baltimore Ravens might not have much to play for in Week 17 but the Pittsburgh Steelers sure do. Team that up with a classic AFC North rivalry and you have the makings of some good television. It seems the networks agree with that notion, flexing the Ravens vs. Steelers game from 1:00 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. ET, according to the team’s Twitter account.

Baltimore has already decided their seeding in the AFC playoff picture, locking up the top spot with their win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 16. But Pittsburgh losing to the New York Jets puts their playoff hopes in jeopardy. While the Ravens might want to rest many of their starters, they likely aren’t interested in seeing the Steelers make the cut for the postseason and a loss is a sure-fire way of making that a reality.

With the wild card spots far from finalized, any games with real postseason stakes tend to get bumped up to the later spots in order to maximize ratings. Regardless of if Baltimore ends up resting players or not, their Week 17 game will have playoff implications for the AFC and the final wild-card spot. And considering it took overtime to decide the winner of the first matchup this season back in Week 5, this should be a fun game to watch.

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