16 Keke Coutee WR

Coutee may be on the roster bubble after the Texans signed Randall Cobb and traded for Brandin Cooks during the offseason, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic reports.

The combination of Cooks and Cobb is no match for DeAndre Hopkins in terms of quality, but the two-in, one-out offseason plan creates a tougher numbers game further down the depth chart. While a trade could eventually free up the logjam, Houston's current roster construction hints at Coutee and DeAndre Carter competing for the fifth wide receiver spot, behind Cooks, Cobb, Will Fuller and Kenny Stills, in some uncertain order. Carter worked ahead of Coutee late last season, even serving as Houston's No. 3 receiver when Fuller missed a wild-card playoff game.

Coutee's path to seeing regular work out of the slot in 2020 appears to have taken a hit after the Texans signed Randall Cobb to a three-year, $27 million deal last week, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic reports.

While he won't be anything close to a one-for-one replacement for DeAndre Hopkins, Cobb in combination with fellow wideouts Will Fuller and Kenny Stills and newly acquired running back David Johnson are currently in line to pick up most of the targets that became available when the four-time Pro Bowler was dealt to Arizona. That leaves Coutee as no better than the No. 4 receiver on the depth chart, and when the three players ahead of him in the pecking order are all available, he could be at risk of being a healthy inactive due to his inability to contribute on special teams, After flashing some promise as a rookie, Coutee has since moved into coach Bill O'Brien's doghouse and could probably use a fresh start elsewhere.

Coutee dressed but did not play in Sunday's 51-31 divisional-round playoff loss to the Chiefs.

Coutee finished out the season being a healthy inactive or a DNP in six of the final eight games, including both postseason contests. A promising, if injury-marred rookie season turned sour in 2019, as head coach Bill O'Brien lost confidence in the Texas Tech product. Coutee finished with 22 catches (36 targets) and rushed for a touchdown. He has another two years remaining on his contract, but the Texans will return all of their current crop of wideouts except DeAndre Carter. That leaves Coutee as a fourth wideout at best entering the offseason.

Coutee was on the active roster for Saturday's playoff game against the Bills but did not play.

Will Fuller V (groin) was inactive, but Coutee watched DeAndre Carter (55 snaps, 80 percent) handle the third wideout role in Houston's playoff victory. It was the seventh time in the last 10 games that Coutee did not play, including three games in which he suited up but did not get off the bench. The Texans are hopeful Fuller will be available for next Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Chiefs in Kansas City.

Coutee (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Buccaneers.

With Will Fuller (hamstring) active, Coutee will be relegated to the bench for a second consecutive week as the Texans will have just four wide receivers -- DeAndre Hopkins, Fuller, Kenny Stills and DeAndre Carter -- available Saturday in a pivotal postseason-clinching chance against the Buccaneers.

Coutee (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans.

While Will Fuller (hamstring) was sidelined in the Week 14 loss to Denver, Coutee handled a regular role in three-receiver sets, playing 71 percent of the offensive snaps and finishing with five catches for 68 yards on eight targets. Unfortunately, the second-year wideout's otherwise strong stat line was blemished by a lost fumble that Denver returned for a touchdown. With Fuller back in action Sunday, the Texans will keep return man DeAndre Carter active as their fourth receiver over Coutee, who doesn't contribute on special teams.

Coutee caught five of eight targets for 68 yards and lost a fumble in Sunday's 38-24 loss to the Broncos.

Coutee's fumble was a costly one, as it was returned for a touchdown by Denver's defense. He finished second to DeAndre Hopkins in receiving yards, coming up four yards short of his Week 5 season high. Depending on how the coaching staff views his fumble, Coutee is in danger of being relegated to a healthy scratch, which was the case in the two games preceding this one.

Coutee is active for Sunday's game against the Broncos after being a healthy scratch the last two weeks, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Coutee will re-enter the mix Sunday, with Will Fuller out with a hamstring injury. He figures to work behind DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills, a context that makes Coutee a Week 14 dart in PPR formats.

Coutee could see regular work alongside DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills in three-receiver sets Sunday against the Broncos with Will Fuller (questionable, hamstring) considered unlikely to play, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

A healthy inactive the past two weeks following Fuller's return to the lineup, Coutee should get the opportunity to dress in Week 14 after Fuller's hamstring issue nagged him in practices Wednesday through Friday. While DeAndre Carter suited up ahead of Coutee the past two weeks, his main value to Houston comes on special teams. Coutee represents an upgrade from Carter in the slot, so the second-year wideout should have a chance to put himself back on the map in what's been a disappointing campaign. With the Broncos likely to have top cornerback Chris Harris trailing Hopkins for most of the day, Stills and Coutee could end up drawing more targets than expected.

Coutee (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's night's game against the Patriots.

Now that Will Fuller is back in the mix, it looks like it's going to take an injury to either DeAndre Hopkins, Fuller or Kenny Stills for Coutee to find his way back on to the Texans' active list.

Coutee (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Colts.

Will Fuller's (hamstring) return from a three-game absence looks like it will be enough to bump Coutee to the inactive list, as Houston will go with four wideouts in Week 12. Though Coutee played 44 offensive snaps to DeAndre Carter's four in Sunday's loss to Baltimore, the latter's standing as the team's top return man allowed him to maintain an active status over Coutee.

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson said he's pleased to see Coutee back on the field following a two-game benching, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Coutee had a rough stretch during which he dropped a pass that was intercepted in a loss to the Colts and committed mental mistakes that prompted a benching for Weeks 8 and 9. Following the bye week and a good week of practice, Coutee was back on the field for Week 11's loss to Baltimore, when he caught three passes for 25 yards. "It's always good to get Keke back out there and get his confidence up," said Watson, who has connected with Coutee for 16 receptions and 179 yards on 25 targets. "You just kind of make sure that he's staying along, staying encouraged and that's what we've been doing. He's definitely going to help us out as we make this run." With Will Fuller (hamstring) questionable for Thursday's matchup against Indianapolis, Coutee is expected to fill the third wideout role behind DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills.

Houston head coach Bill O'Brien said Coutee had done a good job of paying greater attention to detail this week in practice leading up to Sunday's loss to the Ravens, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Coutee caught three passes for 25 yards Sunday, his first game action since a Week 7 loss to the Colts. It was during that loss to Indianapolis that Coutee had a costly drop and landed himself in the doghouse. The reason for Coutee's two-game benching was not clear until O'Brien's post-game admission. His good week of practice puts Coutee back to third on the depth chart, ahead of DeAndre Carter, as the Texans prepare for a Thursday night showdown at home against the Colts. Coutee's relevance will last as long as Will Fuller (hamstring) remains out.

Coutee secured all three of his targets for 25 yards in the Texans' 41-7 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.

Coutee served as the clear No. 3 receiver Sunday with Will Fuller's (hamstring) absence bumping Kenny Stills up to the No. 2 role once again and DeAndre Carter not seeing a target in the contest. Coutee's numbers were modest, however, and he's surpassed 39 receiving yards in just one game this season. The slot receiver will look to put up better numbers against the Colts in a Week 12 Thursday night matchup, but he'll bump down to the No. 4 spot, at minimum, whenever Fuller returns to action.

Coach Bill O'Brien said Friday that Coutee "did a good job" in the Texans' practices this week, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

O'Brien didn't clarify how that comment relates to his plans for Coutee in Sunday's game against the Ravens, but the second-year wideout would seem to have a good shot at avoiding an inactive status for the third contest in a row. In addition to his apparently positive work in practice, Coutee is aided by the fact that fellow receiver Will Fuller (hamstring) is listed as questionable for the game. Even if Fuller is ultimately ruled out, Coutee would likely rank no better than fourth in the pecking order at receiver behind starters DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills and slot specialist DeAndre Carter.

Coutee dressed but did not play in Sunday's 26-3 win over the Jaguars.

This is the second straight week that Coutee dressed but did not get off the sideline. The 2018 fourth-round draft pick has dropped out of the offense without warning. DeAndre Carter has moved ahead of him on the depth chart and is serving as the third wideout while Will Fuller (hamstring) is sidelined.

Coutee dressed but did not play in Sunday's 27-24 win over Oakland in Week 8.

Coutee was a beneficiary of playing time when Will Fuller (hamstring) was removed from Week 7's loss to the Colts, so it was surprising to see DeAndre Carter get those snaps a week later. There has been no indication of an injury on Coutee's part. Unless the team clarifies the situation, the assumption should be that Carter is the No. 3 wideout while Fuller remains sidelined.

Coutee caught three of five targets for 25 yards and rushed for a four-yard touchdown in Sunday's 30-23 loss to Indianapolis in Week 7.

With Kenny Stills returning from a two-week absence due to a hamstring injury, Coutee was headed back to fourth on the depth chart, but he benefited from Will Fuller's hamstring injury on the first series of the game. Coutee primarily plays the slot, so he's not a direct 1-for-1 replacement for Fuller. That role goes to Kenny Stills whenever Fuller is injured. The touchdown was Coutee's first of the season.

Coutee caught four of six targets for 39 yards in Sunday's 31-24 win over the Chiefs in Week 6.

With Kenny Stills (hamstring) unavailable for a second straight week, Coutee played a season-high 47 snaps in the win. He's caught seven of 10 targets for 111 yards as the fill-in No. 3 wideout. As the Texans prepare for a Week 7 meeting with the division-rival Colts, Wednesday's practice session will provide the first read as to whether Coutee or Stills will be third option behind DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.

Coutee is expected to serve as the Texans' No. 3 receiver Sunday against the Chiefs with Kenny Stills (hamstring) on track to sit out the contest, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

While Stills sat out the Week 5 win over the Falcons, Coutee acted as his main replacement and logged 72 yards on four targets. Coutee could be in line for a similar role Sunday in what should be a high-scoring contest.