HOUSTON – Texans tight end Teagan Quitoriano began practicing Saturday as he was activated from the physically unable to perform list.
Quitoriano pulled his quadriceps while training over the summer, according to a league source. He moved well during the practice session Saturday inside the Texans’ indoor facility, taking some snaps with the first-team offense.
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As a rookie, Quitoriano began the season on injured reserve with a knee injury. Activated for a Thursday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Quitoriano caught his first NFL touchdown on his first NFL reception.
He had three catches for 83 yards in a season-ending win over the Indianapolis Colts and finished the year with seven catches for 113 yards and two scores.
Quitoriano caught 40 passes for 512 yards and six touchdowns at Oregon State.
The Texans released rookie kicker Jake Bates, a Tomball graduate who was an All-Southeastern Conference kickoff specialist at Arkansas.
Bates went 2 for 3 on extra points against the New England Patriots and had two touchbacks.
Bates was signed to give regular kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn some rest during training camp.
The Texas State transfer earned an invitation from the Texans to their local prospect day after leading the SEC and ranking fourth nationally with a 64.47 yards per kickoff average and 64 touchbacks to rank fourth nationally.
After hitting a 67-yard field goal at the Arkansas Pro Day that would have easily been good from 70 yards and going 14 for 14 inside 55 yards, Bates worked out twice for the AFC South franchise.
Bates led all Football Championship schools with a 85.3 touchback percentage with 64 of his 75 kickoffs resulting in a touchback. He also had an onside kick against Alabama that was recovered by the Razorbacks.
Because both Arkansas and Texas State had strong kickers, Bates was a kickoff specialist at both schools.
NOTES: Texans rookie defensive end Dylan Horton returned to practice after missing several practices and the preseason win over the New England Patriots with a groin injury. ... Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey remains sidelined with a strained hamstring. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Friday he expects Kirksey to return in a few weeks. ... Not practicing: tight end Brevin Jordan (hamstring), wide receiver Jared Wayne (hamstring), offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson (leg), defensive tackle Thomas Booker (wrist), offensive tackle Tytus Howard (hand surgery), tight end Dalton Keene and offensive tackle George Fant (rest day). .. Offensive tackle Charlie Heck (foot issue) remains on the physically unable to perform list.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.