SB Nation Houston - Texans Preseason: Texans Sign Leinart To One-Year Deal

Leinart Practices With Texans For First Time On Wednesday

2010-09-08T23:21:23Z

Just two days after being signed by the Houston Texans to a one-year deal, embattled quarterback Matt Leinart successfully completed his first practice Wednesday with his new team.

The Texans of course are hoping that starter Matt Schaub is able to perform at a high level and stay healthy all year. If he does, he’ll certainly be the Texans’ starting quarterback all season long. But if not, Leinart may be a better backup option in Houston than some realize. Only time will tell, but for now, an official welcome to Leinart for finishing his first real day of work with his new teammates and coaches.

Schefter: Leinart To Sign In Houston On One-Year Deal

2010-09-06T13:41:02Z

Adam Schefter, via Twitter, is reporting that the Texans and Matt Leinart have reached agreement on a one-year contract.

No word yet on how this will affect the last spot on the practice squad, but Dan Orlovsky should watch himself. Of course, if he knew how to do that in the first place, maybe the Texans wouldn’t have had to pick up Leinart.

Leinart, the disgraced Cardinals QB, has been described by The Chronicle’s Lance Zierlein as being “afraid, pure and simple" and a “checkdown machine,” so think of him as David Carr without five years of NFL starts. This will probably be a bigger signing for the comedic possibilities of bloggers than for the actual Texans season.

Practice Squad Filled Pending QB move

2010-09-06T00:27:11Z

According to Mark Berman of MyFOXHouston, the Texans have named their practice squad as follows:

The Texans have identified seven mem[b]ers of their eight-man practice squad.

They are: center Brett Helms, Offensive tackle Cole Pemberton, defensive tackle Malcom Sheppard, linebacker Isaiah Greenhouse, safety Torri Williams, receiver Bobby Williams and running back Chris Ogbonnaya.

All of these played with the Texans during training camp except for Ogbonnaya, the ex-Longhorn RB who was dumped by the Rams after a dreadful preseason. The last spot, along with Danny Clark’s roster spot, will be filled once the team figures out what to do with (sigh) Matt Leinart or John David Booty. Bobby Williams and Sheppard are probably the two best players in this group.

Texans Among Leading Candidates To Sign Leinart

2010-09-05T23:56:26Z

According to several reports, the Texans are looking into signing recently released Matt Leinart.

The Houston Chronicle and ESPN have also reported Houston’s interest in the Leinart. However, Oakland, Cincinnati, and Jacksonville have also reported interest in the 10th overall pick from the 2006 draft.

Chris Mortensen believes the Texans are leading the pack, tweeting:

Where does Leinart end up now? >.> Handicapping Texans as the favorites

If signed, Leinart would presumably take over the backup string.

Report: Texans Still Courting Retired DE Aaron Schobel

2010-09-05T22:12:50Z

Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that former Buffalo Bills DE Aaron Schobel is interested in coming out of a brief retirement to play for the Houston Texans.

Former TCU defensive end and the recently “retired” Aaron Schobel of the Buffalo Bills has not ruled out playing this season for the Houston Texans.
…

[TCU people and friends of Schobel have] said the Texans have been rather persistent in their pursuit, and he has told them he would let them know on Monday if he will play again.

Schobel had recently announced his retirement from the NFL after considering a number of potential suitors.

Battle Red Blog has already heard the news and would love for Schobel to come to Houston.

This seems like a no brainer move to me if Schobel will sign. Bob McNair has already shown a willingness to spend some cash in the uncapped year when he resigned Andre Johnson to an extension two years into a five year contract. If worst case scenario is that he performs at a lesser level than who you already have than what did you really lose?

More on this as it becomes available. It would be nice to hear the same information repeated by more reliable source.

Texans Fill Out Roster With Wall, Nixon

2010-09-05T20:55:04Z

John McClain of The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Texans have claimed Dallas CB Jamar Wall and Oakland LB David Nixon off waivers.

Wall, a sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech this year, appeared in no games for the Cowboys last year. He lacks pure speed, according to his NFL Draft 2010 profile, but is a good zone corner and can contribute on special teams.

Nixon, undrafted out of BYU in 2009, appeared in three games with the Raiders last season but had no tackles. He did retire as the Mountain West Conference’s all-time leading tackler, however. Any port in the storm, as the linebacker situation looks dire for the first couple of weeks. Dixon should also contribute on special teams.

Report: Marc Berman Has The Roster Cuts

2010-09-04T14:46:08Z

MyFOXHouston’s Marc Berman scooped the cuts:

Also released Friday:

FB Jack Corcoran
WR Bobby Williams
WR Derrick Townsel
TE Derek Fine
OL Adam Stenavich
OL Steve Maneri
OL Cole Pemberton
C Brett Helms
C Chris White
DL Malcolm Sheppard
DL Mitch Unrein
DL DelJuan Robinson
LB Will Patterson
LB Isaiah Greenhouse
DB Mark Parson
DB Torri Williams

Safety Nicholas Polk, who wasn’t reported on these lists, is clearly acting like he has also been cut on Twitter.

John McClain adds that Anthony Hill will be sent to the PUP. Hill never got on the field during training camp.

That would leave the Texans with a roster of:
Offense (24)
QB: Schaub, Orlovsky
RB: Foster, Slaton, Ward
FB: Leach
WR: Johnson, Walter, Jones, Anderson, Dickerson
TE: Daniels, Dreessen, Graham, Casey
OT: Winston, Brown, Butler
OG: Caldwell, W.Smith, Brisiel, Studdard, S.Smith
OC: Myers

Defense (25-1=24)
DE: Williams, A.Smith, Barwin, Nading, Jamison
DT: Okoye, Cody, Mitchell, Okam
LB: Cushing*, Ryans, Diles, Clark, Bentley, Sharpton, Adibi
CB: Jackson, Quin, McCain, Molden, McManis
S: Pollard, Wilson, Barber, Nolan
*-roster exemption due to suspension

Specialists (3)
K: Rackers
LS: Weeks
P: Turk

IR: Holliday, Tate, Davis, Bulman, Griffith, Stross, Bing (one of these last three will likely be released with an injury settlement, since you can only carry 6 players on the IR.)
PUP: Hill

Practice Squad Probables:
QB Booty
RB J.Johnson
DL Sheppard

The Texans would seem to have two roster spots available, and Kubiak did hint in his presser that there could be more moves made today. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Weeks or one of Nading and Jamison also hit cuts. So stay tuned; this could be a busy day at the office.

Texans Sign Free Agent RB Derrick Ward

2010-09-03T23:36:02Z

The Houston Texans signed veteran running back Derrick Ward Friday as insurance in the backfield according to the NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora.

The 30-year-old has played six seasons in the NFL, most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.

Ward’s most productive season was in 2008 as a backup to Brandon Jacobs with the New York Giants when he gained 1,409 yards from scrimmage even though he started just three games.