Texans cut ties with Andre Johnson
Andre Johnson was released by the Houston Texans, and quarterback Ryan Mallett agreed to return to the team on Monday.
A 12-year veteran, Johnson, the longest-tenured Texan, was a first-round draft pick in 2003, joining the expansion team in its second season. The 33-yearold Johnson had 85 catches for 936 yards last season, but the Texans see DeAndre Hopkins as their top receiving threat moving forward.
“After exhausting all options of a possible trade, we informed Andre Johnson that he would be released (Monday),” general manager Rick Smith said. “No player in the history of this franchise has represented the team, city and community in a more professional way. Andre is a Hall of Fame calibre player and we appreciate his years of service and contributions to our team.”
Johnson is a seven-time Pro Bowler with seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons and has 1,012 receptions with 13,597 yards receiving in his career. He led the NFL in yards receiving in 2008 and 2009. His career high came in 2012 when he had 1,598 yards receiving and the Texans reached the playoffs for the second time.
“Andre carried himself as a true professional and did everything that we asked him to do,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “Andre will go down as one of the best receivers to ever play this game. We are thankful for what he has done for our organization and wish him well on his future playing career.”
Johnson played on just four teams with winning records and went through two 2-14 seasons with the Texans. He also had more than his fair share of quarterback woes. It started with the struggles of David Carr, included Matt Schaub performing so poorly in 2013 that he was benched, and playing with four different signal callers last season alone.
But Johnson was also there for the best times of this young franchise, helping the Texans to back-toback AFC South titles and trips to the playoffs in 2011 and 2012. He had 25 receptions for 358 yards in four career playoff games.
It looked like he might be gone last season after he wondered if Houston “was still the place for me” before skipping all of the team’s offseason work. He returned in time for training camp and as late as December he said he wanted to spend his entire career in Houston.
“I don’t want to play for nobody else … I don’t even think it would feel right,” he said then. But after the Texans told him recently they didn’t see him as their top receiver anymore, he’d had enough and asked to be released or traded.
Houston also re-signed two of its free agents, cornerback Kareem Jackson and tackle Derek Newton.
Mallett has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Texans, another person familiar with the contract told the AP. The deal is worth $7 million over two years, with $1.75 million guaranteed.