Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Positioned for bigger role
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Hutchinson finished the 2023 regular season with eight catches (on 19 targets) for 90 yards over 16 games. He also had five carries for 49 yards.
Hutchinson played a minor role for much of the season before injuries led to increased opportunities late in the campaign. He had four catches during the postseason, including a failed flea flicker seen as the turning point of the season-ending loss to the Ravens. Hutchinson is positioned for a greater role in 2024, as Houston is expected to move on from Noah Brown and could save cap space by releasing Robert Woods, who turns 32 in April. However, the organization is likely to bring in more established NFL bodies to compete for a job behind Nico Collins and Tank Dell (lower leg). That competition would also include teammate John Metchie, who occupied the spot immediately above Hutchinson on the depth chart in 2023.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Remains involved in playoff win
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Hutchinson caught both of his targets for 12 yards in Saturday's 45-14 wild-card playoff win over the Browns.
Hutchinson received elevated snap counts over the final five weeks of the regular season due to injuries at wideout, but he slipped back to 20 snaps in the playoff win. That was because Robert Woods and Noah Brown returned from injuries. However, Brown left Saturday's game with a shoulder injury, and Woods played fewer snaps (15) than Hutchinson. Wideout availability for this week's matchup will be determined over the course of the week. The Texans will be on the road against Baltimore on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Season-high snap count
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Hutchinson caught one of four targets for six yards in Saturday's 23-19 win over the Colts in Week 18.
Hutchinson played a season-high 36 snaps, as both Noah Brown (back) and Robert Woods (hip) were inactive. While Houston has dealt with wideout injuries all season, the situation reached a critical mass in Week 18. As such, Hutchinson and John Metchie (38 snaps) took on more prominent roles in the passing games behind Nico Collins. As Houston prepares for its first postseason game since 2019, Hutchinson's potential role depends on the health of Brown and Woods.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Drop in snap count
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Hutchinson caught one of two targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 36-22 loss to the Browns.
Hutchinson, who played a season-high 65 snaps last week, was down to 31 in Sunday's game due to the return of Nico Collins from a calf injury. Despite the loss, the Texans remain in the hunt for the AFC South title, as the Colts and Jaguars also lost in Week 16. With something left to play for, that means any banged-up veteran wideouts should continue to keep Hutchinson on the lower end of the depth chart.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Season-high snap count
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Hutchinson did not catch any of his three targets and had one carry for five yards in Sunday's 19-16 overtime win over the Titans.
He was on the field for a season-high 65 snaps, as Houston operated without Nico Collins (calf) and Tank Dell (lower leg). Hutchinson's rush attempt came in the red zone and was the rookie's fifth carry of the season. He was also the target on a couple of deep balls. If Collins is ready to go in Week 16 against the Browns, Hutchinson's playing time will take a hit.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Has big play in loss
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Hutchinson caught his lone target for 34 yards in Sunday's 24-21 loss to Jacksonville in Week 12.
Hutchinson had the Texans' longest play, a 34-yard reception in the fourth quarter to set up a Nico Collins touchdown. The rookie has been more involved the last few weeks as wideouts further up the depth chart have dealt with injuries. He's on the lower end of the target pecking order, but given the surge of Houston's passing offense -- 367 yards per game, 10 touchdowns -- the last four weeks, Hutchinson could grab a few leftovers behind Nico Collins, Tank Dell. Dalton Schultz and Robert Woods.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Keeps running
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Hutchinson did not catch his lone target and had one carry for 17 yards in Sunday's 30-27 win over the Bengals in Week 10.
Hutchinson has received an uptick in usage while injuries have hit Houston's wide receivers the last few weeks, but he's made a bigger name for himself as a runner. For the second consecutive week, Hutchinson was used as a rusher on the opponent's side of the field and lugged the ball inside the 20-yard line. Each drive ended in a Houston touchdown. As the Texans operate without lead back Dameon Pierce, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has involved wideouts in the running attack, including Hutchinson and Tank Dell. Hutchinson has four carries for 44 yards over the last four games.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Available Sunday
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Hutchinson (foot) is active ahead of Sunday's game against the Steelers.
The rookie out of Iowa State was limited during Wednesday's practice, but he was able to log consecutive days of full participation both Thursday and Friday. Hutchinson has a chance to see an uptick in snaps on the Texans' offense with Robert Woods (foot) missing time.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Questionable after full practices
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Hutchinson (foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Hutchinson practiced fully Thursday and Friday after being a limited participant Wednesday, so the rookie is more likely than not to suit up, especially with Houston ruling out another receiver in Robert Woods (foot). Though he played his second-most snaps on offense (12) of the season in the Texans' last game Week 6 versus the Saints, Hutchinson won't necessarily see his role expand coming out of a Week 7 bye. While the Texans will be without Woods, the team will be getting rookie wideout Tank Dell (concussion) back from a one-game absence, leaving Hutchinson no better than fourth in the pecking order at receiver.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Back to practicing in full
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Hutchinson (foot) was a full participant at practice Thursday.
After being limited at practice Wednesday, Hutchinson was able to get back up to full speed Thursday. He's on track to play Sunday at Carolina, and if Robert Woods (foot) is sidelined, Hutchinson could see a slight uptick in playing time in Week 8.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Could see more snaps Sunday
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Hutchinson may see added involvement in the passing game Sunday against the Saints with fellow rookie wideout Tank Dell (concussion) listed as questionable but not expected to play, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Meanwhile, Robert Woods (ribs) is listed as questionable but is expected to play, and Noah Brown (groin) was reinstated from injured reserve Saturday, so the Texans' receiver group is fairly healthy heading into Sunday, despite Dell's anticipated absence. Nico Collins and Woods will serve as the Texans' top two wideouts, but Hutchinson, Brown and John Metchie could all get opportunities to mix into three-receiver sets more than usual with Dell out of the mix. Hutchinson, a sixth-round pick out of Iowa State, has suited up in all five of the Texans' games to date but has drawn just two targets across 31 snaps on offense.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: No run on offense
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Hutchinson played special teams only in Sunday's 37-17 win over Jacksonville.
Hutchinson did not get on the field for the offense for the first time in three games. From comments made by head coach DeMeco Ryans during the preseason, the rookie is still developing consistency, so any impact he may have could come later this season.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Third on depth chart
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Hutchinson is listed third on the depth chart at one wide receiver position for Week 1 against Baltimore.
Hutchinson sits behind fellow 2023 draft pick Tank Dell and starter Nico Collins. The Iowa State product did not develop as quickly as Dell during the preseason, but the 6-foot-3 Hutchinson has the size to be an ideal red zone target.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Leads receivers in finale
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Hutchinson caught four of six targets for a team-high 48 yards in Houston's preseason finale against New Orleans on Sunday.
Hutchinson had moments during the preseason but needs to develop consistency. "That's all we ask for from Hutch is continue to get better, work hard," Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston. "That's what he's been doing, and it showed. It was good to see it finally come to fruition." Hutchinson, a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, earned a spot on the 53-man roster, as did fellow wideout draftee Tank Dell.
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Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Added by Houston
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The Texans selected Hutchinson in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 205th overall.
Hutchinson was projected to be a borderline Day 2 pick by many, so the Texans finally ended his slide. He was a target hog and very productive at Iowa State, highlighted by First Team All-American honors as a senior. Hutchinson doesn't pop off the page with athleticism which contributed to his fall, but he should have the chance to establish himself as a viable possession receiver as a pro.
