Houston Texans News & Rumors

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/11/24

Here are today’s NFL practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

The Bengals signed Brightwell after hosting several veterans for workouts on Monday, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Leonard Fournette and Xavien Howard were among the players who auditioned in Cincinnati, but neither player left with a deal.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/24

Here are today’s minor moves around the NFL:

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Reinstated from suspension, one-game roster exemption granted: DE Mario Edwards

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks

Williams completed his three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He remains on injured reserve after a season-ending knee injury suffered during training camp.

Edwards served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and is now eligible to be reinstated to the Texans’ active roster. Houston requested and received a one-game roster exemption to give Edwards an additional week to practice with the team before being added back to the 53-man roster.

Texans Activate WR Nico Collins, DE Jerry Hughes From IR

NOVEMBER 10: Despite his activation from injured reserve, Collins is inactive for the Texans’ Sunday night matchup with the Lions. He is expected to play in Week 11, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC, but did not participate in practice enough this week.

NOVEMBER 9: In three of their last four games, the Texans have failed to pass for more than 176 yards. Those passing struggles can in part be attributed to injuries in the receiving corps and in part are the reason for two losses in those four games. Luckily for second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, he’ll get one of his favorite targets back as the Texans activate wide receiver Nico Collins from injured reserve.

After two solid years for a third-round pick to start his career, Collins broke out last season with a monster 1,297-yard, eight-touchdown season. Collins was on track to improve on those numbers this year, averaging a league-leading 113.4 yards per game through his first five games of the season before suffering a hamstring injury that landed him on IR. Fellow wide receiver Stefon Diggs followed soon after with a season-ending ACL tear, further hindering a potent Texans passing attack.

Collins is still listed as “questionable” on the injury report heading into tomorrow’s game, but if he’s able to return, he provides a huge upgrade to a receiving corps that currently consists of Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, and John Metchie. Houston has an impressive hold on the AFC South lead, but a struggling offense had the potential to turn the tables on the season. Gifting Collins back to Stroud might be just what the Texans need to right the ship.

Joining Collins off of IR will be veteran defensive end Jerry Hughes. Hughes was moved to IR over a month ago. After a five-game absence, the 36-year-old veteran will reprise his rotational role behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter along the edge.

The Texans needed to open up a roster spot for the two activations today. To clear space, cornerback D’Angelo Ross was waived from the 53-man roster. Starting the season on the practice squad, Ross was signed to the active roster shortly into the regular season. He’s made two starts in eight game appearances.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/24

Today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Elevated: LB Curtis Bolton, WR Isaiah Hodgins

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Spector will miss at least the next four games as a result of the Bills’ move. He has remained a mainstay on special teams this year, having also done so in 2022 and ’23. The former seventh-rounder has made three starts on defense, however, so his absence will be felt moving forward. Linebacker has been a position hit hard by injuries this season, and Buffalo’s depth at the second level will now be tested even further.

Wattenberg had his 21-day practice window opened by the Broncos earlier this week, paving the way for today’s activation. The 27-year-old operated as the team’s starting center prior to going down after having won a summer competition for the gig with Alex Forsyth. Forsyth handled first-team duties over the past four games, drawing a superior PFF evaluation and therefore potentially playing his way into an extended look atop the depth chart. At a minimum, having Wattenberg back will give Denver – a team with three IR activations left – depth up front.

Texans Designate WR Nico Collins For Return, Place G Kenyon Green On IR

The Texans’ receiving corps could see a notable boost in time for Week 10. The team announced on Friday that wideout Nico Collins has been designated for return.

Collins now has 21 days to practice before being activated or reverting to season-ending IR. A hamstring injury shut him down for a four-game stretch, interrupting his impressive start to the campaign. The 25-year-old led the NFL in receiving yards at the time of the injury, and Houston’s passing attack has suffered in his absence.

Of course, the Texans’ WR room was dealt another blow recently when Stefon Diggs suffered an ACL tear. The pending free agent will miss the remainder of the season as a result, but Collins being back in the fold would compensate for that to an extent. Houston was optimistic the latter could be back in the fold this week, so today’s move comes as little surprise. It will be interesting to see how involved Collins is in today’s practice and as such what his status is for Sunday night’s contest.

The Michigan product landed an extension this offseason, and he is now attached to a $24.25MM-per-year deal. Collins faces high expectations as a result, but his 113.4 receiving yards per game when healthy this year suggests he is capable of living up to them over the long term. He will reprise his WR1 role once activated, with second-year wideout Tank Dell operating in a key complementary role. The Texans were floated as a potential buyer at the receiver position ahead of the trade deadline, but no moves were made on that front.

Houston was also considered a team to watch with respect to making an addition along the offensive line given the team’s struggles up front. Another reason to be active, of course, was the injury to guard Kenyon Green; the former first-rounder is dealing with a dislocated shoulder and has now officially be placed on injured reserve. After suffering the injury in Week 9, that was the expected outcome. Green could return at some point in the year, depending on his rehab process and how deep of a run the Texans make should they qualify for the postseason.

The team has five IR activations remaining as things stand. That figure will drop to four once Collins is brought back into the fold, but his return will be welcomed on offense as the 6-3 Texans prepare for a primetime matchup against the Lions in their attempt to remain in control of the AFC South.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/24

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Gross-Matos was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on October 5, sidelining him for San Francisco’s last four games. He now has 21 days to practice with the team before he must be added back to the activ roster or revert to season-ending IR. He signed a two-year, $18MM contract with the 49ers in the offseason but struggled with his new team with just one tackle in 81 snaps across three appearances.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/6/24

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: T Ryan Hayes

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

While a few players in today’s roundup are catching back on with teams after being cut from their respective club’s active roster, the 49ers are adding Gage. This marks the veteran wideout’s first gig since the Ravens cut him following training camp. Gage, who totaled 700-plus-yard seasons with the Falcons in 2020 and 2021, did not justify a three-year, $30MM Buccaneers contract. The 28-year-old receiver has not played in a regular-season game since suffering a season-nullifying knee injury — a patellar tendon rupture — during Bucs camp in 2023.

2024 NFL Trades

We have reached the 2024 trade deadline, which came one week later than the league’s usual endpoint. An offseason measure to move the deadline back one week passed, sliding the deadline beyond Week 9 after it had resided the Tuesday following Week 8 since 2012. That opened the door to more activity this year.

The 2024 offseason also featured extensive work, as teams added starters and depth pieces. Here are the trades involving veteran players (or rookies already drafted) to take place this year:

March 4

Bears chose defensive end Austin Booker at No. 144

March 9

Broncos sent Seahawks No. 136, included 203 in trade with Jets for QB Zach Wilson

March 10

Patriots chose QB Joe Milton at 193

March 11

Bucs drafted WR Jalen McMillan at No. 92; Lions traded No. 201 to Eagles

Panthers traded down from No. 39, giving Rams access to DT Braden Fiske; team moved No. 141 in Bills deal that sent WR Xavier Legette to Carolina. Giants chose RB Tyrone Tracy at 166.

March 12

Bengals chose DB Daijahn Anthony at No. 224 

March 13

Texans traded No. 232 to Vikings

Ravens chose WR Devontez Walker at No. 113, QB Devin Leary at 218; Jets drafted RB Braelon Allen at 134

March 14

Commanders traded Nos. 78, 152 to Eagles in trade that sent CB Cooper DeJean to Philadelphia; Seahawks moved down from No. 102, drafted G Sataoa Laumea at 179

Bolts traded No. 110 to Patriots 

March 15

Steelers chose LB Payton Wilson at No. 98; Eagles traded No. 120 to Dolphins in package that brought back 2025 third-rounder

March 16

Fields must play in 51% of Steelers’ offensive snaps for pick to elevate from sixth to fourth round

March 22

Chiefs traded No. 221 to Bills; Titans chose OLB Jaylen Harrell at 252

March 29

Pick would have become second-rounder had Reddick played 67.5% of Jets’ 2024 defensive snaps and recorded at least 10 sacks. Reddick’s holdout ensured Philly’s pick will land in Round 3.

April 3

Texans dealt No. 189 to Lions for Nos. 205, 249

April 12

Browns chose CB Myles Harden at No. 227

April 22

In trade that gave Vikings J.J. McCarthy draft real estate at No. 10 overall, Jets sent No. 203 to Minnesota; Broncos chose C Nick Gargiulo at 256

April 27

May 9

August 9

August 11

August 14

Dallas carried Phillips on its active roster for two games, meeting minimum requirement for conditional sixth to transfer

August 22

Pick did not convey due to Commanders cutting York before he played in two games with team

August 23

August 24

August 26

August 27

August 28

October 14

October 15

Pick would upgrade to second-rounder if Adams earns first- or second-team All-Pro recognition or is on Jets’ active roster for 2024 AFC championship game or Super Bowl LIX

October 23

Pick would become fourth-rounder if Hopkins both plays 60% of Chiefs’ remaining offensive snaps and Kansas City advances to Super Bowl LIX

October 28

October 29

Robinson’s playing time will determine if Jags pick climbs to a fourth-rounder and whether Vikings will end up receiving 2026 seventh

November 4

November 5

Sixth-rounder going to New Orleans comes from pick Saints sent Commanders for John Ridgeway 

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/5/24

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

49ers To Acquire Khalil Davis From Texans

Right at the deadline, one final trade has been agreed to. Defensive tackle Khalil Davis is headed from the Texans to the 49ers, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Houston will acquire a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange. This move will provide San Francisco with depth along the defensive front, something which will be welcomed given the fact Javon Hargrave is out for at least the remainder of the regular season. Davis will look to carve out a rotational role on his new team.

The 28-year-old made only a pair of appearances with the Buccaneers during his rookie season. That was followed by a single game played with the Colts the following year. Davis not see any regular season action in 2022, but it was with the Texans that he managed to find a regular spot on the active roster. He played 15 games last season, collecting 32 tackles and a pair of sacks.

The Nebraska product has played in all nine contests for Houston in 2024, although his snap share (32%) has taken a step back compared to last season. Now, Davis will look to handle at least a similar workload upon arrival in the Bay Area. Davis – a pending free agent – is attached to a base salary of only $1.1MM, so this will be an easily affordable pickup for the 49ers.

Under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco has made a trade at or near the deadline every season except 2018 (h/t ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). As such, it comes as no surprise the team has gone ahead with another move just before this year’s trade deadline. Sitting at 4-4 on the year, the 49ers are in the thick of the wide-open NFC West race while awaiting the return of multiple key players over the coming weeks.

Of course, this is not the first time these teams have hooked up for a D-lineman trade. Houston dealt Maliek Collins to San Francisco in March, and he has been a full-time starter for the 49ers this year. Collins will have a familiar face alongside him for the second half of the season.