Houston Hook: Texans have 35 players with expiring contracts

The one-win Houston Texans have a lot on their plate this weekend when they face the Tennessee Titans in their Week 11 game. More than that, the front office decision makers, including general manager Nick Caserio, have an even tougher task in front of them as their season continues.

That decision is to see if there are any players who are on expiring contracts who should stay on the roster as the Texans keep working on their rebuild, which has already more roster changes than one can remember.

Caserio isn’t playing around, so to be honest, the feeling seems to be the Texans want to get through the season, and many of the players on the roster now most likely won’t be back next season.

Some of the more notable names with expiring contracts are running back David Johnson, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, tight end Jordan Akins, running back Phillip Lindsay, linebacker Christian Kirksey, cornerback Desmond King, linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, and wide receiver Danny Amendola, to name just a few.

Johnson is the biggest disappointment of all only because of who he was traded for and how everything has turned out since trading DeAndre Hopkins. This season, Johnson has 33 rushes for 119 yards with zero rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. His longest rush of the season has been 13 yards.

It would be interesting to see if Grugier-Hill returns at linebacker for the Texans, but in all honesty it wouldn’t be a surprise if all but a couple players who are on expiring contracts don’t return for next season.

Houston Texans: Team is 1-8 overall; players battling for ’22 contracts

The current 2021 season the Texans are currently making their way through feels like a season the franchise is only participating in because they have to. Otherwise, their 1-8 record going into Week 10 is the stuff of legend because they are on pace to be maybe the worst team in franchise history.

This current group could end up at 1-16 overall with how they have played as of late, and get this … they still do not have the first overall pick or be the worst team in the league, as there is this team called the Detroit Lions who have been rebuilding for what seems like decades.

Having so many expiring contracts isn’t really a factor for this current Texans rebuild, but it is interesting because we all know so many of these players won’t be back for ’22, making this offseason – including the 2022 NFL Draft – something exciting to look forward to.

There are two months left in this season, and though not many more wins are expected, there is the light at the end of the tunnel because the players who are battling on the field with expiring contracts might be battling for a roster spot for next season.

That could make this team step up their level of play and become a little more competitive in the coming weeks.