Free-agent linebacker Zach Orr, looking to resume his career, visits Texans.
Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Zach Orr visited the Texans on Monday, according to NFL sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Orr, 25, a second-team All-Pro selection who led Baltimore last season with 132 tackles and intercepted three passes, is meeting with multiple NFL teams.
The veteran free agent is seeking to relaunch his NFL career after retiring in January because of a congenital condition discovered by Ravens team doctors that showed a vertebra at the top of his neck was not completely formed. The birth defect was discovered when Orr suffered a pair of herniated disks in his neck late last season.
Orr has consulted with multiple spine specialists after initially being advised by Ravens team doctors it wasn’t safe for him to play football.
Since that diagnosis, though, Orr has sought other opinions and said he has received favorable medical information that his risk of a serious injury isn’t higher than other players.
Orr, a former undrafted free agent from North Texas and the son of former NFL tight end and University of Texas standout Terry Orr, has met with several NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets.
Morris noted Watson’s value
Chad Morris didn’t need long to evaluate Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“Saw something special in that young man,” said Morris, who recruited Watson to Clemson. “Took me three clips (of Watson as a high school freshman) to see it.” The first? “He threw the ball. I said, ‘Wow, look at the ball jump out of his hand,’ ” Morris, now the coach at SMU, said Monday at the Texas High School Coaches Association convention. The second? “He handed the ball off and carried a fake out 10 yards down the field. It’s hard to get anybody at any age to do that, and this guy was a freshman in high school,” Morris said. And the third clip? “Pocket broke down around him and he was able to scramble and get out of trouble,” Morris said. “I said this kid has got something special.”
Watson, twice runnerup for the Heisman Trophy, was picked in the first round by the Texans.
“I’m excited to watch the next step of his career,” Morris said. “There’s no doubt he landed in a great situation.”
Morris accompanied Watson and his family to the NFL draft. While getting off a charter bus before an event, Watson’s family member asked Morris where he thought the quarterback would land.
“His aunt looks at me — ‘where do you think he’s going?’ ” Morris said. “I just got a feeling the Texans are going to trade up to get him.”
When the call came from the Texans, Morris said Watson had “tears of joy.”
“This is where he wanted to be,” Morris said.
Former coach praises Watt
Randall McCray expects a huge bounce-back season for Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.
McCray attended Watt’s camp this summer and said he “looked phenomenal.” Watt missed most of last season after undergoing back surgery.
“He looked back,” said McCray, who was Watt’s position coach at Wisconsin and is the assistant coach/defensive coordinator at Texas State. “I can’t speak on his behalf, but he looked phenomenal that day.”
McCray has kept in touch with Watt and said he is not surprised by his rise as arguably the best NFL defensive player.
“He works like a man on a mission,” McCray said during an appearance at Monday’s Texas High School Coaches Association convention.