The Houston Texans are exploring pass rushing help behind Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, with Devean Deal poppin up on the radar. The Texans are battling multiple injuries including behind their top tandem on the edge.
“#Texans … worked out defensive end Devean Deal,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on August 22.
Deal is an undrafted free agent from TCU who spent time with the Seattle Seahawks this spring.
He recorded 176 total tackles and 13.0 sacks during his two years at TCU and three seasons at Tulane before that. The Texans decided to sign linebacker Caleb Johnson, but they clearly feel there are other ways they can bolster their roster.
Texans Dealing With Injuries, Absences During Practice
GettyLogan Hall did not practice on Saturday for the Texans.
The interest in Deal does bring into question some of their other players on the roster. Some are healthy but could still have the Rams in a good spot to add more insurance.
Deal did not sign, but his emergence as a potential option should be filed away.
The Texans were navigating several injury concerns on Saturday. That is in addition to absences from Jadeveon Clowney and Logan Hall, per Wilson. Neither Clowney’s nor Hall’s absences were attributed directly to a health or other status issue.
Devean Deal Available for Reason Texans Understand
GettyDeMeco Ryans and the Texans could make some surprising changes to their roster.
The Seahawks signed Deal, so they obviously though fairly highly of him. Moreover, Deal was available for the head coach DeMeco Ryans and the Texans, not because the reigning Super Bowl champion’s stopped believing in him, but rather because they needed roster space.
“The team added undrafted rookie receivers Rashad Rochelle and Trayvon Rudolph. Rochelle was part of Carolina Panthers rookie minicamp as a tryout player, likewise for Rudolph with the Tennessee Titans,” Field Gulls’ Mookie Alexander wrote in May, adding “Former TCU outside linebacker, Devean Deal, who signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent, was waived to make room for the new receivers.”
The Texans are in a similar situation.
They signed veteran receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones, creating space by placing linebacker K.C. Ossai on injured reserve.
The Texans are quite short-handed at linebacker. Injuries to Clowney and/or Hall would be another noteworthy blow to their defensive end (and tackle, regarding the latter) in what is supposed to be a season that ends in a trip to the Super Bowl.
They still have time to get healthier and surely hope to reverse their current trend before the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
Texans Target Former Seahawks Find Amid Jadeveon Clowney News