Coutee, McCarron out a while
It will take an undetermined amount of time before Texans wide receiver Keke Coutee and backup quarterback A.J. McCarron are practicing again.
Neither player will be back quickly.
Coutee injured his ankle against the Green Bay Packers. The injury isn’t regarded as serious, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly. Coutee called it a “minor setback, nothing major!” on social media before deleting the post.
McCarron injured his right throwing thumb Tuesday during a joint practice and is now in a cast. He is expected to miss most of, if not the entire, preseason. The Texans signed undrafted former Mississippi quarterback Jordan Ta’amu on Wednesday, but he didn’t play in a preseason game at Lambeau Field.
Texans coach Bill O’Brien acknowledged Saturday that it will be at least a week, if not longer, before they return.
“No, I don’t expect either one of them to be back soon relative to what soon means,” O’Brien said. “Like tomorrow? No. A week from now? Probably not. We’ll just keep playing it by ear.”
Return specialist Carter activated
Midway through training camp Saturday, return specialist DeAndre Carter got to stop watching and practiced with his teammates.
Carter was activated from the physically unable to perform list. He had been dealing with a hamstring injury.
“It’s hard sitting on the sidelines, cheering your guys on.,” Carter said.
“I’m happy to be back, ready to get to work, ready for the season.
“It feels great to be wanted by the organization, but I’m trying to make more contributions this year than last year. We focus on getting better every day, moving forward, so I can have a big season this year.”
Claimed off waivers last season from the Philadelphia Eagles, Carter emerged as the primary return specialist. He averaged 24.6 yards per kickoff return and 9.1 yards per punt return. He also caught 20 passes for 195 yards as a stand-in for slot receiver Keke Coutee.
“Good to see him out there,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “Slot receiver, punt returner, good guy, very important to him,. He’s got to make the team. He’s got to perform well.”
Carter is competing for a roster spot again.
“You got to fight to make the team.,” Carter said. “It’s going to be hard to make this roster.
“You’ve got to bring your ‘A’ game every day. Especially coming from my position, undrafted and everything like that, can’t have too many bad days.”
Carter fumbled four times last season, losing one.
He wants to get in the end zone this season.
“Home run ball,” Carter said when asked what he needs to improve on. “I had a lot of good returns, but we got to go to the house. I’m trying to do my best to bring some excitement to the return game, to the team. It’s a big play, taking a kick back to the house. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Cornerbacks making progress
The Texans’ overhauled secondary got a trial run Thursday night in Green Bay.
It was a mixed bag of results as new cornerbacks Bradley Roby and Lonnie Johnson Jr. made their debut with the Texans.
Signed to a one-year,
$10 million contract, Roby, a former Denver Broncos first-round draft pick, had a solid game marked by some crisp tackling in the open field.
“I thought Bradley competed hard,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “I thought he did a good job in man coverage. They completed a couple passes on him and then he had a pass breakup. I thought he tackled well, and that’s what he needs to do.
“He needs to play consistent, be consistent. I thought he had a good practice. I really like the way he’s responded the last couple days.”
A second-round draft pick from Kentucky, Johnson allowed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard. Johnson delivered some big hits during a Monday practice that infuriated the Green Bay players and injured Packers tight end Jace Sternberger and returner Trevor Davis. That got him booted out of practice by O’Brien, and he was held out of practice Tuesday.
At 6-2 and 213 pounds with 4.39 speed in the 40-yard dash, Johnson represents the physical prototype for the position. Johnson plays the game with an aggressive style and is extremely competitive.
“Lonnie is competing,” O’Brien said. “Lonnie is a big guy with a good skill set. He got beat for a touchdown, but he was in tight coverage on other things and I think he’s tackling better.
“I really like his attitude. He’s really improved since the spring. He’s really starting to understand the rookie year is hard and he just has to be consistent every day.”
Odds and ends
The Texans claimed defensive end Tracy Sprinkle off waivers from the Cleveland Browns They waived-injured outside linebacker Chris Landrum. A former Ohio State starter, Sprinkle was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent last year. … Several players didn’t practice Saturday, including A.J. McCarron (thumb), Keke Coutee (ankle), center Nick Martin (hamstring), tight end Jordan Thomas (hamstring), cornerback Xavier Crawford, center Greg Mancz (ankle), running back Duke Johnson (hamstring), defensive end Carlos Watkins, cornerback Johnathan Joseph (day off ) and cornerback Jermaine Kelly.
Aaron Wilson