The New England Patriots offered a contract to star free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini.

Hopkins, who also received an offer from the Tennessee Titans, has yet to sign a new deal  since his May 26 release from the Arizona Cardinals. Russini reported that Hopkins will take his time.

“His sales job continues trying to get more teams interested at this point, because right now, we know that there are only two teams that have had DeAndre Hopkins come to their facility,” Russini said on “NFL Live” on Thursday, June 22.

“I was told by sources close to the situation that Hopkins is going over some of the offers from both of those teams, the Titans and the Patriots,” Russini added. “He’s mulling over and trying to come up with a decision with what he wants to do.”

Hopkins visited the Patriots and Titans last week, but he hasn’t visited another team since. The three-time All-Pro remains unsigned with almost five weeks left before training camps open in late July.

“I was told to be very patient here,” Russini continued regarding Hopkins’ timeframe. “This isn’t something that’s going to go down in the next 24 or 48 hours. It’s going to take some time for DeAndre Hopkins to come up with his final decision of where he wants to play.”

DeAndre Hopkins Has Vested Interest in Waiting

Hopkins waiting doesn’t come as a total surprise. ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously explained that there’s truly no rush for a free agent such as Hopkins to sign during the quietest period of the offseason.

“It’s been a flat market. It doesn’t sound like he’s in any rush to [sign] a deal,” Schefter said. “You don’t have to sign in the middle of June when you can wait until right before training camp.

“For all we know, some team suffers an injury, some team loses a receiver, the dynamics change and shift, and there could be more leverage at some point in time for DeAndre Hopkins,” Schefter added.

“So he can listen to Tennessee, he can listen to New England, he can see what they’re offering, but there’s no rush,” Schefter continued. “He can wait until a firmer offer from another team materializes. Doesn’t sound like he’s in a rush to do anything right now.”

For now, the Patriots at least have the benefit of a positive visit with Hopkins. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Hopkins “gave the impression he’s certainly intrigued, interested in playing with New England.”

Bill Belichick, DeAndre Hopkins Visited at Length

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted that Hopkins visited with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for a while during the visit. Hopkins and Belichick had a notable chat at a December 2022 game between the Patriots and Cardinals.

“But I think one thing that came across is this is going to have to be on Bill’s terms,” Breer said on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Rich Podcast” last week. “And I think the fact that Bill and Hopkins spent one-on-one time at the end of the visit, tells me that those terms have been discussed.”

“And are Bill’s terms now getting closer to what Hopkins’ terms for going to a team would be? That to me is the question,” Breer added. “Because I still think money is a factor. If money was less of a factor, I think he’d be a Buffalo Bill or a Kansas City Chief now.”

At least on paper, the incoming crop of defensive rookies is loaded.

Despite the NFL tilting further in favor of the offense than ever before, there were 16 defensive players chosen in the first round to only 15 offensive prospects, headlined by EDGE Will Anderson and cornerback Devon Witherspoon both coming off the board in the top-five picks.

This spring featured one of the deeper cornerback classes in recent memory, and there should be at least a handful of immediate starters emerging from the first round alone.

So, which defensive rookies have the best chance of becoming immediate stars this fall? Here’s a prediction, with insight from NFL scouts and executives mixed in:

5. Joey Porter Jr., CB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Joey Porter Jr. follows his legendary father’s footsteps into a starting role in the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ defense, carrying an extra large chip on his shoulder from sliding out of the first round to No. 32 overall. That’s likely bad news for the rest of the NFL.

One of the longest cornerbacks in this year’s class, Porter’s 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame give him the ability to neutralize opposing receivers and caused opposing quarterbacks to shy away from targeting him last season.

“He’s going to be really good covering smaller receivers,” an AFC scout told Heavy. “He’s long, a really good athlete, and tough. The fact that he’s a Steeler seems to mean something extra to him, too.”

Porter Jr.’s massive wingspan helped him hold opposing receivers to just 143 total yards last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and opposing quarterbacks to a pedestrian 63.6 passer rating when targeting him. The Steelers have an instant starter and high-impact cornerback to continue building around, in Porter Jr.

4. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks

There might not be a cornerback with better ball skills in this year’s class than Devon Witherspoon, and he’ll walk right into a starting role in the Seattle Seahawks‘ secondary.

“Devon’s competitive as hell,” an NFC executive told Heavy. “And tough as they come. It’s like he was built to play for the Seahawks.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Witherspoon only allowed 22 receptions on 60 targets last season, surrendering just 3.3 yards per target with 14 pass breakups and three interceptions.

Seattle might not yet have its next incarnation of the “Legion of Boom,” but there’s a good chance that Witherspoon Island is about to pop up in the Emerald City thanks in large part to Witherspoon’s competitiveness and range on the outside.

3. Deonte Banks, CB, New York Giants

New York Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale couldn’t contain his excitement that Banks would be the team’s selection as general manager Joe Schoen phoned in the No. 24 overall pick. It’s easy to see why.

While Banks had just one interception in 2022, opposing quarterbacks posted a mere 71.4 passer rating when targeting handsy 6-foot and 200-pound cornerback. Banks’ speed and versatility give him the potential to make an instant impact, and a worthy counter-punch to the NFC East’s bounty of elite receivers.

Banks’ presence on the perimeter affords Martindale a little more freedom to do what he loves most, and what his defense is built on; blitzing. New York has a long way to go in terms of building out a secondary, but Banks has the frame and athleticism to be a cornerstone.

2. Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

General manager Howie Roseman once again managed to marry value with elite talent and need for the Philadelphia Eagles, stopping the slide of arguably the most dominant defensive player in this year’s class at No. 9 overall.

There likely won’t be much easing Carter into the Eagles’ rotation, following the departures of Ndamukong Suh and Javon Hargrave from a line that powered a run to the Super Bowl last season.

“From a talent standpoint, Jalen is a perfect fit for what the Eagles do up front,” an AFC South Scouting Director told Heavy.

Not only will Carter take up all kinds of space in the run game alongside Fletcher Cox, but his 16.3 pass-rush win rate last season at the University of Georgia gives him the potential to round out one of the more disruptive interior pass-rush duos in the league.

1. Will Anderson, EDGE, Houston Texans

The Texans are seemingly all in on importing the San Francisco 49ers‘ defense to Houston, and handed new head coach DeMeco Ryans a cornerstone to build around in EDGE rusher Will Anderson.

During his time in Tuscaloosa, Anderson was nearly unblockable. The explosive 6-foot-3 and 253-pound defensive lineman posted a stellar 20.4 pass-rush win rate in 2022, along with 14 sacks and 51 pressures. As a three-year starter, Anderson logged 207 pressures, underscoring just how disruptive he can be, while going up against some of the nation’s premier offensive tackles in the SEC.

Houston has a long way to go in terms of building out its front-seven, but Anderson is going to be the kind of player who wreaks havoc on opposing backfields, while potentially drawing double teams to create opportunities for the players around him, as well.

Whether or not the New England Patriots sign star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will “come down to” one thing.

“What I’ve continued to hear from different people down there is that this is really gonna come down to Bill [Belichick],” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said on the “Toucher & Rich” podcast on Friday, June 16. “And it’s sort of self-explanatory with everything here for the last 23 years.”

Hopkins visited the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday but left without a signed contract. It marked his second free agency visit after a prior visit with the Tennessee Titans, which all came two weeks after his May 26 release from the Arizona Cardinals.

Belichick, the Patriots’ longtime head coach and general manager has been long-known to not spend big — even on Pro Bowl-caliber talent. Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss only made north of $10 million once in his three full seasons with the Patriots in the 2000s.

Hopkins isn’t Moss, but Hopkins can produce at a high level amid 11,298 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns in his career. Whether or not Hopkins can land his Spotrac projected value of $23.2 million remains the question for the Patriots or any team.

“But I think one thing that came across is this is going to have to be on Bill’s terms,” Breer said. “And I think the fact that Bill and Hopkins spent one-on-one time [Thursday] at the end of the visit, tells me that those terms have been discussed.”

“And are Bill’s terms now getting closer to what Hopkins’ terms for going to a team would be? That to me is the question,” Breer added. “Because I still think money is a factor. If money was less of a factor, I think he’d be a Buffalo Bill or a Kansas City Chief now.”

The Chiefs won the Super Bowl in two of the past four seasons, and the Bills have been contenders in recent years.

Money vs. a Super Bowl Ring Question Lingers for DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins notably teased interest in both the Chiefs and Bills over the Patriots in a video earlier this offseason.

Instead, Hopkins visited the Titans and Patriots — both teams that missed the playoffs in the 2022 season. However, Breer noted that Hopkins could choose the Chiefs closer to the season.

In addition, Hopkins was in contact with the Titans amid the Patriots visit according to Breer. The Titans notably offered Hopkins a contract before leaving Nashville, but he continued his search instead.

DeAndre Hopkins Still Not Part of the Patriots ‘Familia’

Hopkins teased his interest in the Patriots during the visit with an Instagram photo that featured himself and New England linebacker Matthew Judon. While five-time Pro Bowler used the phrase “La familia” on the photo, Judon indicated that Hopkins hasn’t joined the family yet.

“He still has that decision to make to where he wants to play,” Judon told J.P.  Smollins of WPRI on Thursday. “But he’s a very talented football player. Everything that he’s done in his career can’t be taken away from him. So, if he wants to join the team, we’ll love to have him. But if not, we’ve played him before — so we know how to guard him as well.”

DeAndre Hopkins could not keep off of social media during his free agency visit with the New England Patriots on Thursday, June 15.

The star free wide receiver posted an Instagram story that showed him standing with Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon in the team locker room. Hopkins wrote ‘La familia’ for the post.

Judon notably tried to recruit Hopkins before, and the two bantered once on social media before the visit. Despite the online exchanges, Judon downplayed it all in person at minicamp this week.

“You’ve seen all you gonna get,” Judon told reporters on Tuesday, June 13. “I don’t run my Twitter, so I don’t know who be tweeting most of the time. So, that’s what I got for y’all.”

Hopkins made the Patriots his second free agency visit since the Arizona Cardinals released the five-time Pro Bowler on May 26. He first visited the Tennessee Titans earlier this week.

DeAndre Hopkins, Patriots Have ‘Productive Visit’

The Athletic’s Jeff Howe described Hopkins’ visit as “productive” though it did not result in a deal. Tennessee notably offered Hopkins a contract according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, but Hopkins continued his search.

“WR DeAndre Hopkins and the Patriots have had a productive visit, according to a source,” Howe wrote via Twitter. “No deal at the moment, but there’s still a level of optimism the two sides could reach an agreement.”

The Patriots are making a push for Hopkins, per source. He has departed Gillette Stadium but is still local,” Howe added.

Howe isn’t alone on the positivity between Hopkins and the Patriots. MassLive’s Mark Daniels reported that “that visit between the two parties has been positive on both sides” via a league source.

Patriots’ Waiting Game With DeAndre Hopkins Kicks Off

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport called it “interesting” how long Hopkins’ visit with the Patriots lasted. However, Rapoport noted that “it makes sense to wait” for the right deal on Hopkins’ end.

In addition, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Hopkins is in no hurry, which ESPN Patriots insider Mike Reiss wrote about. Reiss also confirmed, via a source, that “both sides are now expected to take some time to assess their next steps” going forward.

Hopkins also “has considered waiting until closer to training camp in late July to make a move”, Reiss wrote, based on Fowler’s report. Rapoport previously noted that “even early into training camp” makes sense because of teams’ changing needs.

“It makes sense if you’re a veteran player who maybe doesn’t necessarily need to go to training camp like the rest of us do,” Rapoport added. “Waiting makes sense. So, I think for DeAndre Hopkins, get all the information you possibly can today and tomorrow, and maybe sit back a little bit and consider your options.”

Hopkins’ visit with the Patriots began “early in the morning and well into the afternoon”, Reiss wrote based on Fowler’s report. Hopkins notably “appeared intrigued” about playing for the Patriots and six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick, Reiss also wrote regarding Fowler’s report.

As DeMeco Ryans, Frank Reich and Shane Steichen potentially start quarterbacks selected at the top of the 2023 draft, Sean Payton and Jonathan Gannon will look to lead drastic turnarounds with veteran quarterbacks.

Which head coach will orchestrate the quickest turnaround? Who has the best chance to transform a bottom-dweller into a surprise contender? Discover how this year’s head coaching hires stack up, with insight from executives across the NFL.

5. Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals

Not to put an expiration date on his tenure before it even begins, but Gannon has the best chance to be one-and-done.

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ defensive collapse in the second half of the Super Bowl left much to be desired, as did Gannon for skirting accountability when asked by reporters at the NFL combine about what happened in that game. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals might boast the least-talented roster in the league.

Turning around the Cardinals in one season, in a division that houses two contenders, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, as well as a Los Angeles Rams team that should rebound, would be a difficult task under the best of circumstances. But Gannon’s play-calling flaws were exposed by the Chiefs, and it remains unclear whether he has the temperament to be a successful NFL head coach.

4. Frank Reich, Carolina Panthers

Frank Reich, who was abruptly let go by the Indianapolis Colts last season, now finds himself in Carolina with a golden chance to develop a hand-picked young quarterback, Bryce Young. It marks his first opportunity to mold a potential franchise quarterback since his stint as Carson Wentz‘s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2016 to 2017.

“The NFC South is wide open, so Frank will probably do pretty well,” an AFC personnel executive told Heavy. “Frank is the definition of a pro’s pro. His key will be Bryce Young and his ability to stay on the field. I worry that Bryce is going to get killed — like, smashed.”

Concerns about Young’s 5-foot-10 and 194-pound frame aside, Reich gets to oversee an offense that features dynamic dual-threat running back Miles Sanders along with reliable pass catchers Adam Thielen and tight end Hayden Hurst. Reich’s experience, play-calling prowess and track record for being a quarterback whisperer give him the chance to see immediate success.

3. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

Steichen was viewed as one of the most coveted head coaching candidates — and for good reason.

Steichen molded Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts into a legitimate MVP candidate while overseeing a balanced offense that featured dynamic deep-threat receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith yet also finished with the NFL’s fifth-ranked rushing offense.

Now in Indianapolis, Steichen has the chance to work with one of the most gifted quarterback prospects in recent years, Anthony Richardson. If Steichen can tap into Richardson’s immense potential — following the path of Hurts and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert — the Colts will be in phenomenal shape for 2023 and beyond.

2. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans

If DeMeco Ryans is anything, he’s a culture driver and one of the brightest defensive minds currently in the sport.

“It’s an easy choice for me,” an AFC scouting director told Heavy. “It’s DeMeco Ryans. They’ve upgraded the talent on that roster significantly, and they finally have a head coach with sustainability.”

An NFC personnel executive echoed those sentiments, citing the Houston Texans‘ easy road in the AFC South as a potential driving force for Ryans to orchestrate a quick turnaround.

Ryans arrives in Houston after leading the 49ers’ top-ranked defense last season. The Texans made bold moves by adding the most highly regarded defensive prospect of this year’s class, Will Anderson, and potential franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud with consecutive picks. While winning the AFC South might be a tall order this season, Houston has assembled a talented and youthful roster that could pose a significant challenge to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023.

1. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos‘ new ownership group made a big splash, luring Sean Payton out of the television studio and coming away with the prize of this year’s hiring cycle.

“Hands down, it’s Sean Payton,” an NFC personnel executive told Heavy when asked his choice for the coach who will make the biggest immediate impact. “Sean’s a proven winner, has a veteran quarterback and [has] a damn good defense.”

Payton, who arrives in the Mile High City with a Super Bowl ring on his finger and the 2006 Coach of the Year award in tow, inherits Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson and a defense built around Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain and All-Pro safety Justin Simmons.

If Payton can engineer a significant turnaround for Wilson after the most disappointing season of his career, the Broncos will have a puncher’s chance in the loaded AFC.

On Friday March 24 the Houston Texans announced that they have signed former Steelers wide receiver/kick returner Steven Sims, leaving Pittsburgh with just five receivers on its offseason roster. Sims’ departure was hardly a surprise, as Omar Khan & Co. elected not to tender him a contract as a restricted free agent, making the 25-year-old Houston native an unrestricted free agent.

But many observers were surprised that the Steelers didn’t make more of an effort to retain the fourth-year pro, including Bob Pompeani of KDKA-TV, who tweeted: “I don’t know why the #Steelers didn’t want to bring Steven Sims back. He did a solid job on special teams and as a WR contributor.”

Indeed, Sims stepped up last season and made a positive impact as a kick returner after former Patriots All-Pro Gunner Olszewski fumbled away the kick return job. He also saw playing time as a slot receiver after the Steelers traded Chase Claypool to the Bears in exchange for a 2nd-round pick. In fact, Sims caught 14 passes for 104 yards in 284 offensive snaps last year, with all of his action coming after the first month of the season.

Steven Sims Calls Leaving Pittsburgh ‘Bittersweet’

After the Texans announced the signing, Sims took to Instagram to say his goodbye to Pittsburgh, writing:

SteelersNation, This is a bittersweet moment. I first want to say thank you to steelers for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing organization. My time here was beyond great and I’m thankful to have made so many memories and lifelong friendships….To All The Fans I Got Nothing But Love And I Appreciate Yall For The Support. But The time Has Come For Me To Return Home, THANK YALL!

The Steelers move forward with just five wide receivers on their roster, including Olszewski, who is entering the second year of a two-year deal he signed in 2022. That leaves Diontae Johnson and 2022 2nd-round pick George Pickens as the starters, with 2022 4th-round pick Calvin Austin as the frontrunner to win the slot receiver job. The Steelers also have former Bears 2nd-round pick Anthony Miller in the fold, back on a one-year reserve/futures contract.

Ex-Steelers Punter Corliss Waitman Rejoins the Patriots

In other free agent news, the New England Patriots signed former Steelers punter Corliss Waitman just a day after the Broncos withdrew their tender to the exclusive rights free agent.

The Patriots lost Waitman to the Steelers in Dec. 2021 when Pittsburgh signed him off New England’s practice squad. He proceeded to appear in two games for Pittsburgh before the Steelers waived him to make room on the roster for wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. He was subsequently claimed by the Broncos and went on to win Denver’s punting job in 2022.

Offensive Tackle Trent Scott Signs With Washington

Meanwhile, on March 23, 2023, the Steelers lost unrestricted free agent offensive tackle Trent Scott to the Washington Commanders. Scott, 29, appeared in eight games (with one start) for Pittsburgh in 2022, having inked him to a one-year contract in May 2022.

The organization quickly filled his spot by signing offensive tackle Le’Raven Clark, a 2016 3rd-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts.

The Steelers might soon lose another offensive lineman in free agency. Earlier this week backup center/guard J.C. Hassenauer had a visit with the New York Giants. Hassenauer appeared in 45 games for the Steelers from 2020-22, with seven starts.

The Dallas Cowboys have had several major decisions to make this offseason, and that’s included saying goodbye to players out of contract or in free agency.

While the team has made an effort to keep the majority of the roster together, they’ve already said goodbye to running back Ezekiel Elliott. Less than a week later, tight end Dalton Schultz is the next big name to find his future elsewhere.

NFL media insider Tom Pelissero reported that Schultz is signing a one-year deal with the Houston Texans, marking an end to his time with Dallas after five years.

The Cleveland Browns hosted free agent tight end Jordan Akins for a visit on Friday and appear close to inking him to a deal.

Akins has spent his entire career with the Houston Texans and previously played with Deshaun Watson. Akins has 151 catches for 1,755 yards and eight touchdowns in his career and is coming off his best year as a pro. Despite the Texans’ unstable quarterback situation, Akins caught 37 passes for 495 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Akins posted an overall grade of 72.4 with Pro Football Focus, excelling as a receiver (74.3) but also showing an ability to block (61.3). The Browns are shifting away from being so reliant on tight ends but Akins would make a lot of sense to pair with David Njoku.

“Browns visit with Texans free agent tight end Jordan Akins going very well, per a league source,” Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston tweeted. “Akins is a strong fit for their offense and already has great chemistry with Deshaun Watson.”

Akins spent four seasons with Watson as his quarterback. Akins’ market value is around $2.6 million per year, per Spotrac. It’d be a solid signing for the Browns around that number, giving some competition for the second tight end spot for Harrison Bryant.

Browns Pleased With Watson’s Development

Watson showed some very visible rust after almost two years away from the game last season, so adding a target he’s familiar with would be a plus for the Browns.

Watson played the final six games for the Browns after an 11-game suspension, with the team going 3-3. Watson — who led the league in passing yards in 2020 — showed glimpses of his Pro Bowl form but completed 58.2% of his passes for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions.

While the Browns ultimately missed the postseason, EVP and general manager Andrew Berry said the team is “pleased” with Watson after making the blockbuster move for him a year ago.

“I will say that we are pleased with where Deshaun is, pleased with the progress he has made since he has been with us and certainly anticipate him having a very strong year on and off the field going into 2023,” Berry said.

Nick Chubb and the ground game have been the staple of the Browns’ offense recently. However, Cleveland is expected to rely more heavily on Watson next season, per Matthew Berry of NBC Sports.

“Cleveland’s offense is going to be really interesting next year. Look for the Browns to add a speed wide receiver this off-season to go with Amari Cooper. One source told me ‘They are really going to open up the offense. Go five wide. Pass a lot. This is going to be Deshaun Watson’s offense, not Nick Chubb’s. They will pass a lot more than folks expect,’” Berry reported.

Browns Have Focused on Defense With Free Agent Signings

The Browns have made some moves in free agency but have focused on the defensive side of the ball, bringing in veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, pass-rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo and free safety Juan Thornhill as future starters.

Along with adding some depth at tight end, the Browns are in the market for a speedy receiver to pair with Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones in the passing game. Free agent players like DJ Chark and Mecole Hardman have been floated as potential options to fill that role.

The Browns also have second-year receiver David Bell on the roster and could give speedster Anthony Schwartz one more chance to make an impact.

While there were rumors that the Buffalo Bills would once again be in the market for a new backup quarterback heading into the 2023 NFL season, such became a reality just hours after the NFL’s official free agency negotiating period opened on Monday, March 13.

Josh Allen‘s backup quarterback Case Keenum was among the team’s 20 players set to become unrestricted free agents, and while Buffalo traded a 2022 seventh-round draft pick to land the veteran last year, the 35-year-old journeyman is now taking his talents to the Houston Texans.

Sports Radio 610 host John McClain tweeted on Monday, “The Texans have agreed to sign Case Keenum to a two-year contract as their backup QB behind the second overall pick in the draft. The deal can’t become official until the start of free agency on Wednesday.”

Born in Brownwood, Keenum will return to his home state to play for the first team who took a flier on him after he went undrafted out of Houston in 2012. After spending a year on the practice squad, Keenum became the team’s third-stringer behind then-starter Matt Schaub and backup T.J. Yates. However, Keenum became the starter after Schaub got injured, and went 0-8 as a starter in 2013. After a brief stint with the Rams, Keenum returned to the Texans as a backup in 2014 and fared much better when he took over the starting role after then-starter Ryan Fitzpatrick broke his leg.

Keenum was then traded back to the Rams, where he stayed for two seasons before bouncing around the league. Before getting traded to the Bills, he had stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders, and the Cleveland Browns. While he never got a chance to start in Buffalo, Keenum has recorded a total of 14,884 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 48 interceptions over the past ten seasons.

The Texans expected to select a quarterback with their No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, so adding Keenum gives the rookie Houston lands a veteran mentor to work with, or some insurance if the prospect isn’t quite ready to go in Week 1.

After learning of Keenum’s departure, WROC-TV’s Thad Brown tweeted, “Won’t find a better personality fit for the #Bills QB room than Case Keenum. Tough loss. Plenty of viable backup QB options available.” Bills beat reporter Jon Scott floated the idea of Marcus Mariota.

“It’s clear his path is as back-up and think it would be valuable for #Bills to find someone whose skillset is close to Josh Allen in terms of mobility so offense doesn’t have major shift should Allen go down,” Scott tweeted.

Sam Darnold Emerged as a New Backup Option for Allen, But Signed With the 49ers

GettySam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers scrambles with the ball against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on January 08, 2023.

While fans balked at the idea of polarizing former Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz landing in Buffalo as Allen’s new backup, the reception for Sam Darnold possibly taking over the role was met with a much warmer reaction.

The Buffalo News suggested Darnold, 25, as a top option since he “passed the ‘he is friends with Josh’ test,” and good chemistry in the quarterbacks’ room is a top priority for Allen. One man tweeted, “Darnold please if the Case is out.” The 6-foot-3, 225-pound quarterback spent the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers and is set to become a free agent.”

The New York Jets’ former fourth-overall pick from the 2018 NFL Draft would join Matt Barkley in the quarterbacks’ room should he come to Buffalo, who signed to a futures/reserve contract with the Bills in January.

However, on Monday afternoon, Darnold was snatched up by the 49ers. Darnold is set to sign a one-year contract with San Francisco, per ESPN, which was announced shortly after Jimmy Garoppolo agreed to a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Bills Could Possibly Bring Back Trubisky

GettyMitch Trubisky #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 18, 2022.

The Athletic‘s Joe Buscaglia suggested last month that should Buffalo let Keenum walk, they could look toward bringing back former backup, Mitch Trubisky, whose journey as a starter with the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t quite pan out in 2022. Trubisky, the former second overall pick from the 2017 NFL Draft, was deemed a top salary cap cut candidate after rookie Kenny Pickett secured the starting role this past season.

The Athletic staff surmised on February 25, “In a perfect world, the Steelers would love to keep a veteran like Trubisky” to play backup for Pickett, “but when you are tight against the cap, all things are on the table, including cutting Trubiksy loose.” The 28-year-old veteran has a cap hit of $10.62 million for the 2023 NFL season. If the Steelers cut or trade him before June 1, they’ll clear up $8 million in cap space.

The Chicago Bears officially locked up the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft during the final week of the regular season, owing at least part of their good fortune to the Houston Texans for their comeback win in Indianapolis.

If the Texans want to avoid watching the Bears auction off the pick — and the rights to top quarterback prospect Bryce Young — to another quarterback-needy team, though, there might be an obvious trade offer they can make to get back into the top spot that would net Chicago a new No. 1 wide receiver.

The Bears have a laundry list of roster needs to address during the 2023 offseason, but finding a true top receiver for quarterback Justin Fields is among their biggest priorities. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many options that fit the bill set to be available in 2023 free agency, making the trade market their best resource for finding a reliable veteran.

That’s where the Texans and star receiver Brandin Cooks could come into play.

If the Texans would rather not risk missing out on their preferred quarterback, they could get realistically offer the Bears both of their 2023 first-round picks — Nos. 2 and 12 overall — along with Cooks in a package deal to move back up to the No. 1 spot. For Chicago, it would be an ideal trade-back scenario that would still allow them to take the top non-quarterback prospect on their draft boards while also gaining significant assets, including a new WR1 for Fields to have in his arsenal.

Cooks Has ‘Standing Trade Request’ With Texans for 2023

Part of the reason a Cooks trade is worth discussing is that, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, the 29-year-old receiver has a “standing trade request” with the Texans that the team is expected to accommodate during the 2023 offseason.

As Wilson mentioned, Houston already tried to move him once at November’s trade deadline and received interest from several teams, including the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The Texans were unable to get a deal done, though, due to their high asking price — a second-rounder plus additional compensation — and expectation for the acquiring team to take on his $18 million guaranteed salary for 2023.

Instead, the Texans will likely have to lower their expectations for what they can get in exchange for Cooks and might ultimately be better served using him as a trade chip to try working back into the No. 1 spot. It helps that Chicago has more than enough cap space to take on Cooks’ full contract without concessions. Cooks would also most likely appreciate going somewhere he can continue on as a true leading receiver.

Bears Could Gain Three Starters With Texans Trade

GettyTexans wide receiver Brandin Cooks, #13, has a “standing trade request” with Houston for the 2023 offseason, per insider Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.

There is no denying that Cooks would be a welcomed addition to the Bears offense. He has been a 1,000-yard receiver in six of his last eight NFL seasons, and while his production did decline a bit this season (56 receptions for 699 yards), he remained one of the league’s most effective deep-ball receivers despite playing for a Texans offense that finished as one of the worst passing teams in the NFL in 2022. If the Bears could pair him with Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool, it would make for a much better trio of options than what Field worked with for the majority of his second season.

What makes a trade-down scenario with the Texans more appealing, though, is what the Bears could do with the Texans’ other first-round picks. The second overall pick would still allow them to have their choice between Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter, who are largely considered the best two non-quarterback prospects in the 2023 class. They would also then have the 12th overall pick to target another Day 1 starter, such as one of the top offensive tackles in the draft or, perhaps, a high-level EDGE rusher.

Of course, the biggest part of the equation is the Texans and whether they are truly motivated to get Young over either C.J. Stroud or Will Levis. They should feel pretty confident that the Bears won’t select a quarterback if they stay at the No. 1 spot, but the problem is that other teams will likely be calling to jump the Texans in line. If they believe Young is their guy above the rest, they may have no choice but to deal with the Bears to avoid letting the decision haunt them for years to come.

The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into Christmas weekend with an 11-3 record but they haven’t been playing a very convincing brand of football the past few weeks.

KC narrowly survived the one-win Texans in Houston with an overtime victory on a run by Jerick McKinnon. Having said that, the referees didn’t exactly help them out very much.

Fans and players were especially livid over the blatantly late hits on Patrick Mahomes, but the quarterback didn’t say much about the potential penalties that went uncalled after the game. During a radio spot this week, the superstar signal-caller did finally address the roughing the passer rule in more detail.

Patrick Mahomes Comments on NFL Roughing the Passer Rule

KC sports radio host Carrington Harrison posed the question on his recurring spot titled “The Drive,” with Audacy’s 610 Sports Radio (Kansas City).

“I’m not trying to get you in trouble with the league,” Harrison preluded before asking carefully: “Do you have a clear understanding of what the roughing the passer rules are? Because there were a couple of hits that you took that I’m just watching other hits [around] the league and I’m like — I think that’s roughing the passer, but they didn’t call it in this situation. Do you have a clear understanding of what roughing the passer is?”

“Yeah, I mean I have an understanding of it, you know the rules,” Mahomes responded, “but at the end of the day, you’re just playing the game. You let that stuff kind of handle itself, you let the refs make the calls, I mean, they’re human too. It’s a discretion call so they’re going to make the calls [based on] whatever they think’s best for the game.”

It was a very judicious answer from the well-trained team leader, but there were some interesting word choices from Mahomes. For example, rightfully so, he referred to the flag as a “discretion call,” which would mean opinion does come into it.

He also said that the officials will do “whatever they think’s best for the game.” Mahomes may not have voiced this intentionally, but most times, what a person truly believes tends to rise to the surface of their subconscious — and nothing he said was false.

The NFL rulebook isn’t black and white and the roughing the passer rule is often grayer than most, but it’s odd that the Chiefs superstar can’t seem to buy a flag. After all, he’s only the face of the league and arguably the most important player to the NFL’s revenue stream.

Keeping him healthy and on the field should be paramount, especially when these hits are well after the ball is out of Mahomes’ hands — but that has not always been the case.

“I try not to worry about it,” Mahomes concluded. “I try to just go out there and play and find a way to win. Whatever happens happens, I can only control what I can control.”

Patrick Mahomes’ Silver Linings From Tight Victories

Harrison chatted with Mahomes about everything from this week’s upcoming matchup with the Seattle Seahawks to the Christmas gift he got from Travis Kelce. Included was more on the tight victory over the Texans and what the QB takes from games like these.

“You want to continue to get better and to win these games by a little bit bigger margin but I think the only good thing you can take from it is that we know how to win these tough-fought games,” Mahomes told Harrison. “In the playoffs, that’s how all the games are going to be. Even when we don’t have our best stuff on [a given] day, we’re able to find a way to win.”

It’s an astute observation from the 27-year-old veteran. Some might see these close wins as disappointing, but Mahomes sees them as valuable learning experiences for himself and his teammates.

And in a one-score game during the postseason, who’s better than Mahomes, Kelce, and head coach Andy Reid?

“Hopefully we can get some momentum going into the playoffs and play a little bit better as far as the turnovers go,” he admitted, “but other than that I think guys are playing hard and we’re finding a way to win at the end of the day.”

The Kansas City Chiefs had another scare in Week 15 after the Houston Texans took them into overtime.

Although the Chiefs did come out on top — forcing a turnover when it mattered most — it was another ugly victory for Kansas City against a one-win Texans franchise. At the same time, the outcome clinched the AFC West for KC and quarterback Patrick Mahomes II revealed his message to his teammates after the bittersweet win.

Patrick Mahomes’ Message to Chiefs After Texans Victory

During his Week 15 postgame press conference, Mahomes was much more positive than he was after his three-interception performance the week before.

“Obviously, we know we have a lot to work on [as a team] — to clean up at least with the turnovers and the penalties,” Mahomes told reporters, “but you have to celebrate — I mean, we still won the AFC West, and you have to enjoy that. I told the guys to do that, enjoy it for like the plane ride home and tonight, but we got a short week this next week so enjoy it and we’ll get right back to it.”

Mahomes explained later that the Chiefs first goal as a team was to win the division, and the fact that they were able to accomplish that at this point in the season is something to be proud of.

“When we start every single season, the first thing that we get told when we first walk in is let’s win the AFC West,” the team leader informed. “That’s our first goal, to come in and win the AFC West. We believe it’s always a tough division and obviously with the players they got in the offseason, it was even tougher. We accomplished our first goal.”

It is Kansas City’s seventh straight division title. Let that sink in.

Mahomes also noted that the next goal after that is to “establish homefield advantage,” adding that although that’s out of their control, the Chiefs can do their best to “be ready in case [they] get that opportunity.”

The ultimate mission? You guessed it — win the Super Bowl.

“We have to continue to get better as a team so that when we go into the playoffs, we’re ready to go [and] try to make a run,” Mahomes voiced, concluding later: “I’m glad we won. Last time I played here we lost, so I was glad we won the game and we battled. Obviously, we feel like we didn’t play our best, but we found a way to win in the end.”

Patrick Mahomes Back on Track in Houston

The Chiefs didn’t look great in Houston but Mahomes played mistake-free football. The offensive miscues were fumbles from skill-position players, not interceptions, and the gunslinger continued his torrid yardage pace in 2022.

Like clockwork, Mahomes dropped another 300-plus passing yards in Week 15, with two more touchdowns and just five incompletions. His passer rating according to ESPN was 117.1, and he also rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

In fact, the KC quarterback has only had one sub-300-yard passing game since Week 5, the Bengals loss in Cincinnati. It’s his sixth outing without an interception this season.

This week, sports talk show host Kay Adams sounded off on NFL fans for normalizing the excellence of Mahomes, and “PM15” just continues to live up to that assessment. At 11-3, and with all the issues that Kansas City has struggled with this year, it’s hard to argue that the Chiefs QB is not the MVP of the league.

One of the hottest names in head coaching searches this offseason is Jonathan Gannon. The Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator has always talked the talk and now he’s walking the walk. His unit is ranked No. 2 in overall defense, plus they lead the league with 49 total sacks.

Yes, Gannon has pushed all the right buttons for arguably the best defense in football. Their struggles against the run appear to have been severely overblown. It doesn’t hurt to have an MVP quarterback leading a prolific offense on the other side. Still, Gannon deserves a ton of credit and he’s getting it around the league.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Gannon might be the front-runner to land the Houston Texans job if the franchise decides to part ways with head coach Lovie Smith. Houston stands at an abysmal 1-11-1 in the sagging AFC South. Fowler wrote:

Houston has become a spot to watch as the coaching carousel nears. Some people around the league believe Texans coach Lovie Smith could be on shaky ground after this year’s one-win performance. Moving on from minority head coaches in back-to-back years wouldn’t be the best look for Houston and GM Nick Caserio, whose Texans teams are 5-24-1 since he took over the job. But the Texans have regressed on the field. Should the Texans move on, watch for Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon. Caserio was believed to be very high on him during last year’s interview cycle.

This isn’t the first time Gannon has been linked to the Texans. He was a finalist for the job last season following two impressive interviews, but the franchise ultimately hired Smith. Obviously, they like Gannon and what he brings to the table.

Preaching Consistency, Eagles Stopping the Run

The Achilles’ heel for the Eagles at one point this season was thought to be their inability to stop the run. They surrendered nearly 145 yards per game during a brutally bad five-game stretch (Week 5 through Week 10) where opposing teams averaged 4.6 yards per rush. Then, the team went out and signed defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh. Now Gannon has rookie monster Jordan Davis back in the middle.

While adding big-name personnel to the equation helped, don’t count out Gannon’s influence in making the proper adjustments. He’s been preaching better spacing and gap awareness, as well as stronger tackling in recent weeks. It all comes down to attention to detail.

“I think just the consistency of doing the right thing all the time. That’s probably going to be always my answer to how do we play better. You have to coach it and play a little better,” Gannon told reporters. “I think that with some of our structures and some of our spacings, coaches have done a good job with, hey, this is why we’re calling it and these are the blocks you’re going to get. We put up the Xs and Os and it’s cool to draw plays up there and say, hey, this shouldn’t work or that should work or this is a hard down. But ultimately that O has to block that X for it to work.”

Reed Blankenship Misses Wednesday’s Practice

The Eagles conducted a walk-through on Wednesday but submitted an estimated injury report. Safety Reed Blankenship (knee) was the only player listed out to start the week. The team recently added veteran safety Anthony Harris to the practice squad as an insurance policy there. It’ll be either Harris or third-year man K’Von Wallace in line to start with C.J. Gardner-Johnson (lacerated kidney) still out.

A pair of interceptions from Dak Prescott nearly cost the Dallas Cowboys a win on Sunday against the one-win Houston Texans, which he promised to put behind him after the close call.

The Cowboys defense stuffed the Texans at the goal line after a late interception from Prescott, who turned around an engineered a 98-yard game-winning drive late in the 27-23 victory.

The Cowboys weren’t as lucky earlier in the game, when a Prescott pick was turned into a touchdown before the half by the Texans.

”It’s frustrating, very frustrating. We’ve got to find a way, I’ve got to find a way to take better care of the football,” Prescott said after the game. “Tonight I tried to throw one in too tight a window — I don’t know if Noah (Brown) even saw it — and then on the other my arm was hit. I’m not going to not be aggressive, but I’ve damn sure got to be smarter and weigh the risk vs. reward in a split second.’’

The Cowboys are 5-1 since Prescott’s return but he’s tossed 14 touchdowns to nine interceptions this season. He promised to clean his play up with the Cowboys eyeing a deep postseason run.

“S**t, yeah I’m for damn sure not happy about that. Not something I’ve ever been okay with and will never be okay with,” Prescott said. “I promise y’all I’ll clean that up.”

Prescott Comes Through on Game-Winning Drive

Interceptions aside, when it came to winning time, Prescott came through when it mattered most. The Cowboys went 98 yards in 11 plays, capped by Ezekiel Elliott plunging into the end zone for the lead.

“I told them we’re going to win this game,” Prescott said. “Honestly, I said it after the interception. Just having faith and trusting the defense knowing that those guys were going to go out there and make a play, and then once they did that. It’s something that I always remind the guys don’t blink and none of those guys did.”

CeeDee Lamb didn’t have a big night — with just five catches for 33 yards — but he had full confidence in Prescott down the stretch.

“Our backs against the wall is nothing new to us,” Lamb said. “Dak is very comfortable in those situations and he knows how to lead. He understands the other ten guys are going to follow and we’re going to handle [our jobs].”

Cowboys Survive Scare After Being Massive Favorite

The Cowboys were a massive 17-point favorite against the Texans but were neck an neck with their in-state opponent for most of the afternoon. It certainly wasn’t pretty but it’ll go down as a win for the Cowboys.

“I think anytime you can live through that and have a positive result, you’re better for it,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said.

Prescott had a similar sentiment on the narrow victory, which he thinks will be more useful than some of the team’s blowout wins this season.

“This will serve us more than I think the Minnesota game or even the way we finished the last game when it comes down to it because we’re going to play some tough games as we get going,” Prescott said. “You got to play games like [this], one-score games here in the back end against our division or whether it be the playoffs. Just for us to have that confidence and trust in one another and continue to tighten our bond is something that we’re going to need.”

The Cowboys will head to Jacksonville next week to take on the Jaguars — a team that is coming off a big 36-22 win against the Titans.

Houston Texans quarterback Kyle Allen has pleaded for Myles Garrett to “be nice to him,” but the Cleveland Browns star has no intentions of holding back against his former teammate.

Allen is drawing his first start of the season for the Texans and will have to be aware of Garrett — who has 10 sacks this season — flying off the edge.

“I’ll lay him down a little gentler than others,” Garrett said when asked about Allen’s comments, “but he’s going in the graveyard too.”

Garrett is referring to his QB graveyard he puts up at Halloween that features just about every quarterback he’s been able to sack in his career. While he has some history with Allen from their time at Texas A&M together, it sounds like he’s eager to add him to the list.

Jokes aside, it’s clear that Allen has a huge amount of admiration for Garrett and how his game has grown at the NFL level.

“He’s only gotten better since then,” Allen said. “The edge rushers are obviously really good. They’ve got a lot of stars over there. They’ve got a lot of good players. I think they pose a good challenge for us like last week. We’re going to work through it, get a plan together and get ready for them.”

Allen has played sparingly in his career with the Panthers, Commanders and Texans, notching 4,533 yards, 25 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

Garrett Battling Through Shoulder Injury

Garrett will not be 100% entering the matchup with the Texans, battling through a shoulder injury that had him in excruciating pain against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. At one point, he slammed his helmet on the turf along the sideline as he pushed through the injury.

“It hurt really bad,” Garrett said in his postgame press conference. “I almost thought I broke something initially, but just in my head there is no tomorrow. I can’t be focused on ‘I’ll get better tomorrow or let’s focus on the next game.’ There’s just the next play, and that’s all that’s in my mind. I have to continue playing regardless of how much pain I was feeling pain — pain I am feeling. There’s only one opportunity for greatness. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. I just wanted it really bad. I wanted it bad for us.”

Garrett will get a tough test against Texans veteran tackle Laremy Tunsil, who has been one of the best tackles in the league. He’s graded out at 82.3 on Pro Football Focus, with an elite pass-blocking grade of 90.8.

David Njoku Ruled Out Against Texans

The Browns will be without one key weapon on the offensive side of the ball in tight end David Njoku. He was the hero against the Bucs with a one-handed snag to force overtime but he was unable to practice this week and has been ruled out.

The injury is unrelated to the high ankle sprain that sidelined him earlier this season, per head coach Kevin Stefanski.

“It’s a different injury so we are just going to work through it and be smart,” Stefanski said.

In nine games Njoku has notched 41 catches on 52 targets for 464 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Houston Texans quarterback Kyle Allen is not looking forward to seeing his former college teammate Myles Garrett when the Cleveland Browns come to town on Sunday.

Allen will start his first game of the season against the Browns and Garrett will be looking to get closely reaquantied on the field by sacking his Texas A&M brethren. Know that, Allen had a plea for Garrett ahead of their matchup.

“Be nice to me,” Allen said in his press conference on Wednesday.

The two were teammates at Texas A&M from 2014-15 and Allen saw upclose the talent that made Garrett the No. 1 overall pick in 2017.

“He’s only gotten better since then,” Allen said. “The edge rushers are obviously really good. They’ve got a lot of stars over there. They’ve got a lot of good players. I think they pose a good challenge for us like last week. We’re going to work through it, get a plan together and get ready for them.”

The Texans are looking for a spark after starting the season 1-9-1, benching Davis Mills in favor of Allen. He’s played sparingly in his career with the Panthers, Commanders and Texans, notching 4,533 yards, 25 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in his career.

Garrett Battling Through Injury to Finish Season

Garrett gutted through a shoulder injury in a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, helping the Browns to a thrilling overtime win with 1.5 sacks.

“It hurt really bad,” Garrett said in his postgame press conference. “I almost thought I broke something initially, but just in my head there is no tomorrow. I can’t be focused on ‘I’ll get better tomorrow or let’s focus on the next game.’ There’s just the next play, and that’s all that’s in my mind. I have to continue playing regardless of how much pain I was feeling pain — pain I am feeling. There’s only one opportunity for greatness. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. I just wanted it really bad. I wanted it bad for us.”

Garrett initially injured the shoulder during a car crash earlier this season. While the Browns playoff hopes are hanging by a string at 4-7, Garrett said he wants to continue to be on the field, ruling out surgery.

“Right now, I’m not getting surgery. I’m doing what I can as far as being in the training room, working with different doctors on my team to make sure that I’m able to play through this.”

Garrett has 10 sacks this season, which is the fifth double-digit season of his career.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson Set to Return Against Texans

The Browns will have their own new face under center in quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is returning from an 11-game suspension. He’s uncertain of what kind of reception he’ll get in Houston.

“I am not sure. My main focus is locked in on the gameplan, trying to execute and make sure that I am keeping the standard the standard for the Cleveland Browns so we can try to win,” Watson said on Thursday.

Prior to sitting out the 2021 season, Watson had a trio of Pro Bowl seasons, including a career year in 2020, when he passed for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.

Days after his release by the Buffalo Bills, Brandin Bryant has found a new home.

As KPRC reporter Aaron Wilson reported, the former Florida Atlantic defensive lineman found his way to the AFC South after he was cut from the Bills practice squad.

“Texans signed defensive lineman Brandin Bryant to practice squad, cut Derick Roberson from practice squad,” Wilson reported.

The move helps add depth to a struggling Texans defense and gives a second chance to a lineman who was an important fill-in for the injury-plagued Bills earlier this season.

Bryant Helped Bills Weather Injuries

As the Buffalo News reported, Bryant saw action in Weeks 2 through 4 for the Bills as starting defensive linemen Ed Oliver and Jordan Phillips missed time with injuries. Bryant logged two tackles during that time, but was released in October as the team underwent roster adjustments.

Bryant returned a week later, signing a one-year contract with the Bills on October 22. He was released again on November 4, just after the trade deadline. The Bills also released wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins, who was signed by the New York Giants.

Bryant broke into the league with the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 as an undrafted rookie free agent. After a practice squad stint with the New York Jets and another season with the Cleveland Browns, he joined the Bills in 2020. Bryant has appeared in 10 games over the course of his career, logging a total of nine tackles and one quarterback hit.

At the same time they were releasing Bryant, the Bills made some marginal moves at the recently passed trade deadline. They traded running back Zack Moss and a sixth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for versatile running back Nyheim Hines.

Hines made a good first impression on his teammates, with quarterback Josh Allen raving about his speed.

“One play, me and (Stefon Diggs) looked at each other like, ‘Holy crap, this guy is fast,'” Allen said of Hines on Wednesday, via Pro Football Talk. “He’s smart, he’s already learning some of the plays, and our system is not easy to learn. There’s still a lot of work there, but as far as what he can give this offense, it’s fun to have a piece like that.”

Bryant Could Help Porous Texans Defense

Bryant has the chance to provide some much-needed depth to a Texans team that ranks last in the NFL in run defense. As Aaron Wilson noted for SI.com’s Texans Daily, one of the lone bright spots on the Texans’ defensive line is former Bills pass rusher Jerry Hughes, who has seven sacks.

As Wilson noted, the Texans’ defensive line is shaky beyond Hughes as they deal with injuries and poor performances.

“Defensive end Jonathan Greenard’s presence is missed. He’s on injured reserve with a calf injury after recording a team-high eight sacks last year,” Wilson wrote.

“Defensive tackle Roy Lopez was benched the past two games, and is in a rotation now. Maliek Collins is arguably the best player on the defense, but he’s still dealing with a chest-rib injury. The Texans need more of a pass rush to make this 4-3 defense work.”

The Texans will have another test on Sunday, facing the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley, who is third in the league in rushing yards.

There are things bigger than football. Even after a gut-wrenching tie and less than 24 hours removed from a record-setting contract extension, Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson didn’t need to be reminded of that fact.

After the 20-20 tie against the Houston Texans in Week 1 on September 11, Nelson returned to the field to greet Uvalde High School football players.

Sports anchor Charlie Clifford of WISH-TV reported Nelson signed gear for every Uvalde player. The Colts guard also made himself available for selfies.

The public address announcer at NRG Stadium introduced the Uvalde High School football team during the first half. The team received arguably the loudest standing ovation of the game.

Texans Host Uvalde High School Football Team

The Uvalde team has become a source of strength in southern Texas over the last several months. A mass shooter killed 19 children and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde County on May 24.

It was the deadliest shooting at a Texas public school in history.

To honor the Uvalde community, the Texans invited the town’s high school football team to the Week 1 contest. Uvalde County is about 100 miles west of San Antonio (approximately a 5-hour drive from Houston).

After the game, the Texans hosted the Uvalde players onto the field. Many Colts players and coaches stopped to spend time with the high school team before departing NRG Stadium.

But Nelson may have held up the Indianapolis chartered bus with all the autographs he signed.

Sports writer Kristie Rieken of The Associated Press reported the Texans paid for the Uvalde team’s travel and ticket expenses to attend the game. Uvalde senior linebacker Justyn Rendon shared that it was a very unique experience.

“It means a lot to a lot of these guys just to get away from Uvalde in general and just enjoy being here,” Rendon said. “A lot of these guys may never experience an NFL game like this. So it’s a real big thing.”

Nelson Keeping Things in Perspective

The Colts starting left guard is know for having a fiery personality. In response to his 4-year, $80 million contract extension, Nelson initially said that he “was pretty p*****” about the timing of the deal rather than pleased to become the owner of the richest offensive guard contract in NFL history.

“I was pretty p***** it happened the day before the game … I didn’t want it to go that long, and I just wanted to focus on the game,” Nelson said to the media.

It’s quite possible that Nelson just wasn’t in the best of moods following the tie to the Texans. The Colts offensive line didn’t play extremely well as a unit, and the offense struggled to finish drives, especially early in the first half.

Despite outgaining the Texans, 517-299, the Colts managed only a tie.

But that didn’t impact Nelson’s mood while passing the Uvalde players on the field.

The Texans donated $400,000 to the Robb Elementary School memorial fund after the shooting. The team also wore “Uvalde Strong” decals on their helmets on opening day.

“It’s unbelievable,” Uvalde coach Wade Miller told Rieken. “You live out in a small southwest Texas town, and to know people care about us … it means the world.”