Tag: Texans

TE Jordan Thomas will add a ‘dimension’ to the Texans offense

On Thursday, the Houston Texans activated second-year tight end Jordan Thomas to their active roster. He will add a dimension to their offense.

Not long ago, tight end Jordan Thomas was primed for a feature role in the Houston Texans’ offense. Then he cracked a rib in the preseason and subsequently went on injured reserve.

While watching from the sidelines, Thomas, 23, witnessed tight ends Darren Fells and Jordan Akins establish themselves as key components in the Texans’ offense. On Thursday, Houston activated him from the injured reserve.

“Jordan, we decided to activate him. He had practiced well and I think yesterday he got in there a little bit,” said coach Bill O’Brien on Friday.

Thomas played seven snaps in the Texans’ Week 12 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Mississippi State product did not receive a target.

Despite a lack of attention on Thursday night, Houston figures that Thomas will be an integral part of their offense moving forward.

“I think over time he’s going to add a dimension in the running game and in the passing game,” said O’Brien.

Thomas measures in at a big 6-5, 277 pounds. As a rookie in 2018, he recorded 20 receptions for 215 yards and four touchdowns. He did his most work in the red zone.

According to Player Profiler, Thomas possessed a 13.4% red zone target rate in 2018. His seven receptions in the compacted area were ninth in the NFL for tight ends. All four of his touchdowns came in the red zone.

“He’s big, he’s athletic, he’s got great hands, he’s become a better blocker over time, so we’ll keep incorporating him into the offense,” O’Brien concluded. “It’s good to have him back.”

Houston is not afraid to incorporate their tight ends. Fells leads the NFL in touchdowns at the position (six), Akins acts as a motion weapon and improved blocker. Thomas will give the team size, previous rapport with Deshaun Watson and a red zone threat. That doesn’t hurt during the stretch run of the season.

Texans’ rebuilt secondary impresses in 20-17 win against the Colts

The Houston Texans’ rebuilt secondary, with Gareon Conley and Vernon Hargreaves, impressed in a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday.

With safety Justin Reid (concussion/shoulder), cornerback Bradley Roby (hamstring) and cornerback Lonnie Johnson (concussion) out, the Houston Texans entered Thursday night’s match with the Indianapolis Colts carrying a secondary missing integral pieces across the board.

That didn’t seem to matter.

The Texans defense held quarterback Jacoby Brissett to 129 passing yards and no touchdowns en route to a 20-17 win. The secondary — after allowing 326 yards and four touchdowns to Brissett in Week 7 — held their own.

Brissett finished with a 76.9 passer rating while completing 16 of his 25 attempts for an average of 5.2 yards per. Most of those yards did not come while attacking the secondary. 12 completions and 99 yards came by way of tight ends and running backs.

“They gave up some yards here and there, but at the end of the day they got lined up and they played the next play,” said coach Bill O’Brien after the game while emphasizing the “next-play mentality” and communication as reasons for the secondary’s good play.

While limiting Brissett to a game to forget, the Texans also accomplished the rare feat of containing wide-out T.Y. Hilton. Hilton, otherwise known as “Texans-killer,” brought in three of his six targets for 18 yards.

The difference between Week 7 and 12 secondaries (other than injuries)? Fresh faces. Former first-round picks Gareon Conley and Vernon Hargreaves are now in the mix in Houston, with both seeing snaps on the aforementioned Hilton.

Conley was invisible on Thursday — a compliment. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were unable to call his name, as he did not allow lapses in coverage worth noting. Like offensive linemen, if a cornerback isn’t drawing attention, that’s a good thing. Conley did not draw attention.

“His play has been speaking volumes for us,” said cornerback Johnathan Joseph while comparing Conley to former second-team All-Pro Leon Hall postgame, via SportsRadio 610.

Meanwhile, Hargreaves showed promise in his debut with the Texans, tallying five combined tackles and a pass breakup. He did so all while starting in the slot, a relatively new position for the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

“We added Vernon Hargreaves a couple weeks ago,” said O’Brien. “He was able to come in and do some things tonight.”

The Texans’ secondary stepped up amid injuries across the board. Next week, against the New England Patriots, they can build momentum with Reid, Roby and Johnson in-line to return to action.

Texans vs. Colts: Who is picking Houston in Week 12?

The Houston Texans face the Indianapolis Colts in NFL Week 12. CBS Sports, USA Today, Pro Football Focus, NFL.com make their picks.

The 6-4 Houston Texans come into their Thursday night matchup with the 6-4 Indianapolis Colts as slight favorites at NRG Stadium.

Thursday night’s Texans vs. Colts battle isn’t just another chapter of a growing rivalry, it’s one with deep playoff implications — with the winner taking full-control of the tight AFC South. Here is what the experts say about the game:

CBS Sports (Cody Benjamin): Texans

texans-bill-obrien-fans-booing-late-fourth-quarter
(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin has the Texans winning in a close bout, 24-23. The reason being the NRG Stadium home field advantage and the need for redemption for Deshaun Watson and Co.

“Pretty much every AFC South game is a coin flip. This is no exception. The Colts should be able to attack Houston’s secondary, but Deshaun Watson will be out to prove Week 11’s flop was an anomaly. At home on a short week, he gets the slight edge,” said Benjamin.

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In their own words: 4 keys for the Texans to beat the Colts

The Houston Texans will host the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football for a Week 12 divisional tilt. Here is how to beat them, as they said.

The Indianapolis Colts, also known as the Texans adversaries, will visit Houston for a Thursday night divisional tilt with playoff implications on the line.

The Colts, under coach Frank Reich, have had the best of the Texans since the start of 2018, winning three of the last four rivalry matchups, including playoffs. How will Houston stop the efforts of the Colts and regain the crown of the AFC South? The Texans’ own explain.

Play sound football, tackling well, and winning at the line of scrimmage – Romeo Crennel

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The best way to shut-down a good offense? Play good, sound defense.

“We’ve got to tackle, we’ve got to win at the line of scrimmage, we’ve got to run to the football,” said defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel on Tuesday. “All of those kind of things.”

Whereas Crennel stresses basic defensive competence from the Texans, they haven’t quite done that in 2019. Houston is 28th in the NFL in missed tackles (85), per Pro Football Reference, last in pressure-rate (17.8%) and 31st in yards after the catch allowed (1,336).

The Texans will need to see improvement in all areas. Though not a necessarily high-powered offense, the Colts, led by offensive mastermind Frank Reich, will exploit basic deficiencies in the Texans offense, such as tackling.

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Colts-Texans odds, picks and best bets [UPDATED]

Previewing the Colts at Texans Week 12 matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

The Indianapolis Colts (6-4) and Houston Texans (6-4) are tied atop the AFC South and will meet in Week 12 for a game with huge playoff implications. The winner will be in the driver’s seat in the division, while the loser could fall out of the playoff picture.

Kickoff from NRG Stadium in Houston will be at 8:20 p.m. ET on Thursday night.

Colts at Texans: Week 12 preview, betting trends and notes

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  • The Texans were blown out by the Ravens on Sunday, losing 41-7 as 4.5-point underdogs. It was the third time this season they’ve failed to win a third straight game.
  • The Colts took care of the Jaguars in Week 11, winning 33-13 at home. It ended a two-game losing skid following losses to the Steelers and Dolphins.
  • The Colts are 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven road games against Houston. They’ve won three straight vs. the Texans, too, dating back to last December.
  • Houston is 14-4 straight up in its last 18 games against the AFC South.
  • The Colts are 6-0 ATS in their last six against the AFC South, and are 3-0 this season.
  • In their last 11 games against teams above .500, the Colts are 10-1 ATS.

Colts at Texans: Key injuries

Colts RB Marlon Mack left Sunday’s game with a hand injury and will miss the game. WR T.Y. Hilton (calf) and TE Eric Ebron (ankle) are expected to play. WR Parris Campbell (hand) is less certain.

Texans WR Will Fuller (hamstring) remains questionable.

Colts at Texans: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Texans 24, Colts 21

Moneyline (?)

The Colts being without Mack is a big factor in this one. The Texans have the advantage of being at home, too, and they should bounce back from an embarrassing loss to the Ravens.

Bet the TEXANS (-189) to win outright on Thursday night. Deshaun Watson is a more dynamic quarterback than Jacoby Brissett and that’ll make a huge difference.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Texans to win outright would return a profit of $5.29.

Against the Spread (?)

The Texans enter as 3.5-point favorites at home, despite losing by 34 points to the Ravens on Sunday. The Colts have been excellent against the spread when facing the Texans and the AFC South in recent years, going 3-0 against the division this year alone.

Bet the COLTS (-110) to cover the 3.5-point spread.

Over/Under (?)

Thursday night games typically lead to some sloppy play early in the contest, which could be the case this week. The Over/Under is set at 46.5 points, and in 12 of the Colts’ last 18 road games, the total has gone under.

Take the UNDER (-115) in this matchup as both teams will take a little while to knock off the short-week rust.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Report: Texans ‘confident’ receiver Will Fuller will play against the Colts

The Houston Texans are confident that wide receiver Will Fuller will play in Thursday night’s bout with the Indianapolis Colts.

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The Houston Texans may benefit from the return of a key cog to their offense on Thursday night.

According to Ed Werder of ESPN, the Texans are “confident” that wide receiver Will Fuller will play against the Indianapolis Colts.

Like the Colts — who expect T.Y. Hilton to return for the divisional tilt — the Texans are in-line to receive their speed merchant back.

Fuller suffered a “significant” hamstring pull in Week 7’s loss to the Colts. He has not played since. After the Week 10 bye, he returned to practice in a limited fashion but ultimately did not fly with the team for their 41-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

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Fuller, on the official injury report, is questionable to return after a week of limited practices and walkthroughs. Coach Bill O’Brien listed him as a game-time decision.

On the season, Fuller has 34 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns. The Texans used veteran Kenny Stills in his place during the recovery process; he was unable to match Fuller’s production.

If Fuller were to return on Thursday, Deshaun Watson would have a full arsenal of skill position players to utilize. None, other than Fuller, were limited in practice heading into Houston’s must-win divisional tilt.

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Texans have their work cut out for themselves vs. Colts’ Jacoby Brissett

The Houston Texans will their work cut out for themselves against Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

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A backup no more, Jacoby Brissett has made a name for himself as the starting quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. The Houston Texans are taking notice.

Brissett will lead the 6-4 Colts against the 6-4 Texans on “Thursday Night Football.” For Houston, limiting him is no easy task. They have never beaten him.

In four games against the Texans (one with the Patriots), Brissett is 72 of 113 passing (63.7%) for 851 yards and seven touchdowns, no interceptions and a 107.2 cumulative passer rating.

Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel credits much of Brissett’s success against Houston to his pocket awareness.

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“He’s got great feet in the pocket and he can move and get out of trouble,” said Crennel on Thursday. “That allows him — sometimes he can run it, and sometimes he can throw it. He’s looking to throw mostly, but when there’s pressure on him, he’s hard to get down because he’s got that size and strength and he can keep plays alive.”

Playing behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, Brissett has the luxury of extra time to throw. He takes advantage of that, taking 2.89 seconds to throw, per NFL Next Gen Stats. However, he has only taken 15 sacks on the year.

Brissett isn’t Andrew Luck, but the Texans have their work cut out for them come Thursday night.

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Texans QB Deshaun Watson won’t discount ‘big game’ against the Colts

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson knows that Thursday’s matchup with the Indianapolis Colts is a big one with AFC South and playoff ties.

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It’s Colts week.

The Houston Texans, the NFL’s youngest franchise, don’t have many rivals. But, they do have some, chief among them the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts, who will face the Texans at NRG Stadium Thursday, tend to be a thorn on his Houston’s side. They lead the all-time series between the two 28-8 while winning five of the last six. The two, in the 2010s, have traded off the crown of the AFC South eight times (Texans five, Colts three).

Thursday night’s game is yet another chapter in the story of the Texans-Colts’ rivalry. It also has playoff implications, as both, at 6-4, are tied for the top of the AFC South, with Indianapolis possessing the tie-breaker.

“It’s a big game,” said quarterback Deshaun Watson on Tuesday. “It’s a divisional game that… can be a big deciding point in the future, but we’ve got to just focus on one drive, focus on one moment at a time. We can’t look at it in that way and try to get carried away and try to panic or try to put too much pressure on ourselves.”

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The Texans’ divisional tilt with the Colts on Thursday doesn’t carry just playoff and rivalry implications. It’s a chance for Houston to redeem themselves on a national stage after being curb-stomped by the Baltimore Ravens 41-7 on Sunday.

“We’ve just got to go out there and play Texans football and take it one play at a time, one moment at a time and play 60 minutes and see how the outcome comes,” said Watson.

In many aspects, the Texans’ brawl with the Colts on Thursday may be their most important game of the season to date. It’s a chance for redemption; to regain the division; to put on a show for a national audience; to re-enter the contender discussion heading into December.

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Texans DE J.J. Watt gave out his number to fans, invited them to text him

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt posted his phone number on Twitter, explaining that he wants to connect directly with his fans.

J.J. Watt is cutting out the middle man.

The Houston Texans injured star defensive end is finding a new way to interact with fans: giving his phone number away to directly chat with them.

On Tuesday night, Watt posted a one-minute long video to his Twitter, asking his fans, supporters, critics, whoever to text his phone number, 262-404-3664.

“I thought it was interesting, so I figure I’m going to try it,” said Watt. “I’ve never done it before, I have no experience with it. So you’re going to have to bear with me. I’m not sure if it’s going to be awesome. I’m not sure if I’m going to get to anybody. So I’m going to give it a shot.”

There were fans who were willing to send Watt a message, and many confirms the authenticity of Watt’s response via text.

The mind can only imagine so many things. Those inclined to send the three-time Defensive Player of the Year a message can do so at 262-404-3664. A an auto-generated link from Community.com from Watt will be sent asking folks to submit their name, phone, date of birth, and email.

Given the volume of texts Watt received, don’t hold your breath on getting a response.

7 Texans the Colts must game plan for in Week 12

These Texans must be accounted for in Week 12.

The Colts are back on top of the AFC South, tied with the Houston Texans with a 6-4 record. This game means so much for both teams as the division and possibly even a potential wild card spot could be at stake here.

Houston is coming off their worst loss of the season, a 41-7 blowout against Baltimore on Sunday. The Texans will not come out as flat as they did last week when they host the Colts on Thursday night and this team is not to be underestimated.

If the Colts want to stay on top of the AFC South and go a game up on Houston, here are seven Texans the Colts must gameplan for:

Deshaun Watson Houston Texans
(Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)

QB Deshaun Watson

This mobile, strong-arm quarterback is a threat every time he steps on the field. The Colts will need to contain him in the pocket and not allow him time to throw to his talented receiving core. Look for Darius Leonard to spy on Watson all game and try to keep him from torching them in the run game.

WR Deandre Hopkins

Regarded as one of, if not the best wide receiver in football, Hopkins creates a significant matchup problem for the Colts. With top corner Pierre Desir questionable for Thursday, it will be up to rookie Rock Ya-Sin and the collection of safeties to keep Hopkins from going down the field.

LB Zach Cunningham

The talented linebacker leads the team in tackles with 79 total tackles on the year. He is a force in the run game and will have to be picked up by the Colts O-line in order to have success with Hines and Williams on the ground.

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Bernardrick McKinney Houston Texans
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

LB Bernardrick McKinney

McKinney is another linebacker that along with Cunningham, can be a real problem for teams trying to run the ball. With 68 total tackles on the year, McKinney will have to be accounted for on Thursday. He is also a solid pass coverage outside backer as well.

TE Darren Fells

Fells has had a quiet season, but has six touchdowns, mostly coming in the red zone. Watson targets his big tight end in goal-line sets so look for Anthony Walker and Leonard to be on Fells especially if the Texans drive down the field.

S Tashaun Gipson Sr.

Gipson has been banged up in 2019 but he is still a great cover safety with run-stopping ability. Gipson has two picks on the year including a 79-yard touchdown return earlier in the season. Brissett will have to be careful airing it out if Gipson is in coverage.

LB Whitney Mercilus

The eighth-year veteran has still been disruptive in this defense that has desperately needed a pass rush after trades and injuries. Mercilus has fit the bill with five and a half sacks on the year along with an interception. With this powerful pass rusher coming off the edge, tackles Anthony Castonzo and Braden Smith will have to make sure he does not get around them.

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