Texans' Jeff Okudah: Limited role with Texans in 2024
Rotowire
Okudah finished the 2024 regular season with nine total tackles (eight solo) and one pass defensed over six games.
Okudah latched on with the Texans in free agency after the 2023 season, but he failed to have a major impact in 2024. The cornerback suffered a hip injury in Week 1, which sidelined him for the team's next nine games. He later suffered a concussion in Week 17 and ultimately played just 74 defensive snaps and 72 snaps on special teams while appearing in six regular-season contests. Okudah will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and he'll likely head wherever he has the clearest path to playing time.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Cleared to play Saturday
Rotowire
Okudah (concussion) does not have an injury designation for Saturday's game against the Chargers, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Okudah ended the week with consecutive full practices, and he has done enough to clear the league's five-step concussion protocol. Barring any setbacks, the 2020 first-round pick should start opposite Derek Stingley at outside corner for Saturday's AFC wild-card clash.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Logs full practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Okudah (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Okudah's ability to upgrade his practice participation indicates that he is progressing through the league's five-step concussion protocol. He would have to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to play against the Chargers in Saturday's AFC wild-card game. Okudah spent the majority of the 2024 regular season on injured reserve due to a hip injury he suffered against the Colts in Week 1. The 2020 first-round pick appeared in six games, contributing on both defense and special teams and finishing with nine tackles (eight solo) and one pass defense.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Limited in practice Tuesday
Rotowire
Okudah (concussion) was a limited participant in practice Tuesday.
The cornerback missed the Texans' regular season finale against the Titans due to the head injury, and before that game, he also began the week with a limited practice. Okudah's status Wednesday will therefore be worth monitoring ahead of Saturday's wild-card matchup with the Chargers. Myles Bryant and Kris Boyd should see more playing time if Okudah can't go by Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Ruled out for Week 18
Rotowire
Okudah (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Reserve cornerbacks Kris Boyd and Myles Bryant should see an uptick in playing time Sunday, as the Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Downgrades to DNP on Thursday
Rotowire
Okudah (concussion) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.
Okudah was limited in Wednesday's practice due to a concussion, but his DNP on Thursday indicates that he is trending in the wrong direction in terms of playing in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Titans. Myles Bryant and Kris Boyd would be the top candidates to start at outside corner opposite Derek Stingley if Okudah is unable to play in Week 18.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: In concussion protocol
Rotowire
Okudah was limited in practice Wednesday due to a concussion.
The Texans last played Christmas Day versus Baltimore, so if Okudah suffered the concussion in that game, he's at least had an extended period of time to try to recover. Still, he'll need to clear the NFL's five-step protocol in order to be able to suit up in Week 18 versus the Titans. Okudah logged a modest 25 percent of Houston's defensive snaps in the Week 17 loss to the Ravens.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Likely to move into starting role
Rotowire
Okudah will likely start at outside cornerback Wednesday against Baltimore, with Kamari Lassiter moving to the slot now that Jimmie Ward is on IR due to a foot injury, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
When Ward has hurt in the first half of this past Saturday's game against Kansas City, Lassiter moved into the slot while Okudah entered as an outside corner. That's likely to be the arrangement again Wednesday, as Ward was shifted to injured reserve Monday -- 10 days after Jalen Pitre (pectoral) landed there. Okudah worked primarily as a starter last season with Atlanta but has logged just 58 defensive snaps -- 37 of which came after Ward's injury last week -- over five contests this year. He hurt his hip in Houston's first game of the season and missed the team's next nine matchups before returning Week 11.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Healthy scratch for Week 12
Rotowire
Okudah (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Okudah played 28 snaps (12 on defense, 16 on special teams) Week 11 against the Cowboys and finished with two solo tackles. However, the 2020 first-round pick will be a healthy scratch Sunday as Kris Boyd, M.J. Stewart and Ka'dar Hollman serve as the Texans' rotational corners behind Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre. Okudah's next chance to play will be Week 13 against the Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 1.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Activated Monday
Rotowire
Okudah (quadriceps) was activated from injured reserve Monday.
The 2020 first-round pick from Ohio State has been sidelined since sustaining a quadriceps injury in the Texans' Week 1 win over the Colts. However, he's listed as questionable for Houston's Week 11 matchup against the Cowboys following Monday's activation. Okudah appears to be trending toward returning Monday night, as he practiced in full throughout the week. He'll likely serve as a depth piece in the Texans' secondary while also contributing on special teams if he suits up in Week 11.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Okudah (quadriceps) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against Detroit.
Okudah has been on injured reserve since injuring his hip in Week 1 against the Colts. He was designated to return from IR on Monday, and while he was able to log a full practice Friday, he's not yet ready to return. Okudah's next chance at suiting up will be Week 11 against Dallas on Monday, Nov. 18.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Gets designation to return
Rotowire
Houston designated Okudah (hip) for return from its injured reserve list Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Okudah has spent the Texans' last eight games on the sidelines rehabbing a hip issue he picked up in Week 1 at Indianapolis, but it now seems he could have a chance to play in Week 10 versus the Lions. Houston's first official practice report of the week Wednesday will shed more light on Okudah's potential availability for that game.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Moves to IR
Rotowire
Okudah (hip) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
Okudah suffered the injury during the Texans' Week 1 win over the Colts. He'll now miss at least the next four weeks, which could leave Houston light on depth in the secondary. They'll likely make a signing from their practice squad ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the Bears, while Okudah works on his recovery.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Downgraded to out
Rotowire
Okudah (hip) has been downgraded to out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Colts.
The backup cornerback did not record a stat before exiting. Kris Boyd is Houston's other backup corner.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Questionable to return
Rotowire
Okudah (hip) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Colts.
The backup cornerback did not record a stat before exiting. Kris Boyd is Houston's other backup corner.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jeff Okudah: Signing with Texans
Rotowire
Houston plans to sign Okudah to a one-year, $4.75 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
After a short-lived stint with the Falcons, Okudah is now joining forces with the Texans. Over 13 games in 2023, he recorded 44 tackles (34 solo) and three passes defensed. He projects as a rotational option for Houston in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Replaced in 2023
Rotowire
Okudah finished 2023 with 44 tackles (34 solo) and three pass defenses in 13 appearances.
After back-to-back disappointing seasons to start his career, Okudah made an impact on the Lions' defense in 2022, totaling 73 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. However, he was traded to Atlanta last offseason and carved out a starting role, posting 41 tackles from Weeks 4 to 13. However, he was ultimately replaced by Clark Phillips down the stretch. The Falcons declined the fifth-year team option for 2024 on Okudah's rookie deal, so the cornerback will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Fully recovered
Rotowire
Okudah (ankle) was a full participant during practice Wednesday, Amna Subhan of the Falcons' official site reports.
Okudah logged a limited practice Friday before being ruled out for last Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. However, with Week 15 prep underway, the Ohio State product was a full go and should suit up for this Sunday's matchup with the Panthers.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Good chance to debut Sunday
Rotowire
Okudah (foot) is expected to play Sunday in Detroit as long as he doesn't experience any issues during pregame warmups, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Okudah injured his foot during practice in early August and missed the Falcons' first two games of the regular season. However, he was a full participant in practice this week and appears set to make his team debut despite carrying a questionable tag into Sunday. With Okudah's return, Tre Flowers will likely return to a reserve role.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Practices fully Wednesday
Rotowire
Okudah (foot) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Okudah looks poised to make his Falcons debut Week 3 against his former team in the Lions after he was traded from Detroit to Atlanta during the offseason. He was initially injured back in early August during training camp.
