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Keke Coutee steps in nicely after Randall Cobb injury.
Buried on the depth chart all season, wide receiver Keke Coutee was ready against the Patriots when Randall Cobb injured his toe and was declared out.
In his first playing time since losing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown against the Ravens in the second game of the season, Coutee capitalized on his opportunity.
Coutee caught a 6-yard touchdown pass during the first half of Sunday’s 27-20 victory at NRG Stadium. The former fourthround draft pick from Texas Tech also returned two punts for 14 yards as the replacement for DeAndre Carter, who was cut this week.
“Coutee, you’ve got to take your hat off to the guy because he hasn’t played since Baltimore,” Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “He works really hard, and then when he gets the opportunity to go in and play, he shows what his ability is and what he can bring to the team.”
This marked the first time that Coutee had a touchdown reception since an AFC wild-card playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts during his rookie season, when he caught 11 passes for 110 yards on 14 targets. It’s his first score since last year when he reached the end zone on an option run.
In the third year of a four-year, $3.189 million contract, Coutee played in just nine games with four starts last season and caught 22 passes for 254 yards on 36 targets.
Cobb and wide receiver Kenny Stills, who hurt his quadriceps and left the game, will undergo magnetic MRIs on Monday, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
“For him to come in and do what he do and just be ready, that’s always a good thing,” Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson said. “He knows that I have trust in him, and I’m going to continue to encourage him, and he’s going to get more playing time, and whenever he gets his opportunity, go in there and have success.”
Hall out for season after pectoral injury
Defensive lineman P. J. Hall tore his pectoral and will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
A former Raiders secondround draft pick from Sam Houston State, Hall was one of the Texans’ top free agent discoveries of the season.
Hall started nine of 10 games played and recorded 34 tackles, one sack, two tackles for losses and two quarterback hits.
Watson and tight ends forge solid connection
Deshaun Watson completed a combined nine passes for 134 yards on 11 targets to tight ends Jordan Akins, Darren Fells and Pharaoh Brown. That included five receptions for a career-high 83 yards to Akins.
“Just taking what the defense gave me, just find the open guy,” Watson said. “That’s what my job is, to be that surgeon, to be that point guard and not try to force it downfield, just give it to the open guy and let those guys go make plays.”
This is the healthiest Akins has been since returning to the lineup from a high ankle sprain and concussion that forced him to miss four games.
“Definitely, last week I felt good as well,” Akins said. “Offense got into a rhythm, Deshaun got into a rhythm and the offensive line had an outstanding game, and we just won our matchups. Everyone made plays when the plays presented themselves to them.”
The Texans are expected to activate tight end Kahale Warring from injured reserve-designated for return this week, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
A former third-round draft pick from San Diego State, Warring has been practicing and his 21-day window to be activated expires next week.
OT Johnson steps up with Tunsil sitting out
Even though Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil missed the game with a non-COVID-19-related illness, the pass protection didn’t suffer noticeably.
DeshaunWatson wasn’t sacked and was only hit twice as Roderick Johnson started at left tackle in place of Tunsil.
“I think Roderick did a good job,” Romeo Crennel said. “He was able to hold his man out on pass protection, and then he had a couple of hustle plays. On one screen, over toward their sideline, he was running. For a big man, he was really moving and able to cut the defender to get our screen guy started, and we were able to gain yards on the play.
“When you see that from a big man, you appreciate the effort. I’m proud of him for the way he played.”
Crennel was noncommittal on whether Tunsil, whom sources say is feeling better, will play Thursday against Detroit.