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The Texans have reportedly released OT Derek Newton.
Houston Texans have informed RT Derek Newton that he's being released. Newton tore both patella tendons six games into 2016 season and missed all of last year.
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) April 12, 2018
Newton, 30, has not played since Week 7 of the 2016 season after he tore his patella tendon in both knees on the same play in one of the most gruesome injuries in NFL history. He has been rehabbing ever since and it has kept him off the field for a season and a half.
Now, it has kept him off of the Texans’ 2018 roster.
There was some hope that he would come back and play this season, but it looks like his injury rehab is not going according to plan for the Texans.
Texans failed Newton on a physical March 23. He was due $500k roster bonus April 1. He sought second opinion from Dr. Andrews, who deemed him fit to take part in workouts, which begin next week. Then Newton received word this morning, he's being released.
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) April 12, 2018
Newton is also filing a grievance against the team over a roster bonus he has not received. Newton should have earned a $500,000 bonus for being on the roster on April 1st, but the team has yet to pay it, and now that he has been released, he is filing the grievance to ensure that he gets paid that money.
Newton had started all 16 games in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and six in 2016 before getting hurt. Texans not paying the $500k bonus as of now even though he was on the roster April 1, so Newton is filing a grievance, source says.
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) April 12, 2018
It’s a shame for a guy who came into the league as a 7th-round pick in 2011 and worked his way up to start for the team, eventually earning a contract extension that many players could only dream of. He signed a five-year, $26.5 million contract in 2015 and had two more years left on the deal (even after restructuring the deal last year).
Thanks for all that you did as a Texan, Derek. We wished the circumstances would have worked out better than they did. You will be missed by Texans Nation.