Open date gives Thomas chance to catch up
When new Texans wide receiver Demaryius Thomas returned to Denver to face the Broncos after a midseason trade, his personal inventory didn’t include a full knowledge of the playbook.
Thomas caught three passes for 61 yards in Sunday’s 19-17 victory over his former team despite having a limited package of plays. He made a few mistakes, including a false start, but that was to be expected.
“No doubt, you had to go right to the game plan,” Texans coach
Bill O’Brien said. “‘All right, here’s this playbook, this thick playbook.’ That wouldn’t be very good coaching, I don’t think. So we had to just teach him the game plan.
“‘Here’s your role in the game plan. Here’s who you’re going to be within each personnel group.’ Now, we can kind of maybe get back to the basics with him of how we call things.”
The Texans plan to use the open week to get Thomas more acclimated to a fuller version of their complicated playbook.
“That’s going to be big,” O’Brien said. “Now we have a little bit more time. Obviously, he’s had a big transition here, so he’s going to obviously have to make the move here to Houston and things like that.
“We can kind of take a step back and really go back into what we call the basic information. He’s a really good pro, and he’s going to do a great job of learning.”
TE Thomas shows Miller who’s boss
For a rookie still somewhat raw in his skills, Texans tight end
Jordan Thomas is emerging as a more polished player every week.
Thomas has caught three touchdowns passes over the last two games, including one score Sunday.
At 6-5 and 280 pounds with 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash, Thomas is an inviting red-zone target for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do. When the ball comes to me, I make a play,” said Thomas, a sixth-round draft pick from Mississippi State who has nine catches for 127 yards on 14 targets.
An improving blocker, Thomas knocked down Broncos star pass rusher and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Von
Miller on a chip block during wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins’ touchdown catch Sunday. “I got him a couple of times,” Thomas said.
Hamstring injuries frustrate Coutee
It has been a frustrating series of hamstring injuries for rookie wide receiver Keke Coutee.
Coutee has dealt with strained hamstrings in both legs. He missed the last two games since injuring his left leg against Jacksonville.
“Until I’m 100 percent, I won’t be back out there,” said Coutee, who has 21 catches for 196 yards and one touchdown. “I’m doing a little bit better every day.”
Foreman’s status ‘trending upward’
A bit of uncertainty still surrounds the pending return of running back D’Onta Foreman.
Although he has made strides in his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered as a rookie last year, Foreman remains on the physically unable-to-perform list.
Coach Bill O’Brien was noncommittal on whether the Texans will have Foreman begin practicing after the open week, starting the 21-day window to either activate him or have him miss the remainder of the season.
“We’re still talking about that,” O’Brien said. “I know he's trending upward. He's worked very hard. I don’t know if it’s something we're going to do right now.”
Colvin optimistic he’ll be back soon
Cornerback Aaron Colvin is determined to begin playing again after the open week.
Colvin sprained his ankle against Indianapolis and has been out for the last five games. He practiced for the first time, albeit on a limited basis, last week.
“I think I’m in a good place right now,” Colvin said. “I’m fighting through a few things, but the bye should help. The team let me take the time. They were patient with me. There was never a doubt in mind I would be back.”