Texans hoping for healthy season from Cecil Shorts

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Veteran wide receiver Cecil Shorts' initial season with the Texans was productive with the caveat that more could have been achieved if not for nagging injuries.

Entering the second year of a two-year, $6 million contract, Shorts caught 42 passes for 484 yards and two touchdowns. However, hamstring issues and a dislocated shoulder limited him to 11 games and four starts.

Back on a $2.75 million nonguaranteed base salary with per game active roster bonuses totaling $171,875 and a $3.421 million salary-cap figure, Shorts caught 22 passes in the first four games before missing four games.

While Shorts will face competition for playing time from wide receivers Jaelen Strong, Will Fuller and Braxton Miller, the former Jacksonville Jaguars starter figures to have a solid role in the fall.

"Cecil is a guy that's going to go out there and give you his all," Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said of Shorts, who's caught 218 career passes for 2,827 yards and 14 touchdowns in five NFL seasons. "Even if he's hurt, he's going to go out there. You'll have to tell him to go on the sideline and get checked out. He's a hard worker. He definitely makes me go out there and work harder every day. He doesn't complain about anything, even if he's not getting the ball. He goes out there and he does his role to the best he can."