Tag: Texans Football 2024

Texans: DE Will Anderson Jr. ‘good to go’ vs. Colts

Will Anderson Jr. might have missed a month of practice, but the second-year defensive end is “good to go” for Sunday’s contest.

Will Anderson Jr. doesn’t need a medical report to confirm what he already knows. The Houston Texans’ second-year defensive end is back at practice for the first time in over a month.

He’s back for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, too.

“Of course, of course, of course,” Anderson assured reporters when asked if he planned to play at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Anderson, who had been dealing with an ankle injury, was a full participant in practice. His name didn’t appear on the injury report, meaning he’s medically cleared to go full speed through drills.

As a roster, only defensive back M.J. Stewart remains absent from practice in any capacity. It’s a sign that Houston should be about at 99.9 percent full strength when the team takes on their AFC South foe.

“Excited about all our guys out there available working,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Excited about the work that we put in today.”

https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1831419387896852627

Anderson’s impact differs from most. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year is a staple of a potent Houston pass rush that looks to improve after totaling a franchise-record 46 sacks in 2023.

Anderson, who led all rookies in pressures (64) and quarterback hits (22), was responsible for seven sacks, though that number could have been higher if he hadn’t missed two games. The Texans are expecting a breakout season from their J.J. Watt heir-apparent entering Year 2 opposite of four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter.

When at its peak, Ryans believes the duo has an opportunity to consistently “wreak havoc” on Sundays.

“In any passing situations, their ability to disrupt the pocket, disrupt the quarterback, that’s what excites me. If we want to play really good on defense when they’re passing the football, those two guys have to impact the game for us. If they show up and impact the game, it’ll be easier for our guys on the back end.”

Anderson would tend to agree with the second-year coach and fellow Alabama graduate.

“That’s why (Danielle’s) here. That’s why I’m here,” Anderson said. “I know he’s going to wreak havoc. He’s going to do his thing. I’m gonna have his back, and I’m gonna go out there and do the same thing.”

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans fanbase voted one of the nicest in the NFL

The Houston Texans are considered among the nicest bunch of fans entering 2024

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the hearts of perhaps the NFL’s most rising franchise entering 2024.

The Houston Texans are ready to stake their claim as legitimate contenders for years to come behind C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., DeMeco Ryans and countless others. They’re built to compete for more than a division title in 2024 and should enter the upper echelon of quarterback rankings behind the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

But it’s the Texans’ fan base receiving love entering 2024. According to one survey, Houston ranks just outside of the top 10 most welcoming fan bases, ranking at No. 22.

When asked what was their rudest quality, the survey said Texans fans start fights.

Umm, where? On social media?

Most times, it’s pretty docile among fan bases on gamedays. Even when rivals like Tennessee and Indianapolis come to town, a few words are displayed, but nothing out of the ordinary from other fan bases.

The Philadelphia Eagles topped the list for rudest fan base, followed by the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers to round out the top five.

The Indianapolis Colts, whom Houston will take on in the season opener on Sunday, were voted the nicest fan base entering 2024. Let’s put that to the test when Texans fans invade Lucas Oil Stadium for a noon kickoff.

Every move the Texans made during preseason roster cuts

Here’s a quick recap of every move made by the Houston Texans en route to having the final 53-man roster entering the 2024 season.

The Texans’ debut 53-player roster is out now, and while that means we are one step closer to Houston kicking off its 2024 season. It also means the journey in H-Town has reached its final point for several players, including a handful who were expected to make the roster.

Houston can sign 16 players to its practice squad starting Wednesday afternoon — or 17 if it opts to keep International Pathway Player, Kilian Zierer, who is expected back for the 2024 campaign.

For now, 34 players who weren’t kept on the active roster or designated to a reserve list will hit the open market. It’ll be up to the Texans to decide who returns after clearing the waiver wire in the coming days.

Find every move Houston made during preseason roster cuts below.

Monday

Waived

DL McTelvin Agim

LB Tarquie Barnes

OL Dieter Eiselen

Released

LB Jacob Phillips

OT Cameron Erving

Tuesday

Waived

DE Solomon Byrd

WR Quintez Cephus

DE Malik Fisher

DE Ali Gaye

FB Troy Hairston

DL Marcus Harris

WR Johnny Johnson III

WR Ben Skowronek

CB Troy Pride

RB J.J. Taylor

LB Max Tooley

OT Kilian Zierer

Released

FB Nick Bawden

FB Andrew Beck

WR Noah Brown

QB Tim Boyle

CB Mike Ford

CB Desmond King

OT Charlie Heck

CB CJ Henderson

OL Chris Reed

DB Lonnie Johnson Jr.

CB D’Angelo Ross

OT David Sharpe

Waived via injury settlement

RB Jawhar Jordan

TE Teagan Quitoriano

DL Pheldarius Payne

Placed on injured reserve (designated to return)

LB Christian Harris

DL Kurt Hinish

Placed on reserve/injured list

QB Case Keenum

DB Brandon Hill

Placed on reserve/suspended list

DL Denico Autry

Placed on reserve/non-football illness list

DL Dylan Horton

Should Texans sign former San Francisco 49ers CB before regular season?

Bleacher Report believes that the Houston Texans should sign cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon before the start of the regular season.

Cornerback remains a question mark entering the 2024 season for the Houston Texans.

Starter wise? Houston is content with breakout star Derek Stingley Jr. and rookie standout Kamari Lassiter.

Depth-wise? There are questions entering the final week of training camp.  Houston hasn’t seen former first-round pick Jeff Okduah play because of a shoulder injury.

The Texans have also seen hit-or-miss play from backups like C.J. Henderson, Mike Ford and D’Angelo Ross through three preseason outings.

DeMeco Ryans might not look to bring in any new names before roster cutdowns, but he could target a former player from his days with the San Francisco 49ers.

Bleacher Report thinks that while the Texans might not need to bring in defensive back depth, one of the top names to watch is free-agent Ahkello Witherspoon. 

“It’s hard to find too many needs that the Texans must address now. They had a ton of cap space this season and have been proactive in addressing any faults on the current roster. Cornerback could be the exception, though. Their answer there was to throw some short-term contracts on Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson. Both are former first-round picks with varying levels of disappointment thus far. Ahkello Witherspoon isn’t a shutdown corner, but he was a solid starter for the Rams last season. He played all 17 games and gave up a passer rating of 75.7.” –  Bleacher Report

Witherspoon, a former third-round pick out of Colorado, spent four seasons under Ryans’ watch before bouncing around the NFC West with Seattle and Los Angeles. He’s capable of playing both in the nickel near the line of scrimmage or on the boundary.

Witherspoon, 29, has the knowledge and frame to fit in Ryans’ defense as a depth piece. The transition period would take no time, meaning he’ll be cleared to debut for Houston perhaps no later than Week 2’s matchup against the Chicago Bears at home.

The Texans still have one more preseason game, so anyone could catch the ground and earn their spot on the final 53-man roster. If Henderson, Ford, Ross, Kris, Myles Bryant and Desmond King all struggle, Ryans could be looking to target a name in free agency.

Is Pro Bowl OT Laremy Tunsil Texans’ most essential player in 2024?

According to Bleacher Report, the Houston Texans need Laremy Tunsil more than anyone else if they are to win the Super Bowl in 2024.

Since joining the Houston Texans in 2019, Laremy Tunsil has been to four Pro Bowls. 

He’s been one of the top pass protectors in four different offensive schemes. 

He’s also proven why he’s worth every cent of his three-year, $75 million extension as the blindside blocker for C.J. Stroud one year into the new era of Texans’ football.

But is the veteran left tackle Houston’s most essential player for success? According to Bleacher Report, his health could determine if the Texans can make a run for New Orleans in February or underachieve entering Year 2 under DeMeco Ryans. 

“Houston needs Tunsil to quickly get into midseason form, stay on the field and play like the dependable starter he has been in the past,” writes B/R’s Kristopher Knox. “Otherwise, the Texans may be forced to thrust rookie second-round pick Blake Fisher into the lineup, which would be far less than ideal.”

Fisher, a two-year starter at Notre Dame, is expected to be a long-term answer at right tackle, but might not be ready to start in Year 1. He’s shown upside in practice but was often overpowered in Saturday’s 28-10 win over the New York Giants when asked to face off against Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns. 

Tunsil, 30, is coming off a down season after allowing five sacks. He remains one of the top left tackles in the sport and could be cashing in on a new deal with a solid season at hand. 

One area he must show improvements in is run blocking. Houston struggled to move the ball on the ground last season, ranking 23rd overall in rushing offense. It’s been the glaring issue in training camp on the left side without Tunsil in the starting lineup. Running backs Dameon Pierce and Cam Akers have combined for 67 yards on 23 carries. 

Tunsil, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in February, is back at practice. He likely won’t play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams and that’s fine since Houston would rather have him ready for Week 1’s matchup against AFC South rival Indianapolis. 

Houston has a roster built to win a Super Bowl should Stroud build off his Offensive Rookie of the Year success. That starts with having ample protection against the pass rush. 

Do you know how water takes up over 70 percent of the world? Tunsil solves 70 percent of the pass protection problem for Houston in what could be one of the best seasons in franchise history. 

Texans TE Dalton Schultz remains consistent target for C.J. Stroud in win over Giants

Dalton Schultz could be the secret weapon for the Houston Texans’ “five-headed monster” in 2024.

Stefon Diggs made his first catch as a member of the Houston Texans for a first down.

Nico Collins showed last season wasn’t a fluke with a 24-yard catch-and-run during the first quarter against the New York Giants on Saturday afternoon.

Even Tank Dell made a highlight grab for a gain of 23 before being negated because of a holding call.

But C.J. Stroud’s top target in a 28-10 win over the Giants wasn’t one of perhaps the NFL’s top receiver trios. Instead, it was last year’s security blanket Dalton Schultz, who might end up being the biggest surprise of Houston’s “five-headed monster.”

“Dalton is a reliable, trustworthy player. He finds a way to get open, especially third down,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Thursday. “He has really great hands. He’s always like in between the hashes right there. He’s able to make a play, and he’s available for C.J. to get the ball to him. Dalton has done that his entire career.”

By the end of the first quarter, Schultz led all starters with three catches for 39 yards. He consistently found creases in the defense for opportunities to strike, though Stroud wanted to get others involved in the aerial attack.

Perhaps that security was best on display on 2nd-and-10 at the 1-yard line when Stroud took a deep shot across the middle for a gain of 26, his longest pass of the day. That was enough to get Houston out of the end zone for a potential safety.

“He’s done a good job for us since he’s been here,” Ryans said. “I think C.J. sees that and he knows that he’s a reliable target.”

After spending five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Schultz bet on himself by signing a one-year deal with Houston last offseason. Not only did he finish top-12 among tight ends in every receiving metric, but he was one of the Texans’ most targeted players on third down.

Houston rewarded him with a new three-year extension worth $36 million before free agency began.

“Dalton is a vet’s vet,” Stroud said postgame. “He’s somebody that comes in and works hard every day. Not only just on the field is he a mismatch and somebody who can create separation and do a lot of great things, but also he’s just a great leader.”

The Texans’ seventh-ranked passing attack could improve with the addition of Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler and six-time 1,000-yard receiver. Since joining the Bills in 2020, he’s averaged 103 receptions and over 1,100 yards per year.

Dell was on pace for a 1,200-yard rookie campaign before suffering a broken leg in early December.

Collins, who signed a three-year extension before summer workouts, might be the next Pro Bowl target to follow in the footsteps of DeAndre Hopkins and Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson.

All three receivers could surpass the 1,000-yard marker before the season’s end, but Schultz will remain a factor in the passing attack. His consistency serves as a trustworthy option for Stroud across the middle of the field.

“If you’re open, you get the ball,” Stroud said. “That’s kind of just how football is. It’s up to my job to spread it and throw it to the guys who are open. I think all five positions, skill positions, do a great job of that.”

Giants-Texans preseason Week 2: Offense, defense and special teams snap counts

Here’s how many snaps each player for the Houston Texans saw in Saturday’s win over the New York Giants.

The Houston Texans bested the New York Giants, 28-10, on Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium to improve to 2-1 heading into the final week of training camp. 

Scoring drives aren’t honestly necessary in the preseason. Starters pick up two touchdowns in six minutes before the second-team defense gives up 14 points and costs a victory in front of the home crowd. 

What matters is consistency from starters. C.J. Stroud and the offense looked promising on two drives even though they didn’t score. Stefon Diggs made a first-down catch while Dalton Schultz continued his quest as a security blanket for Stroud on third down with three receptions. 

The defense was the scene stealer in front of what should be the lowest-attended game of the year. Jalen Pitre and Derek Stingely each picked off Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, with the former finding his way to the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown. 

As a unit, Houston’s defense notched five turnovers, including three in the fourth quarter on New York’s final three possessions. Third-year receiver John Metchie III might have also secured a spot on the roster after a career day working against New York’s secondary. 

Starters might be done this preseason after playing the entire first quarter. That’s a positive since coaches have likely seen enough heading into Week 1’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

Moving into the final preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, coaches need to finalize their roster, so it’s important to see players on the bubble play extensively to prove their value. 

Here are the snap counts for every player that contributed to the Texans’ Week 2 preseason win.

Offensive snaps: 75
Defensive snaps: 63
Special teams snaps: 23

It was an overall solid snap spread for the Texans’ roster with just about every healthy body getting field time. Metchie, who finished with six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, tied Xavier Hutchinson for the most snaps among offensive position players with 34.

Offensive lineman Nick Broeker, who saw action at both right guard and right tackle, led the Texans in total snaps with 57.

Defensive end Ali Gaye could be a name to monitor entering Week 3 after playing in 47 snaps. Kamari Lassiter, who made his preseason debut, saw 14 coverage snaps and wasn’t targeted once.

Texans finally have full offense with RB Joe Mixon back in action

Joe Mixon is set to make his debut for the Houston Texans and it might ease fans on the lackluster ground game concerns entering 2024.

Two games into the preseason and the Houston Texans’ run game remains underwhelming.

Perhaps that changes on Saturday with the return — or in the Texans’ case — the arrival of their new Pro Bowl runner.

Joe Mixon has practiced all week and plans to make his debut on Saturday against the New York Giants. Dameon Pierce and Cam Akers have held down the fort over the past two games, but Houston traded for Mixon to be the team’s focal point on the ground.

But there’s more than just a consistent 1,000-yard runner between each carry for Mixon. Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik mentioned he’ll offer value in the passing game. He also plans on being a factor in pass protection to keep C.J. Stroud upright.

“Joe is solid, he’s an all-around back. When it comes to blocking, catching, running the football, Joe is all-around,” Ryans said Thursday. “He’s a strong, physical player. That allows him to do really well in pass protection. You can ask a lot of him in pass protection, he matches up well vs. any blitzers whether it’s linebackers or secondary defenders.”

Mixon, who signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Texans this offseason, is coming off his fourth 1,000-yard campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals. That was expected, but his role in the passing game perhaps wasn’t.

After finishing with over 400 receiving yards in 2022, Mixon followed that up with 376 yards off 52 catches a season later.

Remember that the Bengals lost Joe Burrow midway through the season and turned to veteran Jake Browing for the rest of the year.

Over his past four years, Mixon’s averaged 219 carries and 41 receptions per campaign.  Ryans pointed to Mixon’s ability to serve as a last-second resort out of the backfield for a quarterback to turn a negative play into a positive.

“That’s what you like: giving the quarterback just a little more time to make plays,” Ryans said.  “Joe will do be capable of doing that for us.”

The Texans need a healthy Mixon if they plan on upgrading their 23rd-ranked rushing unit from last season. Pierce looks more agile after a sophomore slump, but he’s only rushed for four yards on four attempts.

Akers, who currently leads Houston with 30 yards on 11 carries, found the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Davis Mills against the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame game, but he’s coming off a pair of torn Achilles. He might make the roster, but the Texans can’t trust the former second-round pick as a three-down back entering 2024.

Mixon will play for the first time since early January on Saturday. By the end of the first quarter, he could silence the crowd’s concerns of an underwhelming run game.

Texans training camp: Rookie TE Cade Stover continues to impress as secondary option

Houston Texans rookie tight end Cade Stover continues to impress midway through training camp.

C.J. Stroud wanted to make sure at least one former teammate from Ohio State joined the Houston Texans in 2024.

He might have the best of the bunch with the addition of rookie tight end Cade Stover.

Since the start of training camp, Stover has been one of the top playmakers for both Stroud and Davis Mills as a secondary option in the passing game. He was one of two targets who hauled in passes from Stroud during Houston’s 20-12 preseason win on Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The other, Tank Dell, went 34 yards for a score.

How fitting for Stroud to connect with his top red-zone target from college in his first game and his favorite weapon last season in his return to the field.

“Cade has probably been one of our most consistent players on the team since he’s been here,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Sunday. “Sometimes, I was telling the guys today, I forget that he is a rookie because he’s been so consistent. He is exactly the guy we thought we were getting. Tough, gritty, hard-nosed and dependable.”

With Teagan Quitoriano out with a leg injury, Stover has exclusively seen reps with the second team. Brevin Jordan didn’t play in Friday’s game, so it was the first chance to see the former Buckeye brothers reunite since their time in Columbus.

Drafted 123rd overall, Stover is likely a long-term project for the franchise’s passing game. Jordan, a former fifth-round pick, could cash in elsewhere next offseason if he breaks out during a contract year.

The Texans also brought back Dalton Schultz on a three-year, $36 million extension after serving as Stroud’s security blanket last season. He could be getting started on a Pro Bowl-caliber year after hauling in 59 passes for over 600 yards and five touchdowns.

But Stover is impressing the right people. He should be a lock to make the roster and eventually carve out meaningful reps.

“It’s exciting to see a young player come in and be as consistent as he is day in and day out,” Ryans said.

The Texans play against the New York Giants on Saturday at noon. CT.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans addresses early run game woes in preseason

The Texan’s run game remains the one eye-sore on a roster capable of being a legitimate offensive juggernaut entering 2024.

The addition of Joe Mixon was meant to fix the Houston Texans’ lackluster run game entering 2024.

Through two preseason matchups, woeful might be the best word to describe the AFC South’s ground game with Mixon sidelined.

While the Texans planned on utilizing Mixon as the lead workhorse back this fall, it’s best to use the preseason as a litmus test for depth purposes. So far, Houston’s totaled 134 yards on 43 carries in two contests.

Dameon Pierce has four yards on four carries. Cam Akers has 30 on 11.

DeMeco Ryans knows that while Mixon is the leading man, a team can only win if others are carrying their weight. The inability to win past the line of scrimmage doesn’t just fall on the running backs, but also the offensive line.

“We have to finish better on the front side to get the runs going,” Ryans said Sunday following practice. “I think a lot of our runs got stalled because we had guys penetrating in the backfield and guys shooting gaps. We have to respond better to movement to get our run game going.”

Mixon, who missed two weeks with a quad injury, returned to the huddle and was limited in front of fans on Saturday. The four-time 1,000-yard runner plans to be a missing element on the ground for the next several seasons after signing a three-year extension following a trade from Cincinnati this offseason.

While Mixon’s return was welcomed, so was Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil. The franchise left tackle had been sidelined since February after undergoing a knee procedure following the regular season.

Having Mixon and Tunsil back working with starters should stabilize everyone’s role, but it doesn’t change the issues of trusting the run. Houston ranked 23rd overall last season on the ground and hasn’t produced a 1,000-yard rusher since 2019.

The Texans take on the New York Giants this Saturday at noon CT.