The cuts, final roster, p-squad
 

Please post info on the cuts here. Radio has been saying the Texans will start releasing info on the cut down to 75 any time, now...

After Thursdays game, squad needs to go to 53. P-squad will be signed a day or two later....

OT Nick Mondek, DE Earl Okine, Andrew Shapiro, FB Zach Boren, ILB Elliot Coffey,RB Ray Graham, CB Travis Howard,

guard Bryan Collins, ILB Ja'Gared Davis,QB Stephen McGee, TE Adam Schiltz

Graham is the only "eyebrow-lifter" to me..... Perhaps he still has a shot at the practice squad..

Shapiro - just no room..... He got a good audition and might get picked up, however....

Thought we'd see Graham get some carries on Thursday with Johnson and Wood. Oh well. Texans are going to want to bury at least one if not two of these three rushers on the PS.

To me, Karim is 'just a guy'; he's aight but he's not a typical COP back like many RB3s, and he's not hiding some untapped potential I don't think. Johnson though seems multi-dimensional, something valuable in a third back. That said, Wood seems like the best of the four imo. I worry about the team being able to stash him on the PS if he's cut.

Ok, hypothetical tangent as we await further news on cuts... if you were GM Rick Smith, what would you take from another team for Case Keenum? Say an offer from a team like the Bills who have issues at the position. I can't imagine too many teams giving up a 5th rounder for a third-string, but Keenum has had some moments in preseason, and preseason showings at the position have been enough sometimes. Plus, Keenum is getting showcased on Thursday as the starter...

Hypothetically, I'd rather get a 3rd rounder (2nd maybe?) for TJ and keep Keenum. TJ has the better NFL resume and has looked (to my surprise) pretty good so far in preseason. If Lemon doesn't drop that pass in the endzone, TJ goes 7 for 8 in completed passes.

Case Keenum, I believe, has more upside/brighter future..... He's shown me things neither of his two ugly sisters can do.... Example was the Minnesota game when he threaded the ball in to Jean at about the 5-yard line. On the next couple of plays, he threads the ball into Maehl twice only to be dropped both times. That's 3 pinpoint passes in a handful of plays. Can Schaub or TJ do that? Maybe, maybe on a good day. But he's (Keenum) just a rookie (basically) and the other two are supposed to be the "more qualified".....

Will be interesting to see how it goes on Thursday night..... Keenum in the first half, Yates in the 2nd half.....

I think TJ is the better QB value by a wide margin. That real game experience including 2 playoff games is invaluable IMO. Besides TJ just has a stronger, more accurate arm than Keenum. Therefor, what would Kubiak do if he were presented with a hypothetical deal from a team like maybe the Bills like the deal he & Smith made for Schaub with ATL ? Obviously if Kubiak really likes Keenum and genuinely feels that he's very close to TJ as a reliable backup QB for the Texans, he's got to jump all over the deal. Risky though, could really blow up in his face.

Well, the time to get a fair offer on Yates passed a couple months ago... even a team with QB troubles like the Bills or the Jets feel they have a franchise QB now with Manuel and Geno Smith. So teams now are looking to shore up for 2013. ...but who knows, maybe there's a team who isn't feeling very confident with their 'chosen one'.

Maybe the Texans could get a 2nd for Yates, but I am guessing that wouldn't happen until next Feb/March.

And let's face it... we aren't that far removed from asking questions about Schaub's health. From the back stretch of last season and what I saw against the Saints, I wonder if he is aging quickly. He looks slower than normal, not just with footspeed but reaction times too. I am optimistic about Keenum, but if the team is trying to win a Super Bowl this year, I'd feel more comfortable with Yates stepping in than Keenum.

Thought this article had some interesting numbers on how Texans have built their 53 man roster over past 6 years.

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans...oster-numbers/

For instance , we have had 3 QB on opening day roster past four years.

Texans would be lucky to get a 5th-7th rounder for either of those guys. Yates had some experience, but he hasn't done anything that makes you think he's anything more than a stop-gap backup. Keenum hasn't done anything. IMO, if a trade is to be had, it'd be for Yates and would likely be a player-for-player swap. Maybe trade Yates and a 4th for Jarius Byrd. It'll never happen, but it's nice to dream and we seem really weak at S. Especially next year when they'll likely to cut Reed and Manning.

Getting down to 75,

Alec Lemon WR was directly placed on the injured reserve list.

David Hunter DT and Mike Smith WR , have been waived / injured.

Waived/injured means that those players can be claimed by other teams. If they remain unclaimed they revert to Houston's injured reserve list.

22 more cuts, transactions before Saturday for 53 man roster to start regular season.

What did the Falcons get from us for Schaub, 2 seconds ? Now I don't think for a minute that TJ would bring that, probably not a single 2nd round pick, but I'd think he'd be worth a third-rounder to the right team. Afterall how much more experience did Schaub have back then than Yates has now ? He certainly had no PO experience.
But I do agree with your thought that a player-for-player proposition maybe being more appealing to the Texans if it's somebody they like at a real need
position.

Keith already hit on it. Teams trade for QBs in the offseason. Schaub was worth that to us when we chose him as our Plan A. Teams don't panic trade picks for QBs that don't know their system on the eve of the regular season. We MAY have gotten a 3rd for Yates in the offseason, but not right now.

Not to mention, why would we trade a guy who may help us a little this year for a pick that definitely won't help us this year, when we could use Yates all season and trade him for the same pick then?

It should also be noted that Schaub was a third-round pick of the Falcons while Yates was a 5th and Keenum was a UDFA. Therefore, one would have to believe that Schaub had more potential when he was traded to Houston than either of these two guys could produce (not that this is always a key factor).

A team facing the prospect of starting an undrafted FA rookie with no NFL experience at QB could be forgiven for being a bit paniky, especially if they were looking for a WCO guy like TJ. Granted it's unlikely, but not
totally improbable.

And what team is that? Buffalo? The same team that has a brand new 1st round qb that the gm and coach just bet their jobs on?

Exactly. If I were a GM I'd trade a #2 or some combination of picks for Kirk Cousins based on his high-side potential (much like Schaub when he was young), but there's no way in God's creation I'd give up anything of high value for Yates, let alone Keenum. You trade for a QB based on starter potential, not backup potential. And so far, these two guys appear to be nothing more than a backup or short term stop-gap starter.

Keith initially posed a hypothetical question/speculation. In the world of hypothetical, anything goes - Yates and Keenum have starter potential ....

In reality, the Texans will probably keep all three QB's..

Well then, hypothetically, how about we trade Schaub for Luck? :rolleyes:

Chris Jones waived per Ganguli - Likely PS material.

Per Pat Starr of STOT:
Bouye made the team
Jawanza Starling - cut
Dennis Johnson - cut

Update:
According to P. Starr:
C. Wood, Tuggle, and W. Jefferson have made the squad.

The expectation has been that Jefferson makes the team. Now dunno about Tuggle, but I'm also hearing he's got a real shot at it but I'm unsure who makes room for him on the roster ?
The rookie ND back Wood making the team as the third RB instead of the veteran Karim, who can play special teams as a punt returner and/or K/O returner, would be a major surprise, but we'll see ?

@BobAllenKHOU: Looks like Cierre Wood will be the 3rd Texans running back..I've learned that Deji Karim has been waived

@McClain_on_NFL: Texans cut 14: Chris Jones, Dennis Johnson, Nate Menkin, Keith Browner, Delano Johnson, Jake Byrne, Tyler Clutts, Tyler Horn, Alex Kuppper

@McClain_on_NFL: More Texans cuts: Cameron Collins, Ohrian Johnson, Mike Mohamed, EZ Nwachukwu, Jawanza Starling. They have 7 moves to make Saturday.

@McClain_on_NFL: Of the Texans' last 7 moves, I expect a few to be players placed on IR. I expect rookie OT Brennan Williams (knee) will be one of them.

@PatDStat: THere is one move. RT @JPalmerCSN: #Texans 6th round pick, WR Alan Bonner has been placed on IR.

@PatDStat: Here it comes. RT @DZangaro: Roc Carmichael has beeen waived by the #Texans.

If that happens, I will be stunned. Not that I would necessarily disagree with the move because Wood has shown he's a gifted running-back, but he's a rookie and Kubiak is very old school and shuns rookies for vets. Maybe finally the old dog can learn some new tricks ?

It'll be interesting to see what they do with Sam Montgomery now that Tuggle and Jefferson made the team. I suspect a stubbed-toe IR stash is in his future.

Why? Karim has been cut by numerous teams (plus, he's a dime a dozen on the waiver wire) and it's not like he brings anything to the run game. We have others who can return kicks, but no one that has Wood's apparent talent at RB. Keep in mind, Foster hasn't played at all (has he even practiced?) so his health is questionable at this point. If he can't go or his back gets worse, that only leaves Tate as our big back and he's had his share of injuries in the past as well. Good sensible move, IMO.

I guess they saw some talent there with Bonner. Funny thing is, I can't recall ever seeing him on the field in any of the preseason games. Maybe I just missed him, but he certainly didn't standout at all.

Many players have been cut by numerous teams over the term of their careers and some of them somehow revive their careers and end up having some really successful years in the league if they end up in a particular team with a particular scheme (offense or defense), that suits them. Former Texans' Jason Babin comes to mind as a good example.
I like the move that Kubiak made, but I'm still surprised because he is a very old school coach including his attitude about rookies, especially those rookies who handle the ball like RBs. But I still think Wood's lack of experience on STs made him an even longer shot than perhaps Johnson, another talented rookie back who eliminated himself because of ball security issues. Kubiak is just one of those coachs who often values experience over pure talent, but maybe the old dog is learning some new tricks ?

As I'm sure you know, lots more evaluation done than just the preseason.

But you're right, I don't know if he even played.

Totally agree, and they obviously saw something. Just rare you see a team keep a low draft pick or UDFA that didn't show flashes or even play in preseason. I liked him though after the draft. Thought he had real slot WR and KR/PR potential.

From cbslocal this how got to 53 man roster for now

UPDATE (4:00pm): Final cuts have come in for the Houston Texans ahead of the 5pm deadline. The players released Saturday are:

Keith Browner DE
Jake Byrne TE
Roc Carmichael CB
Tyler Clutts FB
Cameron Collins ILB
Andy Cruse WR
Tyler Horn G/C
Delano Johnson DE
Dennis Johnson RB
Orhian Johnson S
Chris Jones NT
Deji Karim RB
Alex Kupper G/C
Elbert Mack CB
Nate Menkin T
Mike Mohamed ILB
EZ Nwachukwu WR
Jawanza Starling S
David Hunter* NT
Mike Smith* WR
*Waived with an injury settlement

Besides the 18 players released the Texans placed three players on the Reserved/Injured list: Alan Bonner WR, Brennan Williams T, and Trevardo Williams OLB.

With the releases and players placed on IR the Texans are at the required 53 man roster size to start the regular season.**** They can sign 8 players for their practice squad once the players clear waivers.

A little more info from houston texans web site

The Houston Texans have released the following player with an Injury Settlement:

Daniel MuirDL6-2322297Kent State

Notes:

All three remaining quarterbacks made the team. Keenum's record-breaking preseason peformance kept him on the roster.

Four undrafted rookies made the team, including RB Cierre Wood, CB A.J. Bouye, LB Justin Tuggle, and LB Willie Jefferson.

Now this is interesting. The Texans had (A) 9 rookies make the roster, (B) 4 were undrafted, (C) but they had 9 Draft picks.
Of course of the draft picks who didn't make the roster only one was an outright cut while the others apparently have been placed on various forms of IR.
Off hand dunno the number of rookies that have made Texans' rosters in past seasons, but this seems like a lot especially for a talented team like Houstons which I guess means the Texans have a very strong rookie class.

Snagged from another forum:

Appears Zach Boren FB is signed to our practice squad.

With so many of our waived players being claimed by other teams this may take a little while to get all 8 positions filled.

And sounds like Uzoma Nwachukwu WR is on practice squad.

@McClain_on_NFL: Texans PS: CB Roc Carmichael, C Alex Kupper, DE Keith Browner, LB Mike Mohamed, FB Zach Boren, RB Ray Graham, WR Andy Cruse, WR E Nwachukwu

Interesting on Roc. Didn't think he was eligible. Eligibility must be based on game day active not the 53.

Seems like a pretty good 53 man roster and 8 man practice squad to me.

Now wondering if any contract extensions or modifications such as for Brian Cushing will get done soon?

Some potential there in Cruse and Graham, good to see them back. Rick Smith must see something in Roc I just don't.

Lost David Quessenberry to a broken foot. :(

Signed Menkin to the PS.