Houston Texans News: No fifth-year option for Gareon Conley

The Houston Texans news for Thursday is the Texans are still working on their roster and making decisions that will affect the 2020 season.

So much is happening in the world of Houston Texans news at the end of April, one would never guess that the NFL was in their offseason. One of the decisions made that brought some Texans news mid-week was the decision by Bill O’Brien to not pick up the fifth-year option on cornerback Gareon Conley.

Conley will now be in a contract season with the Texans, making $1.892 million in ’20, and then the two parties can go from there at the end of the season. Also this week within the Texans secondary, veteran safety Tashaun Gipson was released by the franchise, after only part of one season in Houston.

Also this week, former longtime Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph signed a one-year deal with AFC South rival, the Tennessee Titans, as the Texans news this offseason was they opted not to offer Joseph a contract to return.

Back to Conley — whom the Texans traded a third-round pick for —  the cornerback is now in the final year of his contract originally signed with the Las Vegas Raiders (formerly Oakland Raiders) after being drafted back in 2017.

Conley has a lot to prove to not only the Texans, but the the rest of the league as well. If he has a really good season in 2020, well, then his contract could be priced out of Houston. If he doesn’t play up to high standards, then who knows what the fate of Conley will be.

Last season, Conley had a 63.2 grade from Pro Football Focus, as the cornerback finished with 39 solo tackles. He also had one interception and allowed 38 receptions on 68 targets that went his direction. Also remember Conley played eight games with the Texans last season and six with the Raiders.

Conley is a player to watch in 2020 for the Texans because this could be the year where everything finally meshes together for the cornerback with big money on the line for future seasons.

Houston Texans News: Johnathan Joseph is signing with the … Tennessee Titans

In some Texans news about a former player, cornerback Johnathan Joseph is signing a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, meaning the former longtime Texans defensive back will now face his former team twice this upcoming season.

If anyone knows the secrets of the Texans and wants to face the franchise twice a season, it is Joseph, who played the past nine seasons in Houston. The 2020 season for Joseph will be his 15th overall, as the cornerback played the first five years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals.

As for last season, Joseph totaled 46 solo tackles, one interception and allowed 48 receptions on 78 targets, all while being graded at 64.0 by PFF.

It is going to be a little strange seeing Joseph in a different uniform this season, but his move from the team was best for the player and best for the Texans franchise too.

Houston Texans News: J.J. Watt having fun on Zoom

In a story that isn’t about football, some Texans news yesterday was J.J. Watt was crashing random company meetings via Zoom in a chance to interact with Texans fans and just to have a little fun on a Wednesday.

This is not only fun for Watt, but this is good PR for the Texans, and let’s be honest, some good PR for the Texans right now after the past couple months isn’t such a bad thing. Watt, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air for the Texans, and the veteran is showing why he’s the face of the franchise.

The Texans this past week have shown they can be serious with some of the football decisions that have been made, but also the franchise has a player like Watt who is still able to have some fun during uncertain times on the field and off of it as well.