Tag: Texans OTAs

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson will not attend OTAs amid trade request

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson will not take part in organized team activities as he still seeks a trade.

In the midst of 22 women suing for alleged sexual assault, the future for Deshaun Watson off-field remains a tad problematic.

With the possibility of a lengthy suspension, no one knows whether or not Watson will be playing football in 2021. But if he can avoid a lengthy suspension by the league, Watson will not be resuming his on-field play as a member of the Houston Texans.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback will not attend the Texans’ voluntary organized team activities and still wants to be traded. The Texans’ first day of voluntary OTAs began Monday.

The news of Watson’s trade request came in late January following the hiring of new general manager Nick Caserio. The Texans were at first adamant about not trading their franchise quarterback. But Houston has since changed their stance. The organization has added three new quarterbacks to their roster (Tyrod Taylor and Jeff Driskel), highlighted by rookie prospect Davis Mills.

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans would have traded their disgruntled star before the 2021 NFL draft before Watson’s civil lawsuits became public.

Texans offseason program Phase 3 begins May 24

The third phase of the Houston Texans’ offseason program begins Monday, and the team will start to have their 10 organized team activities.

The third phase of the Houston Texans’ offseason workout program starts Monday, May 24.

The phase includes 10 organized team activities and a mandatory minicamp that concludes the offseason program on June 15-17.

Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair told reporters on May 22 during the Texans Care Volunteer Day at the Harvard branch of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Houston that he is pleased with the way the team is coming together after meeting with coach David Culley and general manager Nick Caserio.

“I had a great meeting with Nick and coach, and we’re excited about the turnout (of players), how the team’s coming together and where it’s going,” McNair said via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. “The players are excited about it (offseason program). The program’s voluntary. None of them have to (participate), but I think one reason they are is because they want to see what this staff is putting our team together.”

The Texans need every opportunity available to form cohesion as they seek to rebound from a 4-12 record and a third-place finish in the AFC South in 2020.

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Texans to sign former Bengals, Lions, Broncos QB Jeff Driskel

The Houston Texans will sign former Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Denver Broncos quarterback Jeff Driskel according to his agent.

The Houston Texans are adding another quarterback to their roster.

As the Texans enter phase two of the offseason workouts, during the advent of organized team activities, Houston will sign quarterback Jeff Driskel.

Driskel has played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Denver Broncos. The 6-4, 235-pound signal caller was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth-round of the 2016 NFL draft. Driskel stayed on through the preseason when he was cut as the 49ers trimmed down to their 53-man roster.

Driskel got his start in 2018 with the Bengals, going 1-4 as a starter and throwing for six touchdowns and two interceptions. In 2019, Driskel went 0-3 as a starter filling in for an injured Matthew Stafford, compiling a 4-4 touchdown to interception ratio. In 2020, Driskel went 0-1 for Denver and threw for three touchdowns and an interception.

The Texans already have Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Finley, and third-round rookie Davis Mills on the roster. Driskel becomes another part of the Texans’ great reset at quarterback as they seek to move on from three-time Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson, who requested a trade in January.

What do the Texans hope to get out of phase two of the NFL offseason?

Houston Texans coach David Culley outlined what he expects to get out of phase two of the NFL offseason program.

The Houston Texans commence phase two of the 2021 NFL offseason program Monday.

Coach David Culley shared with reporters on a Zoom call on May 15 what he hopes to get out of the second part of the offseason workout program.

“I’m excited to be able to get out there with them for the first time,” Culley said. “We’ve had the veterans now for about four weeks, strength and conditioning on Zoom meetings, putting installs in — our coaching staff has. Starting on Monday, we get to do the same thing, but we get to get some field time with them.”

Culley says that they will start with their minicamp schedule and start off with the veteran group and “get them into the culture.”

Said Culley: “We’ve got 30 new guys on this team right now. It’s a brand new football team, so we want to make sure that they understand from day one what we’re all about and where we’re going and what we’re trying to get accomplished. That’s what we want to do for the rest of the offseason.”

The Texans’ offseason program concludes with a mandatory minicamp in June.

Instagram post hints at three Texans participating in voluntary workouts

Three Houston Texans players appear to be taking part in voluntary offseason workouts, according to an Instagram post from TE Kahale Warring.

The NFL began Phase I of their offseason program by allowing teams to hold voluntary workouts on Monday. With a number of players across the league opting out due to COVID-19 concerns, the Houston Texans possibly had a significant turnout.

According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, multiple players participated in the Texans’ voluntary offseason conditioning program on the first day.

The names of the players that were in attendance have remained anonymous, but a social media post by one of the Texans’ tight ends hinted at three players who could be participating: tight end Jordan Akins, tight end Kahale Warring, and cornerback Keion Crossen.

The photo of three players likely attending workouts at NRG Stadium appeared on Warring’s Instagram story on Thursday.

Phase I of the NFL’s offseason program will run for four weeks from April 19 to May 14. The first of four phases will include a two-hour virtual Zoom meeting with the facility open for conditioning. As of now, all on-field workouts with coaches are prohibited until Phase II beginning on May 17.

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Multiple Texans participating in voluntary offseason workouts

Multiple Houston Texans players have begun participation in the voluntary offseason workouts, according to a report.

The Houston Texans do have a semblance of continuity going after a rollercoaster of an offseason.

According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, multiple Texans players began participation in the team’s voluntary workouts Monday. April 19 was the first day of the first phase of the nine-week program, which is strictly voluntary until the last week of mandatory minicamp.

Texans players originally voted with the NFLPA and other clubs to not attend the workouts. However, players that did choose to attend the workouts would be supported.

According to Texans general manager Nick Caserio, players were already using the team facilities for workouts.

“We’ve had a multitude of players that have been in here,” Caserio told Houston reporters on a Zoom call April 16. “They come in the building, they test, they go in the weight room, they work out, they go through their process. So, again, whatever players are here that choose to participate, like that’s their choice and we are going to create as good of a working environment for the players as possible. So when they come here, they feel comfortable, and they feel like they are improving as a Houston Texan football player, so that’s what our focus is going to be on.”

Coaches and players will not be allowed to participate in on-field work during this four-week phase. However, there will be an opportunity for at least two hours a day of virtual meetings.

Breaking down the 3 phases of the Texans offseason program

The NFL offseason program kicks off April 19. Here are the three phases of participation for the Houston Texans.

The NFL voluntary offseason program kicks off Monday, and the Houston Texans do expect some participation despite a report that the players have decided to skip them.

According to NFL Operations, here is a breakdown of the nine-week offseason program, which is entirely voluntary except for one mandatory minicamp in June.

“There’s only so much that we control, so, we’ll take advantage of whatever opportunities that we have, whether that’s virtual meetings, and then if we do have the opportunity to work with them on the practice field at some point, then we’ll embrace that opportunity when it presents itself,” general manager Nick Caserio told Houston reporters on a Zoom call April 16. “So we can only control what we can control.”

Here is a breakdown of each phase of the offseason program.

Texans expect ‘case-by-case basis’ for participation in offseason program

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio expects some players to participate in the offseason program on a case-by-case basis.

The NFL’s voluntary offseason program starts Monday, and new general manager Nick Caserio doesn’t see any difference between the 2021 post-lockdown version and the version from years past.

Caserio addressed the offseason program in a Zoom call with Houston media on April 16.

“This year is no different,” Caserio said. “It’s a voluntary program. So players have the option to participate in the program. So it’s a case-by-case basis and each player will make the choice that they feel is best.”

According to Caserio, NRG Stadium facilities have been open and available to Texans players, and “a multitude” have been using the weight room throughout the offseason.

“They come in the building, they test, they go in the weight room, they work out, they go through their process,” said Caserio. “So, again, whatever players are here that choose to participate, like that’s their choice and we are going to create as good of a working environment for the players as possible. So, when they come here, they feel comfortable, and they feel like they are improving as a Houston Texan football player, so that’s what our focus is going to be on.”

Texans players voted to skip voluntary workouts in solidarity with the NFLPA as the league and players union work to clarify offseason program participation.