Texans Part Ways With Diontae Johnson, Send Cade Stover To Injured Reserve

The Houston Texans have announced a series of roster moves, including waiving wide receiver Diontae Johnson and placing tight end Cade Stover on injured reserve. These moves come on the heels of the team's 2023 NFL Draft, where they selected several players to bolster their receiving corps and tight end depth.

Diontae Johnson's Departure

Johnson, a 26-year-old wide receiver, had been with the Texans since 2022, when he was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 17 games with Houston, Johnson caught 29 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns. However, he failed to make a significant impact in the Texans' offense, often overshadowed by the team's top receivers Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins.

His departure is not surprising, as the Texans have added several young receivers to their roster, including John Metchie III and Mario Goodrich. Metchie, a 2022 second-round pick, is expected to play a significant role in Houston's offense this season after missing his rookie year due to a torn ACL. Goodrich, a 2023 fifth-round pick, brings speed and athleticism to the wide receiver group.

Cade Stover's Injury

Stover, a 23-year-old tight end, joined the Texans in 2022 as an undrafted free agent. He quickly impressed the coaching staff with his athleticism and blocking ability and was expected to compete for a starting role this season. However, he suffered a knee injury during the team's Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.

The loss of Stover is a significant blow to the Texans' tight end depth. Pharaoh Brown is expected to start, but behind him, the Texans have only Brevin Jordan and Mason Schreck on the roster. Jordan, a 2021 fifth-round pick, has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, while Schreck is a journeyman with limited NFL experience.

The Texans may look to add another tight end to their roster before the start of the regular season. Some potential free agent targets include Eric Ebron, Jimmy Graham, and Jared Cook.

Competing Perspectives

The Texans' roster moves have been met with mixed reactions from fans and analysts. Some believe that the team made the right decision in waiving Johnson and placing Stover on injured reserve. They argue that Johnson was not a significant contributor to the offense and that the Texans have better options at wide receiver. They also believe that Stover's injury is a setback, but the team has enough depth at tight end to overcome his absence.

Others believe that the Texans made a mistake by letting Johnson go. They argue that Johnson is a talented receiver who has shown flashes of potential. They also believe that the Texans' tight end depth is not as strong as some think and that Stover's injury could be a major problem for the offense.

Conclusion

The Texans' roster moves are part of the team's ongoing rebuilding process. The team is trying to get younger and more athletic, and these moves are a step in that direction. Only time will tell if the Texans made the right decisions, but they are certainly taking some risks as they look to improve their fortunes in 2023.