Watson earns third Pro Bowl nod, Tunsil his second
Deshaun Watson was named to the Pro Bowl for the third time Monday night along with left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Watson has completed a career-best 69.9 percent of his throws for 4,134 yards, 31 yards shy of his career-high mark with two games to play, a career-high 27 touchdowns, a career-low six interceptions and a career-high 110.6 passer rating during the team’s 4-10 season.
“We’ve talked about Deshaun and what he’s been able to do this year,” Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel said Monday morning. “If he’s in the running, I think that’s well-deserved.”
Tunsil, acquired from Miami last year in a trade, remains one of the top pass-blocking offensive tackles in the game and has cut down on his penalties after leading the league a year ago.
“Laremy, he’s a very talented young man who kind of protects Deshaun’s blindside,” Crennel said. “He’s got good talent and size and all of those things that you want in an offensive tackle.”
Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham, who led the fan balloting in the AFC, didn’t make the Pro Bowl despite being second in the NFL with 137 tackles. Cunningham arguably was the Texans’ biggest snub for an all-star game that isn’t being held this year because of the coronavirus pandemic with virtual activities planned instead.
Playing time reduced for rookie Blacklock
Rookie defensive tackle Ross Blacklock played only seven snaps during a road loss to the Colts because of his performance, according to coach Romeo Crennel.
Blacklock, a second-round pick from Elkins and TCU, was knocked down by the Colts’ blockers and finished the game with no statistics.
“I don’t think he was on top of his game, so that might have had something to do with it,” Crennel
said.
Blacklock, who has 10 tackles and one quarterback hit in three games, hasn’t recorded a tackle since the Texans’ Thanksgiving game against Detroit when he had two tackles. Blacklock has played 199 snaps for 21 percent of the defensive snaps.
Liuget cut; 3 reverted to the practice squad
The Texans cut veteran defensive tackle Corey Liuget because they want to evaluate their younger defensive linemen, including rookie Auzoyah Alufohai. The undrafted free agent from Division II West Georgia made his NFL debut Sunday after being promoted from the practice squad and had one tackle in 15 snaps on defense.
Liuget, 30, started against the Colts. He had one quarterback hit and no tackles. Liuget played in six games and had two tackles for losses and one sack.
In other transactions, running back Dontrell Hilliard was activated from the exempt-commissioner permission list. Alufohai, wide receiver Steven Mitchell Jr. and cornerback Anthony Chesley reverted to the practice squad after being active Sunday.
Howard returns home after his hospital stay
Texans starting right offensive tackle Tytus Howard returned to Houston via a private jet after an overnight stay in Indianapolis for precautionary reasons after suffering a concussion.
Howard experienced severe concussion symptoms, according to coach Romeo Crennel.
Howard is feeling better now, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Because there are only two games left in the schedule, it’s possible that Howard could miss the remainder of the season. Howard is a 2019 first-round draft
pick from Alabama State.
Crennel was noncommittal on what’s next for Howard’s status.
“After the doctors take a good look at him and he goes into the protocol, there’s a protocol that we have to follow and he has to pass five different stages before they’re eligible to play,” Crennel said. “It just depends on if he can pass those stages or not. If he passes the protocol, then they’re saying he’s OK. If we need him, then we can probably play him. If he doesn’t pass the protocol, then we can’t even put him on the field.”
Former A&M player Williams visits team
Former Giants and Cardinals cornerback Brandon Williams is visiting the Texans, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Williams, who is from Brookshire and played at Texas A&M, has played in 51 career games with three starts and has 39 career tackles and six passes defensed with no interceptions. He was cut by the Giants this week.
The Texans are working out defensive back Dravon Askew-Henry (West Virginia) and offensive tackle Jalen Williams (Cleveland State).