Warring’s waiving trims tight ends to five
ARLINGTON — The Texans are placing thirdyear tight end Kahale Warring on waivers and will need to move three more players to meet the NFL’s 80-player limit by Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline.
Warring, a third-round pick in 2019, caught three passes for 35 yards in a career marked by injuries. Letting him go means the Texans have five tight ends on the roster — Pharaoh Brown, Jordan Akins, Brevin Jordan, Ryan Izzo and Antony Auclair.
The Texans had high hopes for Warring when they selected him, but he never developed the way they hoped he would. He was on injured reserve as a rookie and played in only seven games last season. He became expendable because of talent and depth at his position.
Coach David Culley said there was an emphasis in playing all of his tight ends in Saturday’s 20-14 victory over the Cowboys, since the Texans will often use multiple tight end sets and need to evaluate which ones they’ll keep.
Returning starters Akins (four snaps) and Brown (nine) saw minimal action. Akins returned to game action after working out with trainers for a week, and Brown appeared in his first preseason game after steadily returning from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Free-agent signees Auclair (17) and Izzo (16) and rookie Jordan (17) played the most against the Cowboys, and Warring (four) had the fewest snaps in the game.
The 6-6, 256-pound Auclair and 6-5, 255-pound Izzo were involved often in two-tight-end sets in which they assisted in run blocking. Auclair held a similar blocking role in four seasons with Tampa Bay (he recorded just 10 catches for 84 yards while appearing in 40 games), and Izzo was more involved as a pass-catcher in the Patriots offense in the last two seasons, totaling 19 catches, 313 yards and a touchdown.
Jordan, a fifth-round pick by the Texans, is a 6-3, 245-pound hybrid type who can also play in the slot. He’s said in training camp that he’s working on improving as a blocker.
“We were going to play all those guys,” Culley said. “We wanted to make sure everybody that was available played. They’re a big part of what we do in the run game and the passing game. There are times when those guys are just like offensive linemen in the game. When we go two-tight-end sets, we’re able to run the ball regardless of what they do up front and be able to throw the ball.”
Howard spends time at left guard
Swing tackle Tytus Howard appeared at left guard for the first time with the Texans in Saturday night’s game. The former 2019 first-round pick started in 22 games at right tackle for Houston in the last two seasons and played 19 snaps at left guard against the Cowboys.
Howard missed the preseason opener in Green Bay while on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list and was activated to the roster Wednesday.
“Individually, I’m not really sure,” Culley said of Howard’s performance. “I haven’t watched the video, but it was good to have him out there. He had a good week of practice when he came back off the Covid protocol that he was on, and then we’ll just see when we watch the video.”
Johnson heats up battle at safety
Texans safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. had a parting message before he left the interview podium at AT&T Stadium after Houston’s preseason victory over the Cowboys.
“Tell Madden to stop playing with my speed (rating),” Johnson said with a grin, a complaint aimed at the famous video game franchise.
As of Saturday night, Madden 22 rated Johnson with 89 speed (of a possible 99) with an acceleration rated at 91. Both are respectable ratings for a 6-2, 213-pound safety; but Johnson might have a fair point after he dashed past the Cowboys offense along the right sideline on a 53-yard pick-six off reserve quarterback Ben DiNucci in the third quarter.
Johnson’s crucial takeaway was one of four turnovers Houston forced Saturday, and his first interception of the preseason ultimately made the difference in the final score.
The third-year veteran had made similar plays during training camp practices, and the pick-six might boost his chances in a position battle with Eric Murray to start at safety opposite Justin Reid.
New defensive coordinator Lovie Smith has called Johnson a “prototype” safety and has praised Johnson’s development in a four-man-front scheme that allows its defenders to make plays off instinct.
Johnson, a secondround selection by the Texans in 2019, began his career as a cornerback and moved to safety in 2020. He has started 12 games in two seasons, played in 30 total, and hasn’t yet recorded an interception in a regularseason or postseason game.
The former Kentucky standout said he’s felt more comfortable in Smith’s defense, and his time as a cornerback in college and as an NFL rookie has benefited him in his position change.
“My skills with corner is helping me a lot at safety,” Johnson said. “Being able to guard people. Being able to recognize routes quicker. Just pretty much knowing where the quarterback wants to go with the ball. And then playing safety, I get to use my vision as much as possible.”