Allen’s loss could mean change of guards
The Texans placed starting right offensive guard Jeff Allen on the reserve physically unable to perform list.
Allen has dealt with concussions and ankle injuries over the past two seasons since joining the Texans on a fouryear, $28 million contract. He no longer counts against the Texans’ 90-man offseason roster limit.
Allen has struggled with his durability since leaving the Kansas City Chiefs and signing with the Texans and was limited to a dozen games last season.
If the Texans move on from Allen, they could go with Zach Fulton and Senio Kelemete as their starting offensive guards.
A lot of new faces dot personnel dept.
The Texans made it official, announcing their entire personnel department.
In the wake of dismissing assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel Jimmy Raye, former New York Jets director of college scouting Matt Bazirgan has been hired as the Texans’ director of player personnel.
The Texans hired former New England Patriots national scout James Liipfert as direct of college scouting. He replaces former director of college scouting Jon Carr, who was hired by the New York Jets to be their director of college scouting, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
The Texans hired former New Orleans Saints scout C.J.
Leak as assistant director of pro scouting. Rob Kisiel is the director of
pro scouting. The Texans promoted scout Mozique McCurtis to national scout, working in tandem with national scout Frantzy Jourdain.
The Texans hired former Arizona Cardinals scout John Ritcher as their Southeast area scout.
The Texans’ other scouting assignments are: Bailee Brown (Southwest area scout), Ryan Cavanaugh (Midwest area scout), Brad Mathews (Northeast area scout), Nathan Trott (Western area scout), Chris Blanco (pro scout), Steven Price (pro scout), Blaise Taggart (NFS area scout), Tom Hayden (college scouting coordinator, replaces former college scouting coordinator Matt Jansen), Najja Johnson (scouting assistant) and George Panos (scouting assistant).
Ejiofor expects to be ready for camp
As grateful as Duke Ejiofor is to be playing for his hometown Texans, one thing could make the Alief Taylor graduate even happier.
The sixth-round outside linebacker from Wake Forest can’t wait until he’s fully recovered from a torn labrum so he can start practicing. He’s expecting to be ready by training camp.
“Just being patient,” Ejiofor said Friday as the Texans launched their rookie minicamp. “Trying to get healthy is the first and foremost goal. I’m just ready to get the pads on and get working.”
The former Chronicle Top 100 selection dealt with the shoulder injury last season.
Now, he’s playing in the NFL close to his childhood home.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Ejiofor said. “I stayed home and I get to represent my hometown.”
Godin released after failing physical
The Texans cut reserve defensive end Matthew Godin with a failed physical designation.
Godin spent his rookie season last year on injured reserve.
The 6-6, 294-pound Godin tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the preseason last summer during a game against the Saints.
Godin was signed originally by the Texans a year ago after going undrafted out of Michigan.
Rankin lone unsigned selection
Texans rookie left tackle Martinas Rankin hasn’t signed his contract yet.
He is the lone unsigned draft selection from the Texans’ rookie draft class.
The third-round draft pick and 2017 first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection from Mississippi State practiced Friday under an injury protection agreement. Thirdround contracts tend to be more complicated under the NFL collective bargaining agreement
“I’m just here to play football,” Rankin said. “The other stuff is out of my hands.”