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Noah Brown

Commanders To Re-Sign WR Noah Brown

March 13th, 2025 at 12:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Authoring one play that will go down in franchise history, Noah Brown suffered a season-ending injury weeks after his Hail Mary touchdown. But the Commanders want to keep going with the former Cowboys and Texans wide receiver.

Brown is re-signing with Washington on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Brown had overlapped with Dan Quinn in Dallas, before playing two seasons in Houston. Brown is coming off an injury that ended his season in early December. He had previously indicated hope a Commanders re-signing would commence.

Following K.J. Osborn in re-signing with Washington, Brown played a more notable role than the late-season slot addition. Coming over after a late-summer Texans release, Brown caught 35 passes for 453 yards in his Commanders debut. While the Jayden Daniels heave that began a Bears tailspin inflated Brown’s yardage total, the former Texas-stationed WR posted four other games with more than 50 receiving yards. He will be back and set to vie for a job as an auxiliary piece alongside Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel.

A clear-cut backup for his first five NFL seasons, Brown caught on as a reliable target in 2022 and has remained such since. Following the Cowboys’ Amari Cooper trade, Brown stepped into a bigger role and posted 555 receiving yards in 2022. The Texans added him on a one-year deal in 2023, and the 225-pound target helped a team depleted at receiver. Brown’s 567-yard, two-touchdown season aided C.J. Stroud during his Offensive Rookie of the Year season. Brown has since played supporting roles for back-to-back Offensive Rookies of the Year.

Brown’s skillset differs from Osborn’s, as the latter has been primarily a slot player during his career. Both will have a clear chance to supplement the recently formed McLaurin-Samuel duo. Brown is going into his age-29 season. Despite not surpassing 185 yards in a season, he is still going ahead of a ninth NFL campaign. Although Washington added Samuel, the team has otherwise been retention-heavy with its skill-position group. Zach Ertz, John Bates and Jeremy McNichols are back in the fold as well.

The re-signings of Osborn and Brown come after the Commanders met with Michael Gallup, a long-running Brown Cowboys teammate who recently unretired. Gallup visited the Commanders on Tuesday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. A 2024 Cowboys release, Gallup (29) retired after joining the Raiders. A 2021 ACL tear altered Gallup’s career, but he still had scored a Cowboys payday weeks later. Not clearing 500 receiving yards in a season since 2020, Gallup appears to be searching for a path back into the league.

Zach Ertz Will Play In 2025; Noah Brown Hopes To Re-Sign With Commanders

February 8th, 2025 at 10:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

Zach Ertz enjoyed a strong 2024 campaign upon reuniting with Kliff Kingsbury and playing for the Commanders. The veteran tight end demonstrated the production he is still capable of, and as a result he has no intention of hanging up his cleats.

“I don’t know what the future holds,” the three-time Pro Bowler said (video link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post). “I still want to play football next year. I just want to make that clear that I’m not retiring.”

Ertz’s best years came during his tenure with the Eagles, which began in 2013 and lasted midway through the 2021 campaign. He made a notable first impression for Kingsbury and Co. in Arizona, but in the following two seasons he was limited to a total of 17 contests and saw his production drop off. In 2024, however, a resurgence took place, resulting in a 66-654-7 statline.

Approaching his age-35 season, Ertz is a pending free agent. He is clearly looking for a new deal to continue his career, and it would come as no surprise if the Commanders looked to give him another short-term deal this spring (especially since Kingsbury turned aside head coaching interest to remain in the nation’s capital for 2025). Failing that, any number of teams in need of a pass-catching addition at the TE spot could look to add him for next season.

Ertz played on a $3MM pact in 2024, one which featured $1.96MM in up-front guarantees. The Stanford product will no doubt look to increase the latter figure on his next contract, but with the third-most projected cap space in the league this offseason, the Commanders should be able to comfortably afford a raise. It will be interesting to see if the sides can work out a deal before free agency starts next month.

In other Commanders news, wideout Noah Brown said (via Jhabvala) he wants to remain in Washington for 2025. The former Cowboys draftee was among the familiar faces who followed head coach Dan Quinn to the nation’s capital this past offseason (having spent 2023 in Houston). His debut Commanders campaign was of course highlighted by the Week 8 win which featured a Hail Mary pass he was on the receiving end of; overall, Brown averaged 12.9 yards per catch as a complementary receiving option before suffering a season-ending injury in December.

Adding a high-end producer to their pass-catching core (one which is lacking in star power outside of Terry McLaurin) is a goal for the Commanders this offseason. At least some new faces will no doubt be brought in at the tight end and receiver spots as a result, but Ertz and Brown are candidates to be retained on new deals.

Commanders Activate Jamison Crowder, Elevate Greg Joseph

December 14th, 2024 at 9:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jamison Crowder returned to practice this week, signaling that he could be an option for the Commanders in Week 15. The veteran receiver/returner has indeed been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

A calf injury suffered in Week 3 has kept Crowder out of the fold until this point. He is now healthy, though, and as a result he could take on a returner role for the closing stages of the season. Of course, playing time on offense could also be possible in Crowder’s case.

Noah Brown has been moved to injured reserve, which comes as no surprise. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Wednesday Brown is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign, and an IR stint ensures at least a four-week absence. Brown will therefore not be available until at least the wild-card round of the postseason should Washington (8-5) qualify. Crowder has made only 17 catches since joining the Commanders last year, so expectations in that regard will be limited upon return.

In other roster news, Washington has elevated Greg Joseph from the practice squad. The veteran kicker was added to the team’s taxi squad yesterday, and he will provide insurance at the position. Zane Gonzalez practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, but over the past two sessions he has been listed as a full participant. It would therefore come as a surprise if Gonzalez was forced to miss tomorrow’s game, but if that proves to be the case Joseph will be available to take his place.

The Commanders sit only 18th in the NFL in passing yards per game (221) despite rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels‘ strong campaign. Losing Brown could deal a blow to the team’s offense given his status as the top complementary WR option to Terry McLaurin, but if Washington is to reach the playoffs he will not be part of the equation the rest of the way.

Commanders WR Noah Brown Likely Out For Season

December 11th, 2024 at 11:42am CST by Sam Robinson

Despite being added days before the regular season, Noah Brown has settled into the Commanders’ No. 2 wide receiver role. The contending team will need to find other solutions moving forward, however.

Brown sustained what Dan Quinn called an internal “serious injury,” according to NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay. While Quinn stopped short of confirming Brown will miss the season’s remainder, the first-year Commanders HC said (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala). Brown has led the pack of Terry McLaurin sidekicks this season, being one of a few former Quinn charges to play a key role for a resurgent Washington team.

The Commanders have given Brown a 63% snap share on offense this season. Among the non-McLaurin Washington wideouts, Brown leads the way with 453 receiving yards. His most memorable contribution came when he snagged a game-winning Hail Mary from Jayden Daniels to down the Bears in October. Brown has scored a touchdown as well, helping a Commanders team that again entered training camp with significant questions about who would complement McLaurin.

It is not yet known what specific issue Brown is battling, but he was listed as having picked up a rib injury during the Commanders-Titans game in Week 13. Quinn calling this an internal injury points to something more serious, but the veteran coach praised the team’s medical staff for doing well to address this matter at the time. The bye week was not enough to minimize this matter, and it looks like Washington is going to need others to help fill the void. The team is close to having veteran slot Jamison Crowder back, at least; the second-stint Washington wideout has missed most of this season with a calf injury.

After a season with the Texans, Brown re-signed with the team on a one-year, $4MM deal. The 28-year-old pass catcher had totaled a career-high 567 yards last season. Then possessing a crowded WR depth chart, Houston moved on, leading Brown to Washington on a $1.21MM accord.

Brown had overlapped with Quinn with the Cowboys from 2021-22 and joined former teammates Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in signing with the Commanders. Washington has not seen another of its wideouts surpass 275 receiving yards this season. Third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey and veterans Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus represent the non-Brown options to supplement the team’s McLaurin-driven receiving corps.

Commanders To Sign WR Noah Brown

August 28th, 2024 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Questions have swirled about who the Commanders’ No. 2 wide receiver will be. Another former Cowboys cog will be part of that equation soon.

Noah Brown will be the latest ex-Cowboy to follow Dan Quinn to Washington, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reporting the recently cut Texans wideout is joining the Commanders. This is not a practice squad move; the veteran receiver is joining the active roster. It’s a one-year deal for Brown, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post.

A former seventh-round pick by the Cowboys, Brown took until his fifth season in Dallas to truly break out. He finished that campaign with 43 catches for 555 yards and three touchdowns, and he parlayed that performance into a one-year deal from the Texans last offseason.

His lone season in Houston didn’t necessarily go poorly; he still finished with 33 catches for 567 yards and two scores. He re-signed with the organization earlier this offseason but was pushed further down the depth chart following the acquisition of Stefon Diggs, and he found himself among the Texans’ final roster cuts yesterday.

Now, he’ll be joining a Commanders depth chart that has some question marks behind top receiver Terry McLaurin. After trading former first-round pick Jahan Dotson to Philly, the Commanders are left with the likes of Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Byron Pringle, Jamison Crowder, and rookie third-round pick Luke McCaffrey to fill out the depth chart. Quinn has been busy adding former Cowboys to his new roster in D.C., and while it may take a bit for Brown to get acclimated with his new squad, he should eventually have a clear path to playing time.

Texans Place Case Keenum On Season-Ending IR, Reduce Roster To 53

August 27th, 2024 at 7:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several vested veterans hit the chopping block in Houston. Here is how the defending NFC South champions reached 53 today:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on season-ending IR:

Placed on IR/designated for return:

Placed on reserve/non-football illness list:

Placed on reserve/suspended list:

Keenum was headed into the second season of a two-year deal with his original NFL team, but a major injury will sidetrack the veteran arm. A foot injury will sideline the 36-year-old quarterback, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Keenum is expected to be down for three or four months, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds. Houston still has Davis Mills, who is in a contract year, as its top backup behind C.J. Stroud.

A calf injury will shut down Harris for the time being, Wilson adds. The Texans used both their allotted IR-return moves. The team used the 2022 third-round pick as a 12-game starter last season. Harris has played at least 71% of the Texans’ defensive snaps in both of his seasons, explaining his being prioritized via the NFL’s IR rule tweak. Despite being a 2022 UDFA, Hinish has been a key rotational player in Houston in each of his two pro seasons.

Horton is in remission from his bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The second-year player completed his final treatment this spring but did not practice with the team during training camp. The Texans’ run of WR cuts leaves 2022 second-rounder John Metchie, who missed his rookie season after a leukemia diagnosis, and Robert Woods on the roster behind starters Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. Cutting Jordan, a sixth-round pick from Louisville, leaves Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers rostered behind Joe Mixon.

Texans To Cut WRs Ben Skowronek, Noah Brown; CBs C.J. Henderson, Desmond King Also Released

August 27th, 2024 at 10:11am CST by Sam Robinson

For a second time this year, a team has made plans to waive Ben Skowronek. When the Rams were close to doing so in May, they found a trade partner. As of now, the Texans do not have a trade in place.

Houston is moving on from a wide receiver it acquired from Los Angeles, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reporting Skowronek will be cut. He will not be the only wideout Houston is releasing. The team is cutting Noah Brown, veteran reporter Jordan Schultz tweets. Brown totaled 567 receiving yards in his Texans debut. That said, the Texans entered the week with a crowded wide receiver room.

Additionally, the Texans are moving on from cornerback C.J. Henderson, per Wilson. The team added the former Jacksonville top-10 pick in March, bringing him in along with ex-Lions top-five CB draftee Jeff Okudah. But Henderson has struggled during his pro career, being benched by the Panthers during a rocky three-season tenure. Henderson is a vested veteran and will return to free agency.

The Texans are also moving on from Desmond King, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. King, who began a second stint with the team after the Steelers cut him last year, re-signed with the Texans this offseason. The veteran was competing for the team’s slot cornerback role.

Second-round pick Kamari Lassiter is slated to start opposite Derek Stingley. The Texans also signed ex-Patriots slot defender Myles Bryant in late March. Okudah remains on Houston’s roster, being given a one-year deal worth $4.75MM. The Texans gave Henderson a one-year, $2MM pact; only $500K was guaranteed.

Some of these players figure to be under consideration for Texans practice squad spots, but they also may have options in free agency. Brown impressed as a fill-in player for an injury-plagued receiving corps last year, and the longtime Cowboys option signed a one-year deal worth $4MM. With Brown being guaranteed $3MM, it is a bit surprising the team is moving on from a player with back-to-back 500-plus-yard seasons on his resume.

The Texans, however, acquired Stefon Diggs via trade and have Tank Dell returning from injury. The team also used a 2022 second-round pick on John Metchie. Despite the Alabama alum and leukemia survivor generating trade interest, he remains with the club. So does Robert Woods, who is tied to a two-year, $14MM deal. The Texans gave up only a 2026 sixth-round pick for Skowronek, who functioned as a utility player of sorts for the Rams.

Contract Details: Young, Awuzie, Taylor, Rams, Cards, Chargers, 49ers, Lions, Texans

March 20th, 2024 at 10:12am CST by Sam Robinson

With free agency’s first wave in the rearview mirror, here is a look at some of the contracts authorized by teams in the days since the market opened:

  • Chidobe Awuzie, CB (Titans). Three years, $36MM. Contract includes $22.98MM guaranteed. Awuzie’s 2025 base salary ($11.49MM) is guaranteed for injury at signing, with $7.51MM of that total fully guaranteed. Awuzie being on Tennessee’s roster on April 1 of next year locks in the other $3.98MM. The veteran cornerback is a due a $1MM bonus on April 1, 2026, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
  • Darious Williams, CB (Rams). Three years, $22.5MM. Commanding a market, the recent Jaguars cap casualty’s second Rams contract can be worth up to $30MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.
  • Chase Young, DE (Saints). One year, $13MM. The deal includes $7.99MM in per-game roster bonuses, CBS Sports Jonathan Jones notes. Including a $2.7MM base salary and a $1.86MM signing bonus, Young’s New Orleans pact is still heavily tilted toward games active. That will make the defensive end’s recovery from neck surgery worth monitoring more closely.
  • Tyrod Taylor, QB (Jets): Two years, $12MM. Taylor will see $8.5MM fully guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets. An additional $6MM in incentives are present in the veteran QB’s deal. Three void years are included here, dropping Taylor’s 2024 cap hit to $2.8MM.
  • DeeJay Dallas, RB (Cardinals): Three years, $8.25MM. Dallas will see $2.4MM guaranteed, Wilson tweets. The final two base salaries on this contract — both worth $2.4MM — are nonguaranteed. Rushing yards-based incentives run up to $750K per year in this deal.
  • Javon Kinlaw, DT (Jets): One year, $7.25MM. The ex-49ers first-rounder will receive a $5.5MM signing bonus, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicating the deal also includes $1.75MM in incentives.
  • Gus Edwards, RB (Chargers). Two years, $6.5MM. The ex-Ravens back will see $3.38MM guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Edwards’ $3MM 2025 base salary is nonguaranteed, with Wilson adding he is due a $125K roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2025 league year.
  • Noah Brown, WR (Texans): One year, $4MM. Brown re-signed with the Texans for $3MM guaranteed, per Wilson. The wideout’s second Houston contract can max out at $5MM.
  • Jon Feliciano, G (49ers). One year, $2.75MM. Feliciano will receive a $925K signing bonus, and Wilson adds $1.25MM in incentives are present in this accord.
  • Emmanuel Moseley, CB (Lions). One year, $1.13MM. Moseley will stay in Detroit for the veteran minimum, via the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers. Coming off a second ACL tear in two years, Moseley will receive a $1MM signing bonus. He received $6MM in 2023.

Texans To Re-Sign WR Noah Brown

March 11th, 2024 at 7:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Noah Brown is sticking in Houston. The Texans have re-signed the free agent wide receiver, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

After spending the first six seasons of his career in Dallas, Brown joined the Texans on a one-year deal last offseason. The wideout ended up having one of the most productive seasons of his career, finishing with 33 catches for a career-high 567 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Brown may be penciled in as the WR4 behind Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Robert Woods heading into 2024. However, he should see still plenty of snaps in the high-flying Texans offense, and injuries could force him into a larger role (just as they did in 2023).

Brown certainly wasn’t one of the top names on the free agent WR list, limiting his options. However, the Texans clearly valued his familiarity with the offense and his willingness to potentially play a less role, leading to a second contract with the organization.

Now, the Texans can shift focus to their running backs room. We’ve seen the organization connected to a number of RBs, including Tony Pollard, D’Andre Swift, and Saquon Barkley. That trio is now off the board, and the team also saw their most productive 2023 rusher, Devin Singletary, join the Giants. While the team’s WR corps appears set, the team clearly has some work to do elsewhere on offense.

Texans Place WR Noah Brown On IR

January 15th, 2024 at 1:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Noah Brown‘s first Texans season involved multiple injuries. His latest will shut him down for the rest of the season. After Brown left Saturday’s wild-card game with a shoulder malady, the Texans placed him on IR.

Due to the timing here, Brown will miss the rest of the season. The longtime Cowboys wideout posted a career-high receiving total this season, doing so despite missing seven games due to injury. This is Brown’s second IR stint as a Texan; the team used one of its eight IR activations earlier this season. The Texans having used up their IR activations this season does not matter in this case, as all players who land on IR must miss at least four games.

Brown, 28, joins Tank Dell among Houston wideouts on IR. The Texans have continued to battle setbacks at this position, with Nico Collins also missing time. But Collins has emerged as C.J. Stroud‘s go-to target down the stretch. With Brown also out, Stroud will figure to lean on Collins in the team’s divisional-round matchup. Robert Woods and John Metchie join Collins as key wideouts left standing in Houston.

A six-year Cowboys target who signed a one-year deal to change Texas addresses back in March, Brown played quite well in a bigger role. He posted 567 receiving yards despite the seven absences, averaging 17.2 per catch and scoring two touchdowns. Brown, however, missed time because of back, groin and knee injuries this season. While that makes his 567-yard showing impressive, the former seventh-round pick did not display much durability in his first Texans campaign.

An auxiliary Cowboys pass catcher from 2017-22, Brown started seven games with the Texans. He posted back-to-back 150-plus-yard games in November, helping Stroud become the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite. Brown will again command interest in free agency soon, should the Texans not re-sign him before then.

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