Houston Texans Roster News: Texans Release DeAndre Carter; Activate Nate Orchard and Jacob Martin

Aaron Wilson, sportswriting guy, announced your Houston Texans are parting ways with much-maligned kick returner/wide receiver DeAndre Carter this week. With a plethora of wideouts on the roster and C.J. Prosise getting an opportunity to return kicks now, losing Carter won’t make a huge difference, particularly when it comes to targets for Deshaun Watson.

Taking Carter’s place on the roster is former second round pick of the Cleveland Browns, defensive end/outside linebacker Nate Orchard; as you’ll recall, Houston claimed Orchard off the waiver wire last week. While Orchard has played for the Browns, Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks and Dolphins, he’s been a Washington Whatever since last November. If Texans fans were tired of hearing about Bill O’Brien’s attempts to make the Texans “Patriots South,” they should really want no part of being the Cleveland South either. Yet Houston continues to grab ex-Browns.

With Carter gone, speedster Will Fuller is likely to see more time returning punts and kickoffs, which should create better starting field position for Deshaun Watson and company. In the meantime, maybe Cal McNair can sign a former Browns general manager and head coach, either of whom would certainly be an instant upgrade over Bill O’Brien.

In addition to Carter’s departure and Orchard’s arrival, Jacob Martin was activated from the COVID-19 list. He’ll be back, not to rush the passer, but to line up on the interior, get squashed by guards in a flailing battle of hand fighting, and drop into coverage as Anthony Weaver continues to prove he has no idea what to do with him. Hopefully with Martin away, Weaver figured out how to utilize his skills and will get him out on the edges against Isaiah Wynn and Mike Onwenu.

The Texans host the Patriots this Sunday at 12 p.m. at NRG Stadium.