Foreman expects evaluation to start soon
A long and arduous recovery from a torn Achilles tendon is nearly over for Texans running back D’Onta Foreman.
Out for nearly an entire year since getting hurt as a rookie against the Arizona Cardinals, the Texas City native anticipates the team launching his 21-day window this week. Under NFL rules, the Texans have three weeks to decide if Foreman will be activated from the physically unable to perform list to the 53-man roster as they gauge his conditioning and health. If they don’t activate him, Foreman will miss the remainder of the season.
“I definitely think it will be this week,” Foreman said. “I’m ready to go out there whenever they put my helmet in my locker. I think we will start the 21-day process this week.”
At 6-1 and 235 pounds, the former Doak Walker Award winner from the University of Texas combines power, speed and moves. He rushed for 327 yards as a rookie and could provide a boost to the offense in tandem with Lamar Miller and Alfred
Blue if he’s able to return this season.
“That just gives us three weeks to kind of check out where he’s at, type of shape he’s in, where he’s at relative to being able to even practice,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think we’re probably going to do that pretty soon. If we ignite that 21-day window and we feel like after watching him practice for however long we think we need to watch him and he shows us that he’s in decent shape, he’s come back from the injury, then I don’t see why he wouldn’t have a chance to play at some point.”
The Cardinals game last year marked the best performance by Foreman during his first NFL season, rushing for 65 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns.
“I’ve made a lot of progress,” Foreman said. “I feel really good. I’m confident. It’s been a long time. I look forward to getting back out there with the guys.
“It will be very exciting. I love football. Any moment I get to be on the field, I definitely cherish. I just want to show them I’m ready to play.”
The Texans are extremely curious to see if Foreman can get healthy and shed the rust he’s accumulated during a lengthy convalescence.
“He had a good year last year,” O’Brien said. “That was a long time ago, so let’s just kind of — when we do decide to bring him back, let’s just see where he’s at.”
‘Strong possibility’ Coutee back Sunday
Rookie wide receiver Keke
Coutee spent the off week rehabilitating his strained hamstring.
And the fourth-round draft pick from Texas Tech made enough progress that he’s feels like there’s a “strong possibility” he’ll return Sunday against Washington.
“It helped me a lot,” Coutee said. “I was here the whole week getting treatment, getting my body right. It’s getting better. We’ll see how I feel at the end of the week. Right now, I’m feeling good.”
Coutee has missed the past two games since getting hurt against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He has caught 21 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown.
“I think Keke’s trending upward,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think Keke’s headed in the right direction.”
Meanwhile, O’Brien characterized cornerbacks Johnathan
Joseph (sprained knee, sprained ankle) and Johnathan Joseph
(ankle) as likely to be active this week.
Inside linebacker Zach Cunninngham
is regarded as a possibility this week as he recovers from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee. He is considered more likely to return the following week against the Tennessee Titans.
Mathieu fined for illegal hit
Safety Tyrann Mathieu was fined $26,739 by the NFL for his illegal hit penalty against the Denver Broncos. Mathieu is appealing the fine. Mathieu was flagged for unnecessary roughness for his collision with wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
Mathieu believes he did everything he could to ensure it was a legal hit.
Ferguson re-signed to practice squad
The Texans re-signed running back Josh Ferguson to their practice squad.
They cut wide receiver Malachi Dupre.
Ferguson is a former Indianapolis Colts reserve who rushed for 25 yards on 16 carries and caught 23 passes for 152 yards
Receiver Sharp gets audition
The Texans worked out wide receiver Hunter Sharp, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Sharp has played for the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles.
He has five career receptions for 54 yards and one touchdown.