Taylor reverted to the Texans' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Taylor was elevated for the third consecutive game, failing to record any stats while playing 13 snaps on special teams in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Bills. The running back will need to be signed to the active roster in order to appear in another game with the Texans this season.
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Texans' J.J. Taylor: Elevated from practice squad
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The Texans elevated Taylor from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Taylor will be elevated for a third straight week, as top running backs Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) continue to be hampered with injuries. Taylor saw additional playing time in Week 4 against the Jaguars, during which he turned six carries into 18 yards with three of those runs coming in the red zone. Mixon has been already ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills, and if Pierce were also to be inactive, Taylor would be the No. 4 running back behind Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale and British Brooks.
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J.J. Taylor: Back to practice squad
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Taylor reverted to the Texans' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
The running back was elevated for Sunday's win over the Jaguars with Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) out. Taylor played on 16 of 75 offensive snaps, carried the ball six times for 18 yards and failed to bring in his only target. Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale led Houston's backfield with 30 and 29 snaps, respectively.
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Texans' J.J. Taylor: Gets more work in Week 4
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Taylor had six carries for 18 yards and failed to catch his only target in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Jaguars.
Taylor, who was elevated from the practice squad for a second straight week, had a touch or target in all four quarters, including a couple of red-zone carries. His snap count increased from 10 in Week 3 to 16 in Sunday's win. The absence of Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) has created opportunities for players further down the depth chart, but that window for Taylor could close as soon as Week 5's game against the Bills.
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J.J. Taylor: Reverts to practice squad
Rotowire
Taylor reverted to the Texans' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
The running back was elevated for Sunday's matchup with the Vikings with Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) out with injuries. Taylor played on 10 of 67 offensive snaps and recorded one carry for three yards and two catches for zero yards. Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale led the Houston backfield with 29 and 28 offensive snaps, respectively.
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Texans' J.J. Taylor: Elevated for Week 3
Rotowire
The Texans elevated Taylor from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
The move comes with Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) both ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings. If he's active for Sunday's contest, Taylor will serve as the Texans' No. 4 running back behind Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale and British Brooks.
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J.J. Taylor: Staying with Houston
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Taylor signed with the Texans' practice squad Wednesday.
The running back was waived by the team Tuesday. Taylor signed a reserve/future contract with Houston in January after spending the second half of 2023 on the team's practice squad. In the preseason, he carried the ball 19 times for 85 yards, returned a kick for 29 yards and three punts for 15 yards.
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J.J. Taylor: Let go by Texans
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Houston waived Taylor on Tuesday.
Taylor spent the second half of 2023 on the Texans' practice squad after failing to make the Patriots' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. He signed a reserve/future contract with Houston in January and entered training camp competing for both a running back depth spot and a return role on special teams. Across four preseason outings, Taylor had 19 carries for 85 yards and added two catches (on four targets) for 11 yards. In addition, he registered a 29-yard kickoff return and turned three punt returns into 15 yards. Taylor could be invited back by Houston to join the practice squad for 2024, but he may look to join a roster elsewhere assuming he goes unclaimed off waivers.
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Texans' J.J. Taylor: Rushing leader Thursday
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Taylor rushed for 16 yards on six carries and returned one punt for four yards in Thursday's 21-17 preseason loss to Chicago.
Taylor is on the fringes of the backfield depth chart, but he has significant collegiate experience returning kicks (kickoffs, not punts) and also filled that role on occasion while with New England the last three seasons. It would seem his clearest path to a roster spot would be via special teams.
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J.J. Taylor: Headed to Houston
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Taylor signed with the Texans' practice squad Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Taylor will head to Houston after being released from the Patriots in August. The 25-year-old has 18 career rushes for 77 yards and touchdown, and will now provide the team insurance at running back.
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J.J. Taylor: Among roster cuts
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The Patriots waived Taylor on Tuesday.
With Ty Montgomery and Kevin Harris also having been let go by the team Tuesday, Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott are the only running backs on the 53-man roster following initial cut-downs. Look for additional moves to occur in the coming days, and with that in mind it's possible that Taylor could return to the mix once the dust settles.
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Patriots' J.J. Taylor: Plays briefly
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Taylor had one carry for three yards and one catch for 10 yards in Friday's 23-7 preseason loss to the Titans.
Taylor made a brief appearance in the first quarter, while second-year pros Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong both got extensive playing time. Chad Graff of The Athletic notes that Harris and Strong started the summer ahead of Taylor on the depth chart but may not have maintained that position. With Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott both locks to make the 53-man roster, the Patriots probably have only one or two RB spots left and will now have to choose between Taylor, Harris, Strong and Ty Montgomery (leg).
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Patriots' J.J. Taylor: Sticking with New England
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Taylor signed a reserve/future contract with the Patriots on Tuesday.
Taylor has spent all three seasons of his NFL career with New England, though he bounced back and forth between the practice squad and active roster this regular season. As a result, the 25-year-old recorded a career-low 10 carries in 2022 while appearing in fewer than five games for the first time in his career. Taylor will now look to compete for a roster spot among the Patriots' crowded running backs corps heading into the 2023 campaign.
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J.J. Taylor: Joins New England's practice squad
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The Patriots have signed Taylor to their practice squad.
Taylor was waived by the Patriots earlier this week, but he's back on the team's practice squad and is a candidate to be elevated to the active roster the next time injuries hit New England's backfield. In the only game he's seen action in this season, Taylor carried 10 times for nine yards and added one reception for eight yards in a Week 9 win over the Colts.
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J.J. Taylor: Let go Tuesday
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Taylor was waived by the Patriots on Monday.
Taylor was active for one game this season for New England, which was Week 9 against the Colts, where he saw 10 carries and gained just nine yards. The third-year pro now will work to find a new opportunity elsewhere.
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Patriots' J.J. Taylor: Inactive Sunday
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Taylor (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jets, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
With Damien Harris back in action Sunday, Taylor and Kevin Harris are inactive Sunday, with Rhamondre Stevenson and Pierre Strong rounding out the team's Week 11 backfield. Taylor is off the fantasy radar as long as both Damien Harris and Stevenson remain available.
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J.J. Taylor: Cut by New England
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The Patriots will waive Taylor on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
In addition to Taylor, fellow running back Kevin Harris will be waived, which suggests that Ty Montgomery's ankle issue may not be a long-term concern. As for Taylor, he'll likely be a practice-squad candidate or an option to rejoin the Patriots' post-cutdown roster, assuming he clears waivers.
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Patriots' J.J. Taylor: Starts first preseason game
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Taylor rushed five times for 16 yards and caught his only target for 11 yards in Thursday's 23-21 preseason loss to the Giants.
Taylor got the start at running back ahead of rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong with both Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson getting the night off, but he didn't do much with the opportunity, rushing for just 3.2 yards per carry. Strong averaged a more robust 4.2 yards on his six attempts, while Harris was the only one of the three to score a touchdown. Even with James White no longer in the mix after announcing his retirement, Taylor could find himself on the outside looking in when final cuts come around if he allows both rookies to outplay him, so he'll be looking for a bounce-back performance when New England continues preseason play Aug. 19 against the Panthers.
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Patriots' J.J. Taylor: Doesn't log any Week 16 snaps
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Taylor didn't see any snaps in Sunday's 33-21 loss to the Bills.
Taylor suited up for the contest with Rhamondre Stevenson (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but he didn't see any action with Damien Harris handling the bulk of the Patriots' early-down work and Brandon Bolden working in a change-of-pace role. Taylor remains off the fantasy radar unless the team's backfield depth is further taxed for any reason.
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Patriots' J.J. Taylor: Lands on COVID list
Rotowire
Taylor (undisclosed) has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports.
Taylor has been a healthy scratch for four of the Patriots' last five games, including Sunday's win over the Titans. It remains to be seen if he'll be cleared to play for next Monday's game against the Bills, but unless one of the team's other backs is unavailable, Taylor figures to remain the odd man out Week 13 even if he's activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
