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The Houston Texans have officially started cutting players from the 95-man list, and will have to be down to 75 by the end of NFL business hours on Tuesday, August 27.
So far, player cuts include linebacker Elliot Coffey, fullback Zach Boren, offensive guard Bryan Collins, offensive tackle Nick Mondek, running back Ray Graham, defensive end Earl Okine, cornerback Travis Howard, punter Andre Shapiro, linebacker Ja’Gared Davis, tight end Adam Schiltz and quarterback Stephen McGee. They must make three more moves to get to 75.
The Texans also gave an update on injured players on their roster. A decision should be coming later this week on whether safey Ed Reed will be playing for Houston in Week 1, and Arian Foster, though healthy, is now out until the season opener (mostly because Week 4 of the preseason doesn’t matter). DeVier Posey, who ruptured his Achilles in the 2012 postseason, could make an appearance in the last game of the preseason.
An update has not been provided on DeAndre Hopkins’ condition, but you can expect him to miss this game as well. Linebacker Mike Mohammed and nose tackle Chris Jones should return this week, and starting linebacker Whitney Mercilus should be back in practice Tuesday. Linebacker Darryl Sharpton missed Week 3 due to an undisclosed illness, and Wade Smith is targeting a return of September 9.
Though the decision can be inferred, head coach Gary Kubiak says that the backup quarterback race has not yet been decided. T.J. Yates got to come off the bench first against the New Orleans Saints, but he and Case Keenum are almost neck-and-neck statistically. Yates is 27-39 for 308 yards with three touchdowns, and Keenum is 34-50 for 354 yards and two touchdowns. Neither has thrown an interception. Keenum is starting this Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys.
Cooper Welch is a Houston Texans writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @cooperwelch1991, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
