According to @McClain_on_NFL Rick Smith and the Texans are not going to let Derrick Ward out of Houston.
The Texans are signing free agent RB Derrick Ward. They worked him and Justin Fargas out today.
Rotoworld confirms it is a 1 year deal.
Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images
Ward joins a banged up running back stable behind Arian Foster and Steve Slaton. It is presumed that 2nd year RB, Jeremiah Johnson will also be retained. Johnson and Slaton both suffered toe injuries and the time frame for their return is not known. Kubiak has said that he hopes to have Slaton back by week 1. The Texans Bull Blog resident physician speculated that if Johnson’s separated toe is his “great toe” that he could be out for 3 weeks. It is not known which toe he injured.
Berman’s now reporting that Jeremiah Johnson was released as well as Henry, which confirms what someone said earlier today: that JJ could be cut and resigned. I can’t believe they wouldn’t do that, cause he was looking good up till then. What crappy luck with our RBs.
Why would they cut Henry and sign Ward?
I don’t know enough about RB play to have a fit over it, I just don’t understand. Was Henry *that* bad? We have a game next weekend.
Surely you’d rather have a guy like Henry that has played with the club all summer, even if he is weak in protection, rather than an old guy cut from another team – Tampa no less – that doesn’t know the playbook.
Dave,
I believe that Ward played under Gruden for one season. That means he is familiar with the West Coast terminology and scheme. His talent certainly fits the zone blocking scheme. So, while there will be a little nuance, it won’t be too much to overcome in a week in a half. Also, they aren’t getting him in order to play him week one but are concerned about depth if Slaton and/or Foster are injured. Chris Henry simply has zero feel for football. He looks good without pads but is a disaster in a game. That has been the case even in college. I expected the Texans may pickup yet another free agent RB this weekend, at some point.
Ryan moats is available.