HOUSTON – Not having gritty tight end Cade Stover available due to a hairline fracture of his broken foot is a setback for the Texans’ retooled offense.
Stover is a key player, catching all four passes thrown to him during a season-opening road loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He’s also a hard-nosed blocker who’s a big factor in the running game.
Recommended Videos
Although Stover is expected to return this season at some point, he being placed on short-term injured reserve. Duplicating his physicality represents a tall order.
“Stover hurt his foot, so he’ll miss some time,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I really hate that. He’s playing tough, physical, exactly how we want it done. So, he’ll miss some time. We’ll have to upgrade our tight end room from that perspective.”
The Texans are signing veteran tight end Harrison Bryant to the 53-man roster, promoting him from the practice squad in advance of a Monday night home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per a league source. The deal includes a minimum salary, plus $500,000 in incentives, per a source.
The Texans later made this move official in addition to signing offensive tackle Jaylon Thomas to the practice squad.
They had only two tight ends active for the Rams game: Stover and veteran starter Dalton Schultz as they opened the game in a 12 personnel grouping, two tight ends and one running back, Nick Chubb.
Bryant was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade for wide receiver John Metchie III.
Bryant, 27, is a 6-foot-5, 243-pound former Cleveland Browns fourth-round draft pick from Florida Atlantic who has caught 98 career passes for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns. He spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders
In college, he caught 149 career passes for 2,137 yards and 16 touchdowns. catching nine passes for 86 yards in 13 games and three starts.
In 2022, Bryant caught a career-high 31 passes for 239 yards and one score for the Browns.
In a 45-14 playoff win by the Texans over the Browns in Ryans’ first season, Bryant had a 47-yard catch on a Joe Flacco pass.
“Seeing Harrison, he made some plays against us when he was with the Browns,” Ryans said at the time of the trade. “He made a big play versus us. So you see a guy who’ve very capable of making plays. Very excited to just add him to our roster and let him get in our room. He can run well. He competes at the line of scrimmage.”
And starting center Jake Andrews, who limped off the field Sunday before being carted to the locker room, suffered a high-ankle sprain, per sources, with his recovery time unclear. Former starting center Jarrett Patterson, who filled in Sunday for 18 snaps after Andrews got hurt, is expected to be the replacement for the foreseeable future.
“Andrews rolled his ankle,” Ryans said. “So, he’ll be day to day.”
A third-year pro from Notre Dame and a former sixth-round draft pick, Patterson has started 16 of 23 career games and is a reliable technician style blocker.
“Patterson has done a nice job,” Ryans said. " Patterson’s played a lot of ball for us. He filled in last year. He stepped in. Wherever guard, center, Patterson is going to give you everything he has. That’s all we expect from him. I’m encouraged with how he plays.”
In other injury updates, wide receivers Christian Kirk (one to two week hamstring strain, per sources) and Braxton Berrios (shorter-term hamstring strain) are making progress. It’s unclear if they’ll play against Tampa Bay.
“Berrios and Kirk are doing well on their recovery,” Ryans said. “We’ll see how they go this week. No timetable set right now for those guys.
Stover, 24, had emerged as a serious factor in the Texans’ offense.
A converted defensive player with the Buckeyes who hung out with the the so-called meatheads on defense even after moving to the other side of the football, Stover looked more explosive, quicker and confident in his movements at training camp. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said that Stover is one of the most improved players on the team.
“Would be hard for us to do find a player that’s improved as much as Cade in the offseason,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said at the start of camp. “Really took advantage of his opportunities. Always has the right mentality and the right approach and mindset. We’re glad he’s here, and looking forward to potentially what he can bring to our football team.”
Stover overcame an emergency appendectomy last season in December and offseason shoulder surgery to get back on the field.
“He’s tough,” Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “You turn on the tape, you guys have all seen it. He plays with his hair on fire. There is no substitute for that. I appreciate the way he plays the game. I’ve had a lot of respect for him dating back to his days at Ohio State.”
The 6-foot-4, 251-pound former All-Big Ten Conference selection caught 15 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 15 games and nine starts. He was targeted 22 times overall and had five first downs and a long reception of 27 yards.
When the Texans drafted Stover last year, the enthusiasm from Caserio and coach Ryans was obvious.
The work ethic and passion for the game Stover possesses prompted the Texans to draft the Ohio native.
“Whatever it is, it’s elite,” Caserio said of Stover. “This guy is as tough, hard-nosed a player they had in the program. This is probably one of our favorite football players in the entire draft, regardless of position, because of his mentality, because of his mindset. And he still is developing as a player. Blue-collar as they come. Makeup, traits, toughness, mentality, this is an elite guy.”
Signed to a four-year, $4.758 million deal that includes a $1.189 million signing bonus, Stover was acquired after a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Texans traded their 127th overall pick of the fourth round and a 2025 fifth-round pick to select Stover 123rd overall.
He caught 41 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns last season. He was a finalist for the John Mackey award. He’s a converted defensive end and linebacker.
“I kind of still see the game through a defensive lens,” Stover said. “I was born with that, I keep that defensive mentality no matter where I’m at. I just try to play offense with that same mentality and recklessness. I love blocking. I’m going to throw my face in the fire every chance I get.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com