Cobb seeks second opinion; IR expected
Texans veteran slot wide receiver Randall Cobb is seeking a second opinion for his toe injury suffered Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
The initial diagnosis from an MRI is that it’s a season- ending injury for Cobb, and that remains the expectation for the former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers starter, per sources.
Cobb has caught 38 passes for 441 yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the Texans after signing a three-year, $ 27 million contract.
Cobb was replaced in the lineup by Keke Coutee, who caught his first touchdown of the season. Coutee hadn’t played since losing a fumble in the second game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens that was returned for a touchdown.
Versatile Johnson an asset to defense
Lonnie Johnson Jr. has been deployed all over the Texans’ defense.
Because of his size, speed and hard- hitting style, the Texans have utilized Johnson everywhere from outside corner to his current role as a full- time safety.
At 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, Johnson is the biggest defensive back on the roster. He’s also one of the fastest with a 4.38 time in the 40-yard dash.
The Texans like how Johnson’s skills and instincts operate as a blitzer, utilizing him as an edge rusher opposite safety Justin Reid to pressure Patriots quarterback Cam Newton in Sunday’s 27-20 win. Johnson had two quarterback hits, including one clutch pressure with Reid that forced Newton into a hurried incompletion on fourth down late in the fourth quarter to put away the victory.
“I think it goes very well with some of his traits because he’s got good size, good length and he’s somewhat aggressive,” Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “So that showed up. He was a factor. I think going down the road he will continue to be a factor whether we use him in the deep half of the field or use him at the line of scrimmage, he’s learning and getting better also.”
A former second-round draft
pick from Kentucky, Johnson has 32 tackles, one for a loss, and three quarterback hits in 10 games with no starts this season. He’s played 51 percent of the defensive snaps, 357 overall.
“Beware of the evil twins, man,” said Reid, who had his first career sack. “They were really focusing on blocking me or Lonnie and one of us was coming free every time.”
Rookie LB Greenard gets first career sack
Rookie linebacker Jon Greenard had been itching to record his first sack.
He finally got it Sunday when he shoved New England offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn into the backfield with a long-arm move before redirecting to sack quarterback Cam Newton.
In his final college season at Florida, Greenard recorded 9½ sacks. A third-round pick, he played 18 snaps on Sunday, 26 percent of the defensive playing time.
“He’s still a rookie, but he does have some size, he does have strength and he was able
to show that in getting his first sack,” Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel said Monday. “He’s pumped up about that. I would like to see him continue to improve because he’s improved from when he first started practicing to this point of the season. The more playing time he gets, the more improvement I want to see.”
Meanwhile, defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, a secondround pick from TCU who played at Elkins, had two tackles and was on the field for 20 percent of the playing time. Blacklock has played in nine games and has eight tackles, one for a loss, with one quarterback hit.
“He’s gotten better,” Crennel said. “He understands the system better now. He’s learning how he fits into the system. He’s made progress, and I expect that to continue. The better he gets, the more he’ll play.”
Warring activated, joins other three TEs
The Texans officially activated tight end Kahale Warring
from injured reserve- designated for return Monday.
Warring (hamstring injury) has been practicing and his 21- day window to be activated was set to expire. He spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a concussion.
The Texans have been eager to see what Warring (6-5, 252) can do in a game situation.
The Texans have three other tight ends on the active roster — Darren Fells, Jordan Akins and Pharaoh Brown — and all have been contributing, so there may not be a lot of playing time for Warring.
Froholdt claimed off waivers from Pats
The Texans were awarded Hjalte Froholdt off waivers from the Patriots. A fourthround pick from Arkansas in 2019, Froholdt (6-5, 306) suffered a shoulder injury in 2019 and missed the entire season.
Froholdt is under contract through the 2022 season with base salaries of $610,000 this year, $675,000 in 2021 and $765,000 in 2022.