Defensive end Blackson’s deal restructured
The Texans have restructured starting defensive end Angelo Blackson’s three-year, $11.976 million contract, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Blackson’s salary-cap figure has been reduced by $1.5 million and his compensation to $2.5 million.
Blackson was originally due $4 million this season with a $3.5 million base salary, $500,000 in per-game active roster bonuses and carried a $3.968 million salary cap figure.
The Texans have also restructured contracts recently for Blackson and offensive guards Zach Fulton and Senio Kelemete, creating $8 million in savings.
The Texans are now $22.423 million under the NFL salary-cap limit of $198.2 million. That gives them additional financial flexibility as they attempt to negotiate long-term contract extensions for Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson and Pro Bowl alternate inside linebacker Zach Cunningham.
Murray expected to see prominent role
Whenever the Texans’ defense and special teams are on the field this season, look for new safety Eric Murray to have a prominent role.
Signed to a three-year, $20.25 million contract with $10.75 million guaranteed, Murray is a starter in several defensive alignments. He’s also expected to be a major special teams contributor.
A former All-Big Ten Conference selection at Minnesota and Chiefs fourth-round draft pick, Murray, 26, emerged as a freeagent commodity for the Texans and other teams because of his athleticism (4.49 speed in the 40-yard dash), hard-hitting approach and instincts.
“He’s another good pro,” Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien said of Murray during a Zoom video call Saturday morning. “He’s in a lot of starting packages for us as a safety. He’s a versatile guy. He’s played in the deep part of the field. He’s played down in the box.
“He’s been a personal protector on the punt team. He’s been on the kickoff coverage team. He’s had a versatile type career and he’s a very smart guy. I think he can fill a lot of different roles for us. We have a lot of different packages on defense where he’s going to be in there quite a bit and then he’s going to help us on special teams.”
Rookie Reid makes good first impression
The maturity of Texans rookie cornerback John Reid is leaving a good first impression on the coaching staff and teammates.
A fourth-round draft pick from Penn State, the two-time former All-Big Ten Conference honorable-mention selection has a cerebral background.
The New Jersey native is a self-described perfectionist who majored in data sciences and has written data code for video games.
“John Reid, as a rookie, I’ll tell you what, he’s been impressive thus far,” Texans defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said. “He operates around here like he is a five-year vet.”
Signed to a four-year, $3.789 million deal, Reid is competing for an immediate role as a nickel back. Reid recorded 37 tackles, one sack and two interceptions last season for the Nittany Lions.
“So far, John Reid seems like a very smart guy,” Texans veteran cornerback Bradley Roby said. “Very smart guy on and off the field. You can tell he’s eager to learn. I see things here and there and I let him know and I watch him to see if he’s going to implement it and he’s doing it. I think he’s doing a great job of being a rookie, staying humble and just trying to learn as much as possible.”
Torn ACL continues Ejiofor’s hard luck
The hard luck of Texans outside linebacker Duke Ejiofor continued Friday when the Alief Taylor graduate was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament after getting hurt at the end of practice.
This follows Ejiofor, a former sixth-round draft pick from Wake Forest, tearing his Achilles a year ago and missing the entire season.
“Duke Ejiofor suffered a knee injury in practice, Duke’s been through a lot,” Bill O’Brien said. “We’re fully supportive of Duke. He was having a good training camp and it’s a tough blow for him, but he’ll be back. It’ll be a long rehab for him, but he’ll be back. We’ll place him on IR at some point here over the next couple of days and then we’ll go from there.
Although Ejiofor’s size and quickness are hard to duplicate, O’Brien expressed confidence in the outside linebacker position led by veteran Whitney Mercilus. He said that Jacob Martin’s practice snaps would likely increase and referenced returning starter Brennan Scarlett and rookie Jon Greenard.
“He brings a lot of energy to practice; he’s got a really quick first step in his pass rush game,” O’Brien said of Martin, who had a career-high 3½ sacks after being acquired via a trade from the Seattle Seahawks. “He’s gotten a better understanding of our system. I think he’s got the body type that helps us on special teams. Great guy, really good pro, brings a lot of energy and juice to our defense.”