Houston Texans

Houston Texans rookie running back Dameon Pierce is getting well-deserved recognition for his preseason work, and those sentiments only continued Saturday.

Texans ESPN reporter DJ Bien-Aime dropped his observations this weekend about who Houston's best running back has been thus far:

The Pierce love has been persisting in training camp from numerous sources, and that certainly opens eyes from a fantasy perspective.

As good as the 5'10", 218-pound Pierce looks as a runner, he'll still need to improve as a blocker during his transition from college to the pros, per offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.

According to Fantasy Football Calculator, Pierce holds the No. 117 overall average draft position in point-per-reception leagues, landing him in the middle of the 10th round of 12-team leagues. He is currently ranked No. 46 overall among running backs.

The former Florida star amassed 2,228 yards and 28 touchdowns over his four years in school. He rushed for 5.7 yards per carry and 13 scores in 2021. Pierce never had more than 123 touches in a season, but he did do a lot with his limited action. He also showed his worth in the pass game with 19 catches for 216 yards and three scores in 2021.

Kate Magdziuk of DraftKings Nation shouted out some more impressive numbers from his collegiate days.

The Texans' top three on the depth chart includes Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead and Pierce, but the rookie could very well be RB1 given his tremendous training camp. It's possible Pierce could cede time to Mack and Burkhead early before the rookie grabs control of the backfield. Or perhaps he totes the rock a bunch and stars for Houston early.

Regardless, landing Pierce in the 10th round of drafts is an absolute steal right now. His ADP appears all but certain to rise as the regular season draws near, but Pierce is one of the best mid-to-late-round steals out there.

The felony burglary charges filed against Houston Texans running back Darius Anderson have been dropped.

According to ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith, the district attorney in Houston announced Friday that the charges were dropped because of insufficient evidence.

TMZ Sports reported last month that Anderson's ex-girlfriend told police that he broke into her home in Harris County, Texas, forcing his way into the garage, which allegedly caused her to fall down the steps.

The woman said she grabbed a gun to prevent Anderson from having access to it, but didn't point it at him. She also said Anderson threatened to "beat her up" after she locked herself in a bathroom, but he fled when she called the police.

Per Smith, Texans head coach Lovie Smith commented Friday on the charges against Anderson being dropped, saying: "When it initially happened, of course, I reached out to him and he told me that the charges have to be dropped because it didn't happen that way. Normally when things happen like that we let it play out in the system. I'm glad it came to that conclusion."

The 24-year-old Anderson played collegiately at TCU, rushing for 2,418 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also catching 43 passes for 224 yards across four seasons form 2016 through 2019.

Anderson was not selected in the 2020 NFL draft, but he signed with the Dallas Cowboys and was waived shortly before the start of the 2020 season.

He then spent the 2020 season on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad and signed a futures contract with the team for 2021.

Anderson was released by the Colts prior to the 2021 season and signed on with the Texans practice squad during the season before signing a futures contract with them for 2022.

He is battling for a roster spot on a team that has no clear starter at running back, giving him a legitimate chance to make the 53-man roster.

Anderson's competition includes veterans Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead, Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale, as well as rookie fourth-round draft pick Dameon Pierce.

After a foot injury limited him to three games last season at LSU, Derek Stingley Jr. is expected to be ready for Week 1 of his rookie campaign in the NFL.

Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith told reporters Friday he expects the 21-year-old cornerback to be on the field when the regular season starts.

"Whenever a player is coming out with a major injury, this ramp-up period, that's what it's for. We're going to ease him into it," Smith said. "He's healthy, seeing him run around. We had him doing a few plays. ... So he's on schedule."

The Texans didn't seem to have any concerns about Stingley's health when they made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Stingley underwent a surgical procedure in September for a Lisfranc injury. He told reporters in March he wouldn't work out at the scouting combine to allow his foot more time to recover.

"My rehab is ahead of schedule right now. ... I'm on pace to do what I have to do at pro day," he said.

At LSU's pro day April 6, Stingley showed no lingering issues from the surgery. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds and a 38.5-inch vertical jump, according to numbers recorded by the school (h/t ESPN's Mike Triplett).

The Texans held Stingley out of mandatory minicamp in June, which Smith said was to give the team a chance to "evaluate" and see where he was in his rehab and recovery.

Expectations will be high for Stingley when he gets on the field. The Louisiana native made an immediate impact for LSU as a freshman in 2019. He was a consensus All-American after recording 21 pass breakups and six interceptions in 15 games to help the Tigers win the national title.

Stingley made the All-SEC First Team in each of his first two years at LSU.

The Texans open the preseason Aug. 13, though it's unclear if Stingley will play in that game. They begin the regular season at home Sept. 11 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Wide receiver Danny Amendola, who helped lead the New England Patriots to two Super Bowl titles during his career, is hanging up his cleats.

Amendola retired Monday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter:

The Texas Tech product entered the league as an undrafted free agent and leaves as a 13-year veteran who became a household name with his ability to come through in the clutch.

He played for the St. Louis Rams from 2009 through 2012, the Miami Dolphins in 2018, the Detroit Lions in 2019 and 2020, and the Houston Texans in 2021. However, he is best known for his tenure with the Patriots from 2013 through 2017. While he never put up head-turning stats during the regular season, he had a tendency to come up with critical plays in the postseason for New England.

Amendola finishes his regular-season career with 6,212 receiving yards and 24 touchdown catches, never topping 689 yards or four touchdowns through the air during a single campaign.

However, he had a touchdown reception in the Patriots' Super Bowl XLIX victory over the Seattle Seahawks and three touchdowns in three playoff games that season. He also caught a touchdown as the Patriots overcame a 28-3 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.

Amendola also bailed out New England with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in January 2018 and then tallied eight catches for 152 yards in the ensuing Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Michele Steele of ESPN reflected on Amendola's propensity for coming through in the most important moments:

The possibility of retirement came up for the receiver before the 2017 campaign, but he seemed intent on playing for the foreseeable future when speaking to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

I want to play football for some more time. I'm not done yet. Wherever that may be, whatever it is, wherever it is. I want to play football at a high level. This is where it's going to be, so I love it here. I'm going to try to make this team and try to fulfill my role, whatever that may be. Try to expand my role, whatever that may be. Try to be here for my teammates and try to win games. That's why I am here.

While he didn't stay with the Patriots, he apparently wasn't ready to walk away until he got his fill between three teams in his final four seasons.

There was not much left to accomplish at the NFL level for Amendola, especially considering he came into the league without much hype. He leaves the game as a Patriots playoff legend.

Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III announced Sunday he'll likely miss the 2022 season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Metchie, 22, was drafted in the second round by the Texans this year and was placed on the non-football injury list after the announcement.

"Recently I was diagnosed with APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia), the most curable form of Leukemia," the statement read. "I am currently receiving great medical care, am in good spirits and I expect to make a recovery at a later point in time. As a result of this diagnosis, I will likely not be playing football this season. My main focus will be on my health and recovery. Thank you in advance for your support and well-wishes. I cannot wait to come back stronger than ever. God bless."

In his three seasons at Alabama, Metchie caught 155 passes for 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns. He caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns last season, pairing with Jameson Williams to give Heisman winner Bryce Young a pair of 1,000-yard receivers.

Metchie's 2021 season ended in the SEC Championship Game after he tore his ACL.

Metchie's college coach, Nick Saban, offered his support to the wideout in a statement Sunday:

The Texans traded the Nos. 68, 108 and 124 picks to the Cleveland Browns to move up and draft Metchie at No. 44.

He had hoped to recover from that injury in time for training camp before his APL diagnosis.

Houston Texans running back Darius Anderson was arrested Friday and charged with felony burglary of a habitation, per TMZ Sports. It was initially reported Anderson was charged with burglary with intent to rape, but TMZ noted a "coding error" from the Houston Police Department.

"We are aware of the report involving Darius Anderson," the Texans said in a statement Monday. "We are gathering information and have no further comment at this time."

According to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, court records say that Anderson allegedly broke into a woman's home and pursued her into the bathroom before eventually leaving when she called police.

The running back is free on bond and cannot return to the woman's home or possess a firearm as part of the bail agreement.

He is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday.

Anderson has never appeared in an NFL game and signed a futures deal with the Texans after spending time on their practice squad last season. The Dallas Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2020 but waived him. The Indianapolis Colts then signed him and activated him for two games, but he never played.