Houston- The Houston Texans signed cornerback Aaron Colvin to a prized free agent deal for $18 million guaranteed, making him an instant upgrade at their “star” position. Colvin started on the inside but after going down in overtime in week four due to an ankle injury after his own teammates leg whipped into him, it has been a long track back for the veteran cornerback.

After returning from his ankle injury, Colvin missed 7 games and spent time on the 53-man roster rehabbing his injury. The Texans cornerback group has been up and down this season due to injuries and this past weekend was worked by Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton. After the game, there were questions arising why Colvin was not being used. When asked about Colvin in the post game press conference, Bill O’Brien addressed Colvin’s absent from the lineup.

“I think we try to just make decisions in the best interest of the team relative to him coming back from an injury,” O’Brien said of Colvin. “Where we are with Shareece (Wright). Shareece has been playing well for us. Aaron (Colvin) has been helping us on special teams. We just try to play the guys we feel – in the position where we feel like they can execute the best for us where they're at right now.”

The emergence of rookie safety Justin Reid has bumped Kareem Jackson back to the cornerback position, the defense is trying to keep Tyrann Mathieu along with Reid and Jackson on the field at all times. With that decision, it has left Colvin without a home due to Jackson playing the star position with that spot originally intended for Colvin. The Texans feel more comfortable with Shareece Wright and Johnathan Joseph on the outside with Jackson on the inside and it is Colvin who is being wasted on the sidelines.

Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel discussed the decision to keep Colvin out of the secondary mix.

“Well, he got injured a little bit,” Crennel said of Colvin. H”e’s come back and sometimes as things develop on your team when a guy is not there and out, you don’t want to change that mix. I think that’s part of it. Guys started doing a pretty good job, and I don’t necessarily want to change the mix right now.”

There is an old adage that players should not lose their position to injury but it is clear the Texans are not into that line of thinking. The Texans are locking into their personnel even though there are real questions with the group that has been struggling of late. With a solid player like Colvin watching from the sidelines, the Texans are moving forward for the time being without Colvin.

​

Team Notes, Quotes

S Kareem Jackson needs two total tackles to become the first Texans player to record at least 80 tackles and 10 passes defensed in the season since J.J. Watt and Glover Quin did it in 2012.

RB Lamar Miller needs 91 rushing yards to hit 1,000 yards rushing for the season. It would be Miller’s third time in his career to hit that mark and second time for the Texans since signing in 2016.

TE Jordan Thomas needs one touchdown reception to tie Owen Daniels (five) for the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie in a season in franchise history.

The Texans are expecting WR Keke Coutee to return at the end of the season but want to make sure they do everything to make sure he is 100% before returning. There was a chance that he could play against the Colts if necessary but the Texans want to go beyond what is necessary to get him back on the field. Rest is the biggest thing but it appears like all hamstring injuries, there are other issues arising with his body trying to compensate for the injury. This remains a fluid situation for Coutee but this is about getting his body back to full capacity for the remainder of the season.

“It’s tough for him,” Bill O’Brien said of Coutee. “He’s got to figure that out along with the medical staff and strength and conditioning staff. We’ve all got to work together to try to help him. He’s doing better. He’s trending toward being able to play. He’s a really good guy, he’s tough, he’s smart, but he’s got to try to get back on the field.”

RB D’Onta Foreman will remain in the back pocket for the Texans roster as the season moves forward making sure he is ready when he hits the field. The Texans will continue with RB Lamar Miller and RB Alfred Blue until further notice but their health will help dictate if Foreman gets on the field any time soon. It might not be until the post season if and when Foreman could be needed for the Texans offense.

There has been discussion of the lack of production of WR Demaryius Thomas but Bill O’Brien is not worried about the stat sheet. He likes what Thomas has done with the offense to this point.

“Yeah, we’ve been doing a lot with him,” O’Brien said of Thomas. “No doubt, he has a good grasp. We’ve run him on all different kinds of routes. We’ve done a lot of different things with him. So, yes, he does have a good grasp.”

There has been discussion on the Texans working to find a way to keep Texans S Tyrann Mathieu for the long term. Only with a 1-yard deal, the New York Jets and S Jamal Adams, who is a good friend of Mathieu,

“Honestly, I tried to text and call him at the time,” Adams said of Mathieu when he was cut by the Arizona Cardinals. “I guess he was getting hit up by everybody. Obviously, he is a tremendous players, one of the best I have ever seen play the game. Definitely a great friend of mine, I tried to get him here but I knew it was going to be tough to get him here. I know he is loving it down in Houston and he’s definitely balling.”

OT Julién Davenport continue to grow as a left tackle and only in his second season in the NFL, there have been some growing pains. Davenport has shown that he can handle the NFL game but Bill O’Brien feels his left tackle is in a good spot as a player.

“I thought Davenport’s played pretty consistently,” O’Brien said of Davenport. “I think Davenport – just like everybody else – has had some plays that he would wish to have back. I think you could say that about everybody. There’s some play-calls that I wish I could have back, but I think that Jules is a very even-keeled guy, he’s a very hard-worker, smart guy, very mature guy and I think he’s doing fine.”

​

PLAYER NOTES

WR/KR DeAndre Carter is currently in the concussion protocol after suffering a concussion in Sunday’s game. Carter was lost for the remainder of the game and now it becomes a race to see if he can get out of the protocol by Saturday’s kick-off.

WR Keke Coutee remains on track to get on the field on Sunday after missing three games with his hamstring injury. Coutee has dealt with the hamstring injury all season including training camp. Getting him healthy into the playoffs, is key for the Texans training staff.

OG Zach Fulton returned to practice after missing all of last week’s practice and the Sunday’s game with an injury to his left ring finger. OG Greg Mancz started in his place but expectations are for Fulton to return this week and back to his starting spot at right guard.

WR DeAndre Hopkins continues to deal with a foot issue but it is not considered serious. Hopkins has been on an injury report majority of the season but he remains on track to play as usual.

OL Kyle Fuller was poached off the Texans practice squad by the Washington Redskins for their 53-man roster. Fuller was a 7th round draft selection out of Baylor in 2017 NFL Draft.

OT Roderick Johnson was signed of the practice squad prior to the game on Sunday to give the team depth for game day. With the signing of Johnson off the practice squad, the Texans have to address the open spots on their practice squad.

OLB Daeshon Hall was signed of the Texans practice squad by the Philadelphia Eagles. Hall has already arrived with the Eagles and was on the practice field on Wednesday preparing for their match up this coming weekend.

ILB Keenan Gilchrist was signed to the Texans practice squad. Gilchrist spent time with the Texans during training camp and on the practice squad before being released early in the season.

​

​

You can follow Patrick for Houston Texans Updates in the following places.

Twitter:Here| Site Twitter:Here| Site Facebook:Here

You can Subscribe to the State of the Texans Podcast on the following platforms.

iTunes:Here| Soundcloud:Here| Google Play:Here| Stitcher:Here