Coutee needs detail work
Once a major part of the Texans’ passing game, wide receiver Keke Coutee hasn’t played in two games.
Although Coutee has been active, he hasn’t played since a road loss to Indianapolis.
Coutee dropped a pass that was intercepted against the Colts, but that isn’t the only reason why he’s on the bench. Coutee has committed some mental mistakes, too.
Replaced by DeAndre Carter, Coutee has met with Texans coach Bill O’Brien. O’Brien said Coutee needs to improve his attention to detail in practice and games and emphasized that Coutee hasn’t violated any team rules.
“Just talked to him, had a good talk with him,” O’Brien said. “He’ll come back ready to go. It’s a very competitive position. He competes very hard. You’ve got to be very detailed in everything you do on the practice field and he knows that and he’ll come back ready to play.
“He can definitely help us. He’s helped us in the past and he’ll help us in the future.”
Coutee had an ankle injury against Green Bay in the preseason but returned to play six games with three starts and has 13 catches for 154 yards on 22 targets. He had one rushing touchdown on an option pitch against the Colts.
As a rookie last season, Coutee caught 28 passes for 287 yards while battling hamstring problems.
“When he comes to practice, just keep working hard, do the right things in the meetings, so moving forward with what your assignments are, really have it down,” receivers coach John Perry said. “It’s always tricky when you’re in and out to get your assignments down all the time. He’s really going to detail his work moving forward.”
Penalties an issue ‘we have to fix’
The Texans lead the NFL with 32 pre-snap penalties, including 15 false starts (eight by Laremy Tunsil). They rank third overall with 71 penalties. Tunsil leads the Texans in penalties with 10 overall, including two ineligible receiver downfield infractions.
‘We have to fix it; we can’t keep doing that,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “There’s a very fine line between winning and losing. There’s a slim margin for error and we have to fix the pre-snap penalties.
“We talked about that. It really disrupts the rhythm of your offense, and it’s just not good. It’s something we have to stop.”
Offensive guard Zach Fulton has three false starts over the past two weeks.
“Definitely, just eliminating those false starts, especially myself,” Fulton said. “Just dumb penalties that we have control of. It’s all on us.”
Cornerback Roby hopes to face Ravens
Cornerback Bradley Roby has maintained his perspective while recovering from a strained hamstring that kept him out the past three games.
Signed to a one-year, $10 million contract as a free agent from Denver, Roby was off to a fast start until he got hurt against the Chiefs.
Roby is angling toward getting back on the field against the Ravens on Nov. 17, but his status will be determined next week.
“I’m feeling good, keep my body strong, conditioning,” Roby said. “It’s very tough, just starting the season the way we did and, specifically, me being on a new team, the momentum I had, it was kind of frustrating to me not to be out there and to keep progressing and keep getting that bond with the guys. It’s not good, but it is what it is. I’m working to get back.”
In other injury news, safety Tashaun Gipson said he expects to play against Baltimore after missing last week with back and wrist injuries.
The Texans are optimistic that left tackle Laremy Tunsil (shoulder) will return for their upcoming road game.
“I think they’re trending in the right direction, but this is a big week for them,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “One of the keys to the second half of the season will be health.”
Two defensive ends receive workouts
The Texans worked out defensive ends Ade Aruna and Nate Orchard on Tuesday, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly. The Texans don’ t plan to sign anyone immediately, but they may add to the position next week.