The Houston Texans have agreed to a new deal with cornerback Phillip Gaines.
The Houston Texans believe they may have something in Phillip Gaines and will extend the former Rice cornerback to a one year deal, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The Texans signed Gaines heading into the second game of the 2019 regular season after releasing Aaron Colvin.
Gaines saw action in six games with the Texans with injuries taking a toll in the secondary before he was shut down for the rest of the season with an ankle injury that he suffered in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts.
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Re-signing Gaines makes sense as a low-risk move with the uncertainty regarding the other cornerbacks hitting free agency for the Texans. Bradley Roby’s status remains up in their air after the Texans announced Johnathan Joseph would enter free agency for only the second time of his career since signing with Houston from the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011.
Depending on how it shakes out, the Texans could use familiarity at the cornerback position with the team, potentially bringing almost a different group at cornerback for this upcoming season. Gaines, 28, still offers some upside after being selected by the Kansas Chiefs in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Gaines is a versatile cornerback capable of playing in the slot and contributing on special teams when healthy. The Texans could use a cornerback capable of lining up in the slot after releasing Vernon Hargreaves last month.
Texans currently have Gareon Conley, Lonnie Johnson, Keion Crossen, Cornell Armstrong, and Gaines under contract heading into the start of free agency next week.