Houston Texans

Lovie Smith could wind up being one-and-done as Houston Texans head coach.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported Smith is currently on "shaky ground" amid the team's 1-11-1 start.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is reportedly among the names that would be atop Texans general manager Nick Caserio's list of candidates. Gannon interviewed for the position after the Texans fired David Culley last offseason.

Smith was a surprise hire given the fact he was the defensive coordinator for an underperforming Texans team last season. Promoting from within a staff of a fired head coach is always going to raise some eyebrows, especially so in this case because it was not a situation where Culley was fired midway through 2021 and Smith turned the team around as an interim coach.

Smith had previous experience coaching the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but hadn't had success in a decade. Even his jaunt to the college ranks at Illinois featured five straight losing seasons and a 17-39 record.

All of which is to say it's perfectly understandable that the Texans might want to move on.

That said, the optics in this particular situation would be awful. During a period of time the NFL is being sued for discriminatory hiring practices, the Texans would be firing its second Black head coach in as many seasons after only giving him one year to turn things around.

Culley was thrust into a situation where he was taking over a 4-12 team that lost Deshaun Watson as he sat out the entire 2021 season amid sexual misconduct allegations. Houston still managed to win four games and played competitive football, but Caserio fired him anyway.

Smith was saddled with by far the NFL's worst roster—one seemingly designed to land the Texans the top pick in the 2023 draft—and the team has performed to its talent level.

While Gannon is one of the best assistant coaches in the NFL and deserving of a head-coaching job, the Texans would be opening themselves up to fair scrutiny by hiring a white coach precisely at the time the organization's fortunes could start turning around.

Based on the current order for the 2023 NFL draft, ESPN's Todd McShay is projecting three of the first six picks will be quarterbacks.

In his latest mock draft released Tuesday, McShay has Alabama's Bryce Young going No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans. He projects the Detroit Lions will use the No. 4 pick on Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, with Kentucky's Will Levis going to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 6.

Young's size has become a talking point as we get closer to the draft, but McShay cited several other areas in which the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner excels that make him an elite NFL prospect.

"Scouts will knock Young's frame (he's listed at 6-foot), but there is no debating his high-level processing ability, excellent ball placement to all three levels of the field and mobility when forced to go off schedule," McShay wrote. "He has regularly lifted a lackluster offensive supporting cast in Alabama this season, and he can do it again with the Texans."

The Texans' roster is in such dire straits they could almost go in any direction, and it would make sense. But having the No. 1 pick in a year when it looks like there are multiple quarterbacks worth taking at that spot should make their decision easier.

The Lions face a potentially interesting dilemma. They have put themselves into playoff contention with five wins in their last six games. Jared Goff is playing at a high level with 3,352 passing yards and 22 touchdowns and is surrounded by a wealth of talent on offense.

If the Lions want to ride with Goff, who has two years remaining on his contract, they could look to add help to a defense that is allowing the second-most points per game (26.7).

But the Lions are also playing with house money right now because the No. 4 pick they have is from the Los Angeles Rams as part of the Matthew Stafford trade. They also have their own pick, which is currently at No. 16 overall.

If Stroud is the second-best quarterback in the class and is on the board when the Lions make their first pick, why not take the shot? He will be walking into a situation with a great offensive line to protect him and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on the outside.

Levis and the Falcons are an interesting pairing because we're still waiting to see what Desmond Ridder can do in head coach Arthur Smith's offense.

Ridder was the second quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL draft at No. 74 overall. He is set to take over as Atlanta's starter in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints.

Even though it will only be a four-game trial run for Ridder, the team could alter its draft plans if he shows the talent that made him the top-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class for some draft analysts.

McShay noted Levis "still needs some developing, especially when it comes to decision-making, but the traits are outstanding."

It seems unlikely Levis will make it out of the top 10 at this point. Despite a lackluster senior season with 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, his skill set is proving to be tantalizing for NFL teams.

Jerry Jones was impressed with the performance of Houston Texans' quarterbacks Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel in the Dallas Cowboys' 27-23 win Sunday over their cross-state rivals.

"Those quarterbacks looked like Brett Favre," he told reporters. "Both of them."

Mills finished 16-of-21 for 175 yards and an interception. Driskel, who had a package of plays installed for him against the Cowboys, was 4-of-6 for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Neither player was sacked and—were it not for Dak Prescott leading the Cowboys on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter—might have pulled off an improbable upset.

Instead, the Texans remained on track to earn the top overall pick with a 1-11-1 record, a selection they might ultimately use on a quarterback prospect.

And the Cowboys moved to 10-3, keeping them within striking distance of the Philadelphia Eagles (12-1), who are atop both the NFC East and the entire NFL.

Brandin Cooks will return for the Houston Texans on Sunday, but the team has removed his captaincy heading into Week 10, per Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The veteran receiver was disappointed he wasn't traded ahead of last week's deadline, leading to him sitting out in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles due to personal reasons. On Thursday, he said he was hoping to go to a contender.

"For me personally, I just at the end of the day want to win and compete now," Cooks said, per DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. "That's been my thought process."

The 1-6-1 Texans are set to face the New York Giants on Sunday.

Cooks is off to a slow start individually this season, totaling 32 catches for 354 yards and one score through seven games. His 50.6 yards per game are his second-worst in his career, and his 11.1 yards per catch is his lowest since his rookie year in 2014.

The 29-year-old has been productive throughout his career, reaching at least 1,000 yards in six seasons with four different teams.

Last season, Cooks tallied 90 catches for 1,037 yards and six scores, leading to a two-year extension with Houston this offseason worth $39.6 million.

Unfortunately, the contract might have limited the trade market.

As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported, teams stayed away from Cooks due to his $18 million guaranteed salary for 2023.

It resulted in Cooks staying with the Texans, although his role with the team is now in question after his recent comments.

Even if he helps the squad on the field, it's hard to be a leader when you don't want to be there. Cooks will no longer serve as the captain as the Texans look for other players to step up in the locker room.

The Houston Texans fell to the Philadelphia Eagles 29-17 on Thursday Night Football at NRG Stadium to fall to 1-6-1 on the season, but the team still put up a good fight against the NFL's only remaining undefeated team.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had a tremendous evening, completing 21-of-27 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 23 yards on nine carries to help the Eagles improve to 8-0.

As for the Texans, second-year quarterback Davis Mills completed 13-of-22 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns against two interceptions. He also rushed for 18 yards on three carries.

Phillip Dorsett led Houston receivers with three catches for 69 yards, and Chris Moore caught four passes for 43 yards and one score, but it was running back Dameon Pierce who caught the attention of football fans on Thursday night after he rushed for 139 yards on 27 carries.

Pierce played so well that he now has NFL Twitter calling for him to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award:

The Texans selected Pierce in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Florida. He entered Thursday's game having rushed for 539 yards and three touchdowns on 121 carries in seven games. He also had 20 catches for 98 yards and one score.

Pierce is going to have some stiff competition for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Ken Walker III, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave could end up being in the conversation.

The Houston Texans were unable to trade veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks ahead of the deadline, and now it may be clear why.

Houston wanted second and fourth-round picks in exchange for Cooks, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Teams were unwilling to part with the draft picks and also take on Cooks' fully guaranteed $18 million salary for 2023.

A number of teams reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Cooks, including the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams.

The Cowboys and Texans were actually engaged in discussions "until the final minutes" leading up to the deadline, per ESPN's Ed Werder. The two sides couldn't agree on draft compensation and Cooks' 2023 salary.

After the Texans failed to trade Cooks at Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, he posted a cryptic tweet appearing to voice his displeasure about not being moved. He then tweeted on Thursday that he believes his path will be "straight."

Cooks did not participate in Tuesday or Wednesday's practices due to personal reasons, and Werder reported that he would not play Thursday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 29-year-old is in his third season with the Texans. In seven games, he has caught 32 passes for 354 yards and one touchdown.

Cooks' best season in Houston came in 2020 when he caught 81 passes for 1,150 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. He followed that up with a 1,037-yard, six-touchdown 2021 campaign.

Cooks isn't expected to become an unrestricted free agent until 2025.

However, it's possible his contract, including the $18 million fully guaranteed, could be voided. A copy of Cooks' contract obtained by ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio says his contract can be voided if he commits a "default."

"A default occurs if (among other things) the player, without 'prior written consent' of coach Lovie Smith or GM Nick Caserio, 'fails to practice with or play for Club' for reasons other than a football-related injury or illness," Florio wrote.

If Cooks' contract is voided, he'll become a free agent and eligible to sign with whichever team he pleases. However, it's important to note that, despite missing two practices and Thursday's game, it's unclear if Cooks has committed a default.

After expressing frustration about not being traded earlier this week, Brandin Cooks likely won't be on the field for the Houston Texans on Thursday night.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Cooks isn't expected to play against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cooks seemed to indicate on Twitter he was unhappy the Texans didn't move him before the trade deadline on Tuesday:

Cooks' name was bantered about leading up to the trade deadline. ESPN's Ed Werder reported the Texans and Dallas Cowboys were engaged in talks "until the final minutes" before the 4 p.m. ET cutoff, but Cooks' salary and draft compensation couldn't be agreed to.

Jordan Schultz of The Score reported the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants were other teams connected to Cooks.

The Texans signed Cooks to a two-year, $39.6 million extension in April that runs through the 2024 season. His new deal may have worked against him being moved, as it comes with a $26.6 million cap hit and $34.2 million in dead money next season.

According to Houston's official injury report, Cooks sat out the previous two days of practice after being a full participant on Monday. His official designation is a wrist and personal reasons not related to an injury.

Cooks is in his third season with the Texans. The 29-year-old was originally acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in April 2020.

While most of the things in the Texans' organization have fallen apart in recent years, Cooks has managed to remain a productive player. He had more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past two seasons.

Through seven games this season, Cooks is on pace for one of the worst seasons of his career. He has 354 yards and one touchdown on 32 receptions.

Houston is on its way to a third consecutive losing season and a last-place finish in the AFC South for the first time since 2013. It enters Thursday's game against the undefeated Eagles with a 1-5-1 record.