Houston Texans: Keke Coutee ruled out for Week 15

The Houston Texans will be traveling to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Jets in Week 15 without their rookie slot wide receiver Keke Coutee.

The Houston Texans fourth-round draft pick Keke Coutee will not travel with the team to play the New York Jets in Week 15. The Houston Texans PR announced via their official Twitter account that Coutee was downgraded from questionable to out in their game status report for Week 15.

The Texans playbook has expanded and the offense has more receiving options in the passing game whenever Coutee has been able to suit up for game day. Coutee is arguably one of the most important receivers behind DeAndre Hopkins. The Texans have lost several dimensions throughout the season in the passing game, but they have continued to thrive in other facets in the offense.

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Will Fuller was arguably the second most valuable receiver on the roster when he was healthy due his good route running ability and having the speed to beat defenders deep. Coutee was having a feast in the middle of the field and taking advantage of the open spaces the boundary receivers created. Coutee has 28 receptions, 287 receiving yards, a touchdown, and essentially averaging a first down with 10.3 yards per reception. He has only played in six games, but he’s averaged at least four receptions per each game he played.

The Texans have a void of reliable receivers in the slot, the offense has preferred to keep Hopkins and Demaryius Thomas as the outside receivers. DeAndre Carter is expected to be cleared from concussion protocol for tomorrows game against the Jets, and he has shown some promise from an athletic standpoint but he was signed during the bye week and is still adapting to the offense.

Carter can do some of the concepts that the Texans use Coutee in the offense, but he shouldn’t be the only option available. The Texans have been reluctant to use Sammie Coates, who has played mostly on special teams and undrafted rookie, Vyncint Smith, who has been mostly inactive on game days and hasn’t been active since Week 9.

The offense has revolved around Hopkins, Thomas, and Carter with Coutee out. The other option in the slot has been the third-string quarterback and special teamer Joe Webb III who has experience playing at wide receiver in the past.

Coutee has shown his value in an NFL offense early on in his career, but it will be interesting to see how the Texans adapt if he isn’t able to return for the last few games of the regular season. The priority for both the player and the team is for Coutee to be ready for the playoffs.