Pats act fast on disputed catch
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The league office was trying to initiate a review of Patriots tight end Rob
Gronkowski's controversial catch during the final minute of the first half that led to a Tom
Brady touchdown pass.
But that didn’t happen because the Patriots hurried and ran another offensive play, and Texans coach Bill O’Brien didn’t call a timeout. Gronkowski appeared to lose control of the football when he went to the ground following the 28-yard reception.
“The situation was that New York did get back to us,” referee
Tony Corrente told a pool reporter. “However, unfortunately, they didn’t get to the game officials on the field until after the play had already started. They got to us on the field, but the play had already started. You can’t challenge after the snap.”
Coaches aren’t allowed to challenge plays in the final two minutes. O’Brien could have called a timeout in hopes of giving the officials time to determine whether to review the play. O’Brien said he isn’t responsible for doing that, though.
“No, that’s not my job,” he said. “Let me make it clear: I don’t have challenges with under two minutes to go. That’s not my job to call a timeout to make their job easier. What I’m trying to do is make sure we go into halftime down 14-6. Say I call a timeout there, they rule it a catch and the Patriots have more time to put a play together.”
Texans cornerback Aaron
Colvin was covering Gronkowski on the play along with linebacker
Benardrick McKinney and was upset about the officiating.
“I don’t think he caught that ball,” Colvin said. “I think that was the big play in the game, but it is what it is. We got to get that ball and make it unquestionable. It’s tough man, but I mean we’re playing in New England. So, you know what that means.”
Gronkowski was adamant he caught the ball.
“I did make the catch,” Gronkowski said. “I don’t know how. When I went to the ground, I had it stable in my hand, so it was definitely a catch. Tom went up to the line really quick just to make sure. We got the play off, which was nice.”
Tackle Henderson breaks his ankle
Texans starting right offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson broke his left ankle, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Henderson signed a one-year, $4 million contract in March. This injury could potentially end his season after one game.
“I know it’s a significant in- jury,” coach Bill O’Brien said.
The injury triggered a line shuffle as rookie Martinas Rankin was inserted at left tackle with starting left tackle Julie’n
Davenport replacing Henderson on the right side. Rankin allowed one sack in his first NFL game as
Deshaun Watson was sacked three times and hit 12 times.
“I just had to settle down and get back to what I was doing and protect No. 4,” Rankin said of Watson. “I feel comfortable out there. It just took me a minute to settle down.”
Safety Mathieu plays as advertised
When the Texans signed former Cardinals All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu, they envisioned him operating as an aggressive enforcer in their secondary.
Mathieu was as advertised Sunday, displaying a ball-hawking presence during his first regularseason game for the Texans. Mathieu intercepted Tom Brady once and had a fumble recovery off a hit from safety Kareem Jackson. He finished with five tackles.
“I’m just trying to do my job,” Mathieu said. “I like the way we fought. I thought we did some good things and I also thought we did self-inflicted things.”
Fuller sidelined; Ellington steps up
Texans starting receiver Will
Fuller missed the game due to a strained hamstring that has lingered since the preseason.
The thinking is the Texans and Fuller don’t want him to aggravate the leg injury this early in the year and have it become a long-term issue. Bruce Ellington and undrafted rookie Vyncint
Smith started with Fuller sidelined. Ellington caught four passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. Smith had no catches on two targets.
“Not having Will Fuller is not great,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “Injuries happen in the league.”
The other scratches were cornerback Kayvon Webster (Achilles), receiver Keke Coutee (hamstring), offensive tackle Kendall
Lamm, linebacker Duke Ejiofor (hamstring) and defensive linemen Joel Heath and Carlos Watkins.
Cornerback Johnson suffers concussion
Cornerback Kevin Johnson suffered another concussion Sunday. This is troubling for Johnson, who suffered a concussion during the preseason against the 49ers and was medically cleared Friday.
Now, the former first-round draft pick is back in the concussion protocol.
“You’re always concerned when you have things like that,’ coach Bill O’Brien said. "We followed every protocol in him coming back to us. He was cleared.”
Reader steps up in a new position
Starting defensive end Christian Covington left the game with a thigh injury and didn’t return, so the Texans shifted nose tackle D.J. Reader to defensive end and had Brandon Dunn play nose tackle. Reader excelled with two sacks and three quarterback hits.
“That’s always the goal: to hit the quarterback,” Reader said.