Texans look to build on momentum after big win over Patriots
The Houston Texans played their most complete game of the season on Sunday to beat the New England Patriots 27-20NOVEMBER 23, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
KEKE COUTEE
Emerges in Week 11 win Coutee caught two of four targets for 10 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-20 win over New England.
Impact Eraly injuries to Randall Cobb (toe) and Kenny Stills (quadriceps) cleared the way for Coutee's biggest game of the season. He played a season-high 35 snaps (57 percent) and was targeted three times in the red zone. With a short week of preparation for Week 12 on Thursday in Detroit, Coutee could be the starting slot receiver against the Lions.
NOVEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Keke Coutee earns praise after Sunday's win over Patriots Keke Coutee, who played since Week 2 against Baltimore, earned praise from Romeo Crennel and Deshaun Watson for his patience and performance...
NOVEMBER 23, 2020 • HOUSTONTEXANS.COM
WATCH: Texans QB Deshaun Watson throws touchdown pass to WR Keke Coutee vs. the Patriots Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to receiver Keke Coutee just before halftime against the New England...
NOVEMBER 22, 2020 • USATODAY.COM
Sitting out Week 7 Coutee (coach's decision) has been tabbed as inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Packers.
Impact The 23-year-old lost a fumble during Houston's Week 2 loss to the Ravens, and he hasn't been able to get back in the coaching staff's graces since. Coutee has been a healthy scratch over each of the Texans' four outings since that point, as the team remains deep at the receiver position. There is a possibility Houston makes a deadline move, trading away a WR to bolster another area of the roster. That may be the only scenario, besides injury ahead of him on the depth chart, in which Coutee re-enters the offense in a contributing role this season.
OCTOBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Makes critical turnover Coutee caught two of two targets for 11 yards and lost a costly fumble in Sunday's 33-16 loss to the Ravens in Week 2.
Impact Coutee, who was inactive Week 1, got early run when Will Fuller briefly left the game with a hamstring injury. On his second catch, the ball was knocked loose and scooped up by L.J. Fort, who returned the fumble for a touchdown to give Baltimore a 20-7 lead late in the second quarter. That was the turning point of the game as the Ravens were never threatened afterward.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Ready to face Ravens Coutee (foot) is active for Sunday's matchup against the Ravens, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact The 23-year-old receiver was held out for Houston's Week 1 matchup against the reigning Super Bowl champions, as he had dealt with a stress fracture in his foot throughout training camp. Coutee has since shown enough to trainers to earn his way onto the field, though his role may be reduced from the one he filled the past two years. Coutee earned 5.1 targets per game between 2018 and 2019, but with Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb joining the receiving corps on top of Will Fuller and Kenny Stills, Coutee may be hard-pressed to match that workload.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Not playing Thursday Coutee (coach's decision) is listed as inactive Thursday at Kansas City.
Impact Coutee starts this season much like he ended the 2019 campaign: on the inactive list. Granted, he dealt with a stress fracture in his foot during camp, but the injury didn't impact his practice reps in advance of Week 1. While he dons street clothes Thursday, the Texans will roll with Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb, Kenny Stills and DeAndre Carter at wide receiver.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Makes roster Coutee has made the Texans' 53-man roster, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact This was not entirely expected after a rough 2019 season for Coutee, who had a lingering ankle injury, dropped passes and concentration issues. He had a mild stress fracture in his foot during this year's camp but returned in time for the final scrimmage. He's one of six receivers the Texans kept.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Full go at scrimmage Coutee fully participated in Thursday's scrimmage, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Coutee did a little of everything, lining up at various positions and returning kicks after missing time with a minor stress fracture in his foot. "Keke looked good," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said Thursday. "He was cutting off of his foot and doing some good things. He returned kicks. He played in the slot. He ran reverses." Injuries are nothing new to Coutee, who has missed 17 of 32 career regular season games. The third-year veteran is fighting for fifth on the WR depth chart, which the Texans typically use as a spot for a combination wideout/returner. That means Coutee might be cast off if DeAndre Carter wins the return job.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Appears healthy Coach Bill O'Brien said Coutee has looked good since returning from a foot injury, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Coutee missed about a week of practice in late August while resting a stress fracture in his foot. It's fair to wonder if the issue will pop up again this season, but he apparently didn't have any limitations in Wednesday's practice, as O'Brien noted that the third-year pro was returning kicks, taking reverses and running routes from the slot. With Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills all looking healthy, it's hard to see how Coutee fits in. The Texans might look for a trade, and they could even consider waiving Coutee if other depth receivers are expected to contribute more on special teams.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Back at practice Coutee (foot) participated in practice Saturday, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.
Impact Coutee is evidently dealing with a minor stress fracture in his foot with an emphasis on the "minor" part considering he was able to participate in Saturday's practice. Head coach Bill O'Brien has stressed he'd like to give Coutee rest in order for the injury to heal so it wouldn't be surprising to see the depth receiver have some planned practices off in the near future.
AUGUST 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Keke Coutee: The Ripple Effects Of Lost Potential When Keke Coutee was selected by the Texans in the fourth round (103rd overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft, initial reactions among fans were pos...
AUGUST 28, 2020 • BATTLEREDBLOG.COM
Dealing with stress fracture Coutee has a minor stress fracture in his foot, but the Texans expect the injury to resolve itself with rest, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact This explains the slot receiver's recent absences from practice, which coach Bill O'Brien had originally downplayed. It sounds like the Texans are optimistic about Coutee being ready for Week 1, though it isn't clear he'll have a significant role in the offense. Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills figure to account for the vast majority of WR snaps.
AUGUST 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Misses another practice Coutee (undisclosed) missed another practice Monday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Coach Bill O'Brien said Friday that Coutee was merely being rested, but it now seems more likely the slot receiver is dealing with an injury or soreness, considering he's absent from practice for a fifth consecutive day. The 2018 fourth-round pick struggled with hamstring injuries throughout his rookie season, but his seven absences last season mostly were coach's decisions. It's hard to see how Coutee will earn regular snaps in a receiving corps with Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills.
AUGUST 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
No practice but no injury Coutee watched practice from the sideline for a second consecutive day Friday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said Coutee is simply being rested as the team tracks his GPS workload. Coutee has been dogged by injuries during his first two NFL seasons and doesn't have a clear path to consistent snaps at this time. He is expected to resume practicing soon.
AUGUST 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Shows growth in camp Coutee has impressed Texans head coach Bill O'Brien during training camp with his maturity, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact O'Brien said Coutee is "on the right track" as he prepares for his third NFL season. The coach cited the presence of Randall Cobb as a role model for Coutee, who has experienced injuries and mistakes during his NFL career. "Some guys it takes a little longer," O'Brien said during a Zoom video call. "I think the big thing for Keke is health. He's a very confident player, a very good player. I think Randall Cobb has helped him, just watching how Randall Cobb operates, I think that's really helped him." Coutee faces a crowded position group and will not have preseason games to force a move up the depth chart. If the group stays as deep as it is now, he may need to win a job as punt returner to keep his job as a wide receiver.
AUGUST 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Texans’ Keke Coutee says results will speak for themselves in 2020 Texans receiver Keke Coutee burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2018, catching 11 passes in his first NFL game, the most for a player in his...
JULY 3, 2020 • YAHOO.COM
Wide receiver Keke Coutee active for Texans against Colts
Wide receiver Keke Coutee active for Texans against ColtsJANUARY 5, 2019
