SIMS RETURNS ON MARCH 20 KPRC 2 rumors state that the Texans plan to sign special teams star Steven Sims to a new contract.
Sims made three catches for 25 yards, returned four punts for 49 yards, and returned three kicks for 71 yards during his three appearances for Houston last season.
Sims was at his finest during the playoffs, taking a punt back 71 yards for a touchdown against Baltimore.
AFC South Star Switch, March 13 After failing to reach an agreement with the Jacksonville Jaguars before to the start of free agency, the Houston Texans were expecting that standout receiver Calvin Ridley of the Jaguars would be leaving the AFC South.
It doesn’t seem like that will happen, though.
The Tennessee Titans are reportedly signing Ridley to a mammoth four-year contract worth $92 million, with $50 million guaranteed, according to reports from NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
In 17 games, Ridley caught 76 passes on 136 targets for 1,106 yards and 8 touchdowns.
He had eight receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown in two games against the Texans.
Houston adds an offensive lineman on March 13. Day 3 of NFL Free Agency began on Wednesday morning with the Texans signing offensive tackle David Sharpe, according to Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle.
In the 2023 season, Sharpe made his final appearance for the Carolina Panthers. Sharpe’s second stint with the Texans began with his signing.
Prior to his release in October of that year, he participated in the team’s practice squad in 2018. A HUNT TO HOUSTON ON MARCH 12? KPRC 2 rumors state that the Houston Texans and standout pass rusher Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings are interested in each other.
A number of teams are interested in hiring Hunter, but the source claims that nothing is imminent between the two parties.
Hunter, 29, has spent nine years with the Vikings, though he missed all of 2020 because of a serious neck injury. With 87.5 sacks in eight seasons, he has been a dominant force throughout his career aside from that.
Hunter’s market value is little over $20 million a year, according to Spotrac.
It’s a steep price to pay, but many teams will gladly pay it for a player like Hunter, who ESPN rates as the eighth-best free agent in this class.
Signed Townsend March 11 Multiple reports state that Tommy Townsend, a free agent and former Kansas City Chiefs punter, has agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract with the Houston Texans.
The departure of Cam Johnston, who signed his own free agency contract on Monday, left the Texans without a punter.
For the Super Bowl champs, Towsend dropped 20 of his punt attempts inside the 20 last season, averaging 47.1 yards per punt.
11 JOHNSON SIGNS MARCH According to a KPRC 2 story, the Houston Texans have signed defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. to a one-year $2.5 million contract, adding some help at cornerback.
Before being traded, Johnson was selected by the Texans in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Kentucky. Johnson then played for the Titans in 2022 before spending the previous season with the Saints.
In his five-year career, he has 192 total tackles, four interceptions, and fifteen passes defensed. MARCH 11 GONE Polder Another running back target for the Houston Texans is no longer available.
Tony Pollard, a running back target for the Texans, immediately followed suit on Monday afternoon, agreeing to sign a three-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, shortly after D’Andre Swift signed with the Bears.
Pollard underwhelmed in his single limelight last season, having been expected to be a younger, less expensive version of Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas.
The Cowboys ran for nearly 20 less yards per game in 2023 with him than in 2022 with Elliott, and he only had one game of 100 yards or more.
MAR 11 TEXANS OUT ON SWIFT The first running back to sign a contract was D’Andre Swift.
Swift inked a three-year, $24.0 million contract with the Chicago Bears, per KPRC.
The Texans are still vying for Saquon Barkley, an All-Pro running back.
MAR 11 ARE TEXANS IGNORANT? DeMeco Ryans, head coach of the Texans, has shown a desire to strengthen the team’s running back market.
However, KPRC says that the Texans have shown interest in running back Zack Moss, despite Saquon Barkley rumors. It’s also said that the Browns, Packers, and Titans are eyeing Moss.
Moss averaged 4.3 yards per rush while playing for the Colts last season, finishing with 183 carries for 794 yards and five touchdowns. In addition, he added two touchdowns and 192 yards from 27 catches.
ARE TEXANS RUNNING BACK ON MAR 11? Seven of the Texans’ 25 pending free agents have been re-signed as free agency has begun, with tight end Dalton Schultz being the most notable.
He accepted a $36.0 million, three-year agreement.
Schultz averaged a career-high 10.8 yards per reception while catching 59 catches for 635 yards and five touchdowns. TEXANS SIGN FATUKASI ON MARCH 11 Foley Fatukasi, a former defensive lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars who rejoins Matt Burke, has agreed to terms with the Texans.
Because of the larger market, Fatukasi desired to sign with a franchise prior to the commencement of the tampering period on March 11.
The 29-year-old defender does not have to wait until March 13 to join with a new team because he was released.As a member of the New York Jets in 2021, Fatukasi, a sixth-round selection out of UConn in 2018, played for Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke. Additionally, Fatukasi played one season with Robert Saleh’s defensive front, which uses schemes akin to those of Ryans of the Texans.
