Houston Texans

The Houston Texans haven't let the uncertainty surrounding Deshaun Watson affect the rest of the team.

Head coach David Culley explained the team's mindset after the season-opening win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated:

Deshaun [Watson] did a heck of job of being able to work with us and how we wanted to handle this particular situation. And basically, this worked out really good for both of us from the standpoint of this is how we gotta deal with it, this is the situation and I think it was both of us working together, our team and him working together; it hasn't been a distraction. He hasn't been a distraction. And basically, every day we come to practice it's always about the Houston Texans, not about anything else. He's helped us do that.

Watson has been accused of sexual assault or misconduct by 22 different women who have filed civil lawsuits against him. He also faces 10 criminal complaints. 

Though the quarterback has not been placed on the commissioner's exempt list, the Texans kept him inactive for Week 1 as Tyrod Taylor led the team to a 37-21 victory Sunday.

Watson has also been seeking a trade since early in the offseason, which Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported could happen closer to the Nov. 2 trade deadline.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports further broke down the situation, noting the Texans were keeping him away from others on the roster:

Watson reported to training camp, but he did not take part in team drills leading up to the season.

The three-time Pro Bowler will seemingly remain disconnected from the rest of the squad until there is a resolution.

The rest of the Texans, meanwhile, have been able to focus on football and are off to a strong start to the season. There were low expectations after a 4-12 season in 2020, and that was with Watson, but the squad quieted some doubters in Week 1 versus a bad Jags team.

Houston will look to keep the momentum going next week against the Cleveland Browns.   

While Deshaun Watson remains with the Houston Texans as of Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season, trade talks could pick up ahead of the Nov. 2 trade deadline, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Rapoport listed the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos among Watson's potential landing spots depending on how the season unfolds for each team.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported the quarterback is unlikely to play in Houston again:

The Dolphins were interested in a trade for Watson before the start of the season, but they backed off talks because of Houston's asking price, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Texans are seeking a combination of six players or draft picks in exchange for the quarterback.

Watson faces 22 civil lawsuits from women who have accused him of sexual assault or misconduct, as well as 10 criminal complaints. He will be inactive for at least Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The NFL could place Watson on the Commissioner's Exempt List because of off-field conduct, but the league reportedly won't make a decision until a team (Houston or anyone else) plans to play him, per Florio. According to Florio, the Dolphins spoke to the NFL about the player's availability but didn't get an official answer.

The quarterback—who will turn 26 on Tuesday—requested a trade earlier in the offseason and does not plan to play for Houston, as Rapoport noted.

If he is allowed to play, Watson could be a difference-maker for another team in 2021 and beyond. The three-time Pro Bowler led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards last season, adding 444 yards on the ground.

Miami could be seeking a long-term upgrade after Tua Tagovailoa failed to live up to expectations as a rookie last year. The former Alabama star had just 11 passing touchdowns in 10 games in 2020.

The Broncos and Panthers could also look to add a franchise quarterback after passing on the opportunity in the first round of the 2021 draft. Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold will get the first cracks at the starting jobs on their respective teams, but slow starts could force the organizations to look elsewhere.

Jalen Hurts could also get a short leash with the Eagles despite flashing his upside as a rookie in 2020.   

The Houston Texans reportedly wanted a combination of six players or draft picks for Deshaun Watson in trade talks this summer.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Texans general manager Nick Caserio was "unwilling to budge" on his desired trade package. Watson is facing 22 civil lawsuits filed by women accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct. Ten women, including two who have not filed civil lawsuits, have also filed formal complaints with police in Houston. 

No teams traded for Watson ahead of Week 1, and he's expected to spend the season on the Texans roster as an inactive player.

Teams that spoke to Houston sought to attach conditions to any draft picks based on Watson's availability. No formal charges have been filed, but investigations are ongoing and the NFL is conducting its own investigation into the allegations. Even if police decline to press charges, it's possible—if not likely—the NFL hands down a suspension for a violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

Watson has denied any impropriety via his attorney, stating that all sexual encounters with the women were consensual. 

The three-time Pro Bowler requested a trade earlier this offseason and has not backed down despite the off-field allegations. He reported to camp but has not been participating in team activities.

Tyrod Taylor is set to replace Watson as the Texans' starting quarterback for Week 1. 

The Houston Texans officially ruled out quarterback Deshaun Watson on Friday for Sunday's Week 1 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Texans listed "not injury related" as the reason for Watson's absence.

Watson reportedly requested a trade from the Texans during the offseason, and he is also facing 22 civil lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints filed by women who are accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct during massage appointments.

Veteran Tyrod Taylor had already been named the Texans' starting quarterback for Week 1 before Watson was ruled out.

With Watson wanting to be traded and potentially facing discipline from the NFL depending on the results of the league's investigation into the allegations against him, it is possible he won't play for the Texans or any other team this season.

The 25-year-old Watson was originally the No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, and he has subsequently gone on to earn three Pro Bowl selections.

Watson owns a 28-25 record as a starter during his career, and he has led the Texans to the playoffs twice in four seasons as well. 

Houston went just 4-12 last year, but it marked the best statistical season of Watson's career.

The former Clemson standout completed 70.2 percent of his passes for an NFL-leading 4,823 yards. He also threw 33 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, while rushing for 444 yards and three touchdowns.

In Taylor, the Texans have an experienced NFL starter who has gone 24-21-1 in 47 career starts with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers.

He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first and only time in his career in 2015 with the Bills when he threw for 3,035 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, while rushing for 568 yards and four touchdowns.

Two seasons later, Taylor led the Bills to the playoffs, ending a 17-year playoff drought for the franchise.

Taylor made just one start and appeared in two games for the Chargers last season, throwing for 208 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

With Watson out and Taylor starting, rookie third-round pick Davis Mills will serve as the backup Sunday.

The Houston Texans reportedly agreed to trade cornerback Bradley Roby to the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Roby, 29, has spent the past two seasons with the Texans after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos.

Roby was suspended for the final five games of the 2020 season and is suspended for the first game of 2021 after testing positive for a banned substance last year.

Since Denver made him the No. 31 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft out of Ohio State, Roby has appeared in 99 regular-season games, starting 49 of them.

He was primarily a reserve in his first four seasons with the Broncos, but he has started all 35 games he's appeared in over the past three years.

Overall, Roby has 311 tackles, 10 interceptions, 75 passes defended, eight forced fumbles and four sacks to his credit as an NFL corner.

In 10 games last season, Roby finished with 37 tackles, seven pass breakups and one pick.

The Saints have been working to bolster their cornerback depth recently after also signing veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant on Monday.

New Orleans was forced to cut Janoris Jenkins in March for salary-cap reasons, and its secondary took another hit during training camp when corner Patrick Robinson retired.

That left the Saints with Ken Crawley and rookie third-round pick Paulson Adebo competing for the No. 2 cornerback spot across from Marshon Lattimore.

Now with Trufant and Roby in the fold, the Saints have a wealth of options, including a few with extensive starting experience.

Roby is joining an underrated Saints defense that ranked fourth in total defense and fifth in points allowed last season, as well as fifth in passing yardage allowed.

While Roby will not be available for the Saints' Week 1 clash with the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, he could play in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers.

Houston Texans head coach David Culley announced Deshaun Watson won't play in Sunday's season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The announcement comes after general manager Nick Caserio said Wednesday on Sports Radio 610's Payne & Pendergast he "wouldn’t expect [Watson] to play" (via ESPN's Adam Schefter). Caserio added that the Texans will "recalibrate as we go" regarding Watson's status.

On Monday, Culley confirmed Tyrod Taylor as the Week 1 starter.

Watson's future in Houston was thrown into doubt after Schefter reported in January he had requested a trade.

The three-time Pro Bowler is also facing 22 civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual assaulting or sexually harassing them during massage sessions. Ten women have also filed formal complaints with police in Houston, including two who have not filed civil lawsuits.

Watson is under investigation by the FBI, Houston police and the NFL.

The NFL has yet to suspend Watson or place him on the commissioner's exempt list, which leaves him available to suit up for the Texans. His ongoing legal situation makes it unlikely that happens for the time being, though.

Schefter reported in May that some believe Watson won't play at all in 2021 and that his time in Houston is effectively over. With his status still in flux in the absence of an NFL ruling, Sarah Barshop of ESPN said in August the team may continue to leave him on the active roster but make him a healthy scratch each week.

The Athletic's Aaron Reiss wrote Tuesday, "It remains a matter of when, not if, the Texans will trade the disgruntled quarterback."

The Texans selected Stanford's Davis Mills in the third round of the 2021 draft. Mills—not Watson—would presumably run the offense should Taylor get injured or benched.

The Houston Texans are adding a veteran presence to their wide receiver room.

Agent Erik Burkhardt told Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network that Danny Amendola is signing with the AFC South team on a one-year, $2.5 million contract.

Amendola is best known for his time on the New England Patriots, but he spent the past two years suiting up for the Detroit Lions. He also counts stints on the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins on his resume.

Amendola is likely past his prime and will turn 36 years old this season, but he was still solid for the Lions during the 2020 campaign. He posted 46 catches for 602 yards after tallying 62 catches for 678 yards and one touchdown the prior year.

The Texas Tech product has never been someone to put up eye-popping regular-season numbers. In fact, he has never even reached 700 yards through the air in a single season since his career started in 2009.

Yet he is widely known among football fans for his ability to come through in the biggest moments.

Amendola helped lead the Patriots to Super Bowl titles during the 2014 and 2016 seasons. He scored a touchdown in the first win over the Seattle Seahawks after scoring twice during a playoff victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

He may have been even better during the second Super Bowl win with eight catches for 78 yards and a touchdown as New England overcame a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons.

Amendola will forever be remembered as a Patriots legend because of those two rings, but he will likely be more of a secondary option for a Texans team that could be fighting just to remain relevant into the second half of the upcoming season.

Look for him to compete for targets with Brandin Cooks, Chris Conley and Anthony Miller.

Houston Texans head coach David Culley told reporters Monday that Tyrod Taylor will be the team's starting quarterback in Week 1. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport added that the news "confirms what appeared clear: Deshaun Watson will sit on the roster but not play."

Watson's status for the 2021 season has been one of the biggest storylines of the offseason. He's facing lawsuits from 22 women who have accused him of sexual assault and misconduct, and criminal complaints from 10 women based on those or similar accusations. 

While the Houston police department is investigating Watson, no criminal charges have been filed to this point. 

The NFL is also investigating Watson and has said he will have "no restrictions" on team activities while that continues.

Aaron Reiss of The Athletic reported: "The NFL has not been given access to speak to many of the plaintiffs of the 22 civil lawsuits filed against Watson, or to relevant third parties. The league also does not yet have access to evidence gathered by police, whose criminal investigation is ongoing."

There has been some question as to whether Roger Goodell would put Watson on the commissioner's exempt list, though Lindsay Jones of The Athletic noted such a move has never been used for a player who is facing civil lawsuits.

Combined with the NFL's "no restrictions" stance, this suggests the commissioner's exempt list won't be utilized unless criminal charges are filed or the NFL gets more clarity on the situation through its investigation.

In the interim, multiple rumors suggest the Texans are trying to trade Watson, who requested a trade in January, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, though no deal has materialized. Amid Watson's uncertain future, the Texans will start Taylor against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

The 32-year-old has spent the past three seasons as a backup for the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers, last serving as a regular starter for the Buffalo Bills in 2017. He went 8-6 during that campaign, throwing for 2,799 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 62.6 percent of his passes and rushing for 427 yards and four scores. 

Taylor is a solid veteran, but he's a major downgrade from Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler who is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, it appears increasingly likely that Watson will never take another snap for the Texans. 

The Houston Texans have included quarterback Deshaun Watson on their 53-man roster amid rumors that the Miami Dolphins and others are interested in trading for the 25-year-old.

James Palmer of NFL Network said that it wasn't a surprise that Watson wasn't traded before rosters league-wide were cut down to 53 players, noting that the Texans were looking to extract the most value out of any potential deal:

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported on Aug. 28 that the Dolphins were the "frontrunner" for Watson while noting that the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles were in "some element of trade consideration":

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk added Tuesday that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross "really wants" Watson but that Houston and Miami have been unable to reach an agreement.

Twenty-two women have filed civil lawsuits against Watson alleging sexual assault and misconduct during massage therapy appointments. Per Aaron Reiss of The Athletic, at least 10 women have filed criminal complaints, including two who have not filed civil lawsuits.

The Houston Police Department, FBI and NFL are all conducting investigations in the allegations.

Watson had previously made a trade request in January, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop.

Watson has played four NFL seasons since Houston selected him with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 draft. The three-time Pro Bowler accounted for 36 touchdowns (33 passing, three rushing) and an NFL-high 4,823 passing yards (8.9 yards per attempt) last season.

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is reportedly standing behind his quarterback. 

According to Jeff Darlington of ESPN, Flores addressed the team about the possibility of trading for Deshaun Watson and said Tua Tagovailoa is "our quarterback."

The team meeting comes after Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported Saturday that the AFC East team "emerged as the front-runner in trade discussions" with the Houston Texans regarding Watson.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported the Dolphins have not yet "been willing to meet Houston's high asking price" for Watson, while Robinson noted the Texans are looking for three first-round picks and two second-round picks.

Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler, has been the better quarterback on the field than Tagovailoa.

However, the Texans signal-caller is facing 22 lawsuits from women who have accused him of sexual assault and misconduct. Another two women who did not file civil lawsuits against Watson are among the 10 who filed formal complaints against him with Houston police.

The NFL is investigating Watson and has not yet issued a ruling or punishment.

As for Tagovailoa, Miami selected him with the No. 5 overall pick of the 2020 draft. The Alabama product was solid during his rookie season and completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions while helping lead the Dolphins to a 10-6 record.

He figures to be the team's quarterback of the present and future given his draft position and age (23), although Miami has notably been mentioned in Watson trade rumors this offseason.

Yet Flores endorsed his current quarterback ahead of the Dolphins' season opener on Sept. 12 at the New England Patriots.