The Texans are cutting running back Phillip Lindsay (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). As a post-trade-deadline cut, Lindsay will be subject to the waiver wire.
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The Texans shopped Lindsay before the trade deadline, but they didn’t find any deals to their liking. Through ten games, Lindsay has 50 carries for 130 yards and one rushing touchdown, plus three grabs for 37 yards and one receiving TD. Far less efficient than usual, he’s been used far less than expected in Houston.
Of course, this hasn’t been a banner year for anyone on the Texans, so it’s hard to say whether this is indicative of a sharp decline for Lindsay. Before joining up with Houston, Lindsay averaged 4.8 yards per tote across three Broncos seasons. And, between 2018 and 2019, he showcased his receiving ability by reeling in 70 catches for 437 yards.
Still only 27, Lindsay could be a difference-maker for a contender. Any team claiming Lindsay would be responsible for the balance of his one-year contract and the prorated portion of his $2.25MM base salary.
The league’s other 31 teams will have 24 hours to submit claims for Lindsay. If he’s not claimed between now and 4pm ET/3pm CT Wednesday, he’ll be eligible to sign with any club of his choosing.
Patriots really don’t need him but, I’d love to see him on the team.
I agree would not be a bad pickup for the team.
This seems like a no brainer for the Hawks.
He’d be an upgrade over anyone not named Harris on the Steelers
Doubt he makes it to them, but I agree I’d make that claim if I were them. Snell and Ballage are redundant. MacFarland clearly isn’t showing enough to even get a hat as a change of pace.
McFarland shocks me because they made it sound like the coaching staff loved him. Now he can’t even get a helmet on game day
I agree. Ballage fills the same role as Snell, but i personally am higher on him. Lindsay is a different back and would add a speed and pass catching element to complement the Steelers’ ground game. I agree that it’s unlikely that he gets there, though.
I agree with all of the above. Snell has made himself useful on special teams but is useless as a running back. Ballage I’d actually like to see more of; it feels like so far they’ve used him in odd situations, and that every time he’s gotten a handoff there’s been 3 defenders immediately in his face. McFarland may be a lost cause: he can’t block, doesn’t play special teams and doesn’t have the coaches confidence. And when Najee went out for awhile against the Chargers, the Steelers wouldn’t even try to run it even though they had the lead and should have been working the clock. They need a more reliable #2, and Lindsay could be it, but I’m not holding my breath.
I can see the Falcons getting him
Ravens?
It would make sense.
I can see the Rams getting him.
That actually would be another good pickup, but I doubt Lindsay makes it that far either. The Eagles, 9ers, and Browns are just a few of the teams that I think could pick up Lindsay before he makes it down the list.
I highly doubt the browns will make a claim for him. Johnson has shown he’s more than capable, and when hunt comes back, Johnson is #3 again
I’ve seen crazier things though, so who knows… they probably will get him
Oh, it would purely injury driven. As someone else pointed out, the Browns recently tried a claim for Lindsay’s former teammate in Royce Freeman, but were too far down the waiver wire.
Freeman is a 2nd string type of back at worst, and a spot starter at best, so I think the Browns are just taking no chances when it comes to their run game. Johnson’s looked good, but I think Cleveland would rather err on the side of caution and pick up a depth option who could conceivably start in a pinch. I just think that it’s their strategy by default, let alone with dealing with injuries to their starting tandem. Lindsay would fit the bill, as would Freeman, even if it’s a short term rental.
Browns will pick him up. They tried to pick up Royce only to be claimed by the Texans.
Ravens? Seahawks? Titans? Any other RB-needy teams?