Tag: Secondary

Texans CB Lonnie Johnson to see more playing time with S A.J. Moore on injured reserve

Houston Texans cornerback Lonnie Johnson is expected to play more with safety A.J. Moore on injured reserve, according to DC Anthony Weaver.

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s heart aches for third-year safety A.J. Moore, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and will miss his first game after 35 consecutive played.

“He’s put in a tremendous amount of work to get to the point that he’s been at and I know how much it kills him to not be able to go out there and help us,” Weaver told reporters on Thursday.

However, in the NFL when one player is unable to go, it opens up an opportunity for another. Similarly, Weaver is enthused about the chance second-year cornerback Lonnie Johnson will have to contribute to the Texans’ secondary.

“Lonnie undoubtedly will absolutely play more,” Weaver said. “He’s a guy that is gaining more confidence at the safety position every single day he’s out there. I think it means more than just more Lonnie Johnson. I think everybody in that secondary needs to step up when you lose a guy like A.J. Moore.”

Though Johnson, who has had 95 defensive snaps in the past three games with seven combined tackles, will see more playing time in the absence of Moore, Weaver is also counting on other personnel in the secondary to contribute.

“We need Phillip Gaines probably to step into a role,” said Weaver. “John Reid, perhaps. Everybody needs to pick up their game just so we can make up for the loss of that guy.”

The Texans take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 at NRG Stadium in a battle between two 0-3 teams. The Vikings have a dangerous pair of receivers in Adam Thielen and rookie Justin Jefferson, who torched the Tennessee Titans for seven catches for 175 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Titans barely held on with a 31-30 win. Houston may not be so lucky if they are similarly porous in the secondary.

Texans are bringing in S Earl Thomas for a visit

The Houston Texans are bringing in former Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas for a workout.

The Houston Texans are figuring out a way to fix their secondary, and it could include tapping All-Pro talent currently available in free agency.

The Texans are bringing in former Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas for a tryout.

Thomas was with the Ravens through the 2020 preseason until he was cut in August for off-field issues.

The former Super Bowl champion has 30 career interceptions under his belt with 71 pass breakups and 12 forced fumbles. Through 140 career games, Thomas has logged 713 combined tackles and 13 tackles for loss.

The Texans currently have Justin Reid, A.J. Moore, Eric Murray, and Michael Thomas as safeties.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a signing is “more likely than not.”

Due to COVID-19 protocols, Thomas probably won’t play against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4, but he could be available in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Texans S Justin Reid says he ‘played like trash’ against the Steelers

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid was very critical of his play against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who beat the Texans 28-21 in Week 3.

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid wasn’t giving himself a pass for his part in the club’s 28-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in Week 3 at Heinz Field.

Reid took to Twitter after the game and was not pleased with his effort, which produced six total tackles for the Texans’ defense, including four solo tackles. However, the Steelers’ offense was able to churn 169 yards rushing on 38 carries with James Conner rushing 18 times for 109 yards and a score.

“Not good enough,” Reid wrote. “I played like trash today and I’ll take ownership of that. Will be better. We’ve been here before. Szn not over.”

The Texans are 0-3 on the year. While the season is not over, as evidenced by Reid’s rookie season when Houston overcame a similar 0-3 hole to finish 11-5 and win the AFC South, the challenge to qualify for the postseason is immense and is a subject for conversation, even this early in September.

If Reid is able to play at a level he expects of himself, then the Texans will have a better chance to stack wins throughout the year.

Marquise Blair suffers knee injury in Seahawks defeat of Patriots

Seattle Seahawks defensive back Marquise Blair suffered a knee injury in the Seattle Seahawks’ defeat of the New England Patriots on Sunday.

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The Seattle Seahawks lost two safeties in the first half of the game Sunday night. Quandre Diggs was first ejected after a helmet to helmet hit and then Marquise Blair was ruled out of the remainder of the matchup with a knee injury.

Coach Pete Carroll discussed what he knew about the extent of Blair’s injury during the post-game press conference.

“It’s a knee injury, and I don’t know how serious it is,” Carroll said. “I know you’re trying to ask a regular question there. Yeah, he has a knee injury and he’s going to get an MRI, and we’ll find out what it is. I’m sick about it. This guy is just getting started, just getting going with us. It’s a real shame.”

Carroll seemed genuinely upset and concerned with the prognosis so far and circled back to add some more detail.

“It’s probably fairly serious because they had to help him off the field and all that stuff,” Carroll noted.

Further updates on Blair’s injury and the statuses of the other banged-up players should be available by Monday afternoon.

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Report: Broncos CB A.J. Bouye expected to miss a few weeks

Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye might be placed on injured reserve.

Denver Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye is expected to be sidelined for several weeks with a dislocated shoulder, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Bouye is “likely” to be placed on injured reserve, according to Rapoport, which means Denver will have an open spot on the 53-man roster. If he is placed on IR, Bouye would be eligible to return after three weeks.

An obvious candidate to take Bouye’s spot on the 53-man roster is De’Vante Bausby, who is currently on the 16-man practice squad. Bausby played in five games with the Broncos last season (two starts) before suffering a neck injury. He could provide depth and experience if promoted to the active roster.

After Bouye left Monday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, Bryce Callahan and third-round draft pick Michael Ojemudia played as the outside cornerbacks with undrafted rookie Essang Bassey in the slot. Davontae Harris and Duke Dawson played exclusively on special teams.

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Texas safety B.J. Foster ‘apologetic’ for his actions during UTEP game

Following the report that Texas safety B.J. Foster quit the team on Saturday, Tom Herman provided an update on his status with the team.

The last 48 hours have been a roller coaster for the Texas Longhorns and safety B.J. Foster. It was reported on Sunday morning by Anwar Richardson of Rivals that Foster quit the team in the third quarter of the Longhorns 59-3 win over UTEP. According to Pro Football Focus, Foster played just eight snaps on the night. In a bit of frustration, he allegedly quit the team. That was just the beginning of the roller coaster.

It was later reported by Chip Brown of 247Sports that Foster was in fact with the team during a lifting session at 12 pm Sunday. That was enough to cause a bit of confusion about what the status of B.J. Foster is with the team. Richardson later reported that he had met with the team and would remain a Texas Longhorn.

Head coach Tom Herman met with the media on Monday and provided an update on the former five-star recruit.

“B.J (Foster) obviously let his frustrations get the best of him,” Herman continued “was very contrite, very apologetic. We will handle the discipline in house. He knows what he did was wrong and let his frustration get the best of him. It’s ok to be frustrated but we need to be able to control our actions.” Herman went on to say “it would be water under the bridge for us and this team.”

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Report: Texas safety B.J. Foster was with team in lifting session

According to a report form 247Sports’ Chip Brown, Texas safety B.J. Foster was with the team after he allegedly quit in Saturday’s game.

The wild Sunday following the 59-3 victory over UTEP continues. Earlier in the day Anwar Richardson of Rivals reported that Texas safety B.J. Foster quit on the team during the third quarter of Saturday’s game. He noted that Foster was upset about a lack of playing time in the game. During the blowout opening game, Foster played a total of eight snaps according to Pro Football Focus.

Foster was listed behind Chris Brown on the opening week depth chart that was released by the Longhorns. Jerrin Thompson and Tyler Owens would play more snaps than Foster and it probably didn’t set well with him. Chip Brown of 247Sports is reporting that Foster took part in the lifting session at 12 pm on Sunday.

This situation feels eerily similar to the one early this offseason with Anthony Cook. He left the team and entered into the transfer portal before cooler heads prevailed and he returned to the team. Cook as you know was listed behind Chris Adimora at the spur position.

As this wild situation continues, Longhorns Wire will keep you posted.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

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Report: Texas safety B.J. Foster quits the team during UTEP game

Texas safety B.J. Foster reportedly quit the team during the third quarter of the season opener against UTEP.

A shocking report surfaced on Sunday morning that Texas safety B.J. Foster chose to quit the team during the third quarter of the season opener against UTEP. Continue reading “Report: Texas safety B.J. Foster quits the team during UTEP game”

Does Clinton-Dix cut put Earl Thomas in play? Stephen Jones ‘wouldn’t rule anything out’

The release of a veteran safety leaves Dallas thin at the position while a 7-time Pro Bowler who wants to be a Cowboy sits unemployed.

The news came as a surprise to many in Cowboys Nation. HaHa Clinton-Dix, the former Packers/McCarthy-era safety who was expected to bring veteran leadership to the back end of the Dallas defense, was unceremoniously cut just ten days before the season opener.

But arguably, the bigger surprise for some came when that roster move wasn’t immediately followed up by an announcement that the club was in talks with Earl Thomas to take over that newly-vacated locker. While Cowboys ownership says they will “look at all avenues” at the safety position, the release of Clinton-Dix does create a sense that the team may be woefully thin in the secondary.

Speaking on Dallas radio with 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones gave no indication that signing Thomas is on the front office’s weekend to-do list. But he didn’t slam the door on the idea, either.

“We’re certainly going to look at all avenues as we move forward here and I wouldn’t rule anything out,” Jones said, according to the team website. “We’re just down there working with [vice president of player personnel] Will [McClay] and our pro scouting department as well as our coaches in trying to figure out what our next steps might be here.”

The most logical next step has seemed to be Thomas, the seven-time Pro Bowl safety who has been widely linked to his hometown Cowboys for close to two years. The longtime Seahawk was released by the Baltimore Ravens after just one season and has been unemployed for nearly two weeks.

Now with the sudden thinning of the herd at safety in Dallas just as a promising season is about to begin, the calls to slap a star on Thomas’s helmet have never been louder.

Other league insiders, though, started downplaying any potential move to sign Thomas within minutes of the news that Clinton-Dix had been dismissed.

The Cowboys profess to be pleased with their defensive backs under new coordinator Mike Nolan and position coaches Al Harris and Maurice Linguist. Darian Thompson reportedly had an exceptional training camp and looks to have earned the starting nod opposite Xavier Woods in the wake of Clinton-Dix’s release.

But Woods has been dinged up, causing even more uncertainty barely a week before the team’s opener against the Rams. The coaching staff has been preaching positional flexibility to its players; that model may be tested early as cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and newcomer Reggie Robinson may find themselves fulfilling safety duties out of necessity and leaving the corner slots to Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, and highly-touted rookie Trevon Diggs.

“CeeDee Lamb might be Randy Moss, and Zeke might run for 2,000 yards, but they’re going to give up 50 points [a game] unless these guys can play,” said Good Morning Football host Kyle Brandt on Friday while looking at a listing of the current Cowboys secondary.

The team lists just three true safeties with the Clinton-Dix release. The oldest of them is 26. Of the ten listed cornerbacks, the average age is 24.7. The DB group as a whole is young and green.

“I would just call this out now,” Brandt continued. “On Monday, most of the country is not going to work. Good for them. Today and tomorrow, you know who’s not working? Earl Thomas. This is a different conversation now. If you didn’t want to get in the Jamal Adams business, that’s fine. It would have been very expensive and a whole different deal. Earl Thomas can maybe help you immediately. It goes from being a luxury of a good player to a necessity that, ‘I don’t know if we have enough talent on our back end to go toe-for-toe with some of these teams, starting with the Rams.’ If you know Earl is super-super-thirsty to play in Dallas, make him an offer. Low-ball him. See how much he wants to play in Dallas. I was okay on the thing before; now they need it. That is a striking fullscreen about America’s Team. ‘That’s the best we got?’ That makes me really worried.”

Despite whatever personality issues sent Thomas packing from both Seattle and Baltimore within the last 17 months, he’s a veteran player who could conceivably provide leadership on the field, and certainly still has the physical tools to contribute.

But Jones played it close to the vest when specifically asked about the former Legion of Boom star.

“As I always say, we’re always in the market 365 days a year to improve this football team, and that’s what we’ll we’ll continue to do,” Jones said.

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Texans safety Justin Reid has high expectations for A.J. Moore

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid expects third-year safety A.J. Moore to take a big step in 2020.

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid has had an up close view of fellow safety A.J. Moore for his entire time with the AFC South club, and expects the former undrafted free agent to take another step in his development in year three.

Reid spoke with reporters after the club’s annual kickoff luncheon, albeit in a virtual setting, and presented his expectations for Moore.

“I expect a lot from him because I know he can handle it,” Reid said. “He’s a workhorse. He’s one of our special teams leaders and I’ve seen him continue to grow.”

Reid and Moore are akin to the “Prince and the Pauper” in the Texans’ secondary. The Texans selected Reid in Round 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft from Stanford. Moore fell through the draft and landed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent, who was cut at the end of preseason. Though Moore has played more games than Reid, 32 to 31, the Ole Miss product has a dearth of defensive snaps with just 20 to his career.

In training camp, Reid has been side by side witnessing Moore’s growth in the secondary, and looks forward to seeing the gains manifest in the regular season.

Said Reid: “I’ve seen him grow a lot and he’s excited about it. He’s going to bring a lot of energy to the table. He’s a guy that never gets tired and as long as he keeps making plays and starts doing it on Sundays, I can’t be more excited to watch him go do his thing.”

The Texans have veteran safeties on the back end with Eric Murray, Michael Thomas, and Jaylen Watkins. Though Reid and Moore are the younger guys, they still bring considerable experience to the position. Reid and the rest of the Texans are hopeful Moore will gain even more valuable experience in Houston’s defense.