Entering what would be his 10th NFL season, Duane Brown remains a Texans holdout. But the longtime Houston left tackle said Monday he intends to play in 2017.
What Brown did not confirm, though, was when he’ll show. He and the Texans remain at an impasse regarding compensation, and with Houston’s first game Sunday, we’re firmly in the 11th hour of this process.
“I’m definitely playing football this year,” Brown said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, before declining to specify when he will return.
The Texans placed Brown on their Reserve/Did Not Report list after he failed to attend training camp, and it’s been quiet on this front since. We heard in late July Brown wasn’t expected to miss games, but at this point, it’s hard to describe that as a certainty.
Brown has started all 132 regular-season games he’s played for the franchise, but he’s signed through 2018 for $9.4MM and $9.75MM — all of which is nonguaranteed. The spate of 2017 tackle extensions or UFA signings — for the likes of Russell Okung, Riley Reiff, Matt Kalil and now Charles Leno — have bumped Brown down to a middling left tackle salary. Fifteen left tackles’ contracts average more per year than Brown’s deal does. The three-time Pro Bowler is entering his age-32 season.
Brown will lose $411K in salary for each week he misses, and Smith notes the edge blocker could skip eight weeks before returning and still receive credit for an accrued season toward free agency. With Brown still profiling as one of the Texans’ best players, a lengthy absence would damage the team’s chances at winning a third straight AFC South title.
Veteran Chris Clark is listed atop the Texans’ depth chart at left tackle, with third-year UDFA Kendall Lamm manning the right side in place of the sidelined Derek Newton.
But when Brown does return this season, as he confirmed he will, he doesn’t expect to need much seasoning.
“I’m always in shape,” Brown said, via Smith. “I’m in shape year round, 24/7, 365, so I’m just working out, doing what I do and when I’m out there I’ll handle business.”
If the Texans guaranteed at least 60-75% of his remaining money he’d probably come back. The money isn’t that far off that he would be holding out for a bigger salary. He’s probably more worried about having no guaranteed money going into next year.