81 Kahale Warring TE

Warring was not targeted and played seven snaps in Houston's season-ending loss to the Titans on Sunday.

Warring saw his first NFL action in 2020 after spending his rookie 2019 season on injured reserve. The Texans like his athleticism -- he was selected in the third round of the 2019 draft -- but he struggled to pick up the offense and played just 52 snaps over seven games. He's under contract through 2022, but a new general manager and head coach may not see the same value that a previous regime did. The Texans also have veterans Jordan Akins and Darren Fells under contract for 2021, so there may be little opportunity for Warring if he is retained next season.

Warring caught two of two targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Colts.

Warring made his first catches in the NFL, including a nice 23-yard grab in tight quarters. "He ran good routes," quarterback Deshaun Watson told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle about Warring. "He's strong with the ball in his hands. He's a guy you have to continue to get reps with and build confidence." The second-year tight end has struggled to pick up the offense, but he hasn't played all that much, so the Texans may try to integrate him more over the final two weeks.

Warring is not getting much playing time because he's still learning the offense, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.

With the Texans out of playoff contention, the final three games might be a good time to feed Warring, a 2019 third-round draft pick. He missed his entire rookie season while on injured reserve and hasn't been given much opportunity in the three weeks since being added to the active roster. "I think he's a good, young talent," interim head coach Romeo Crennel said. "He's got size (6-5, 252), strength, and he wants to try to be good. He's still learning, and that's the thing you notice. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it could be better." Crennel's comments suggest Warring is still figuring out the offense and needs to avoid mental errors.

Warring did not catch his only target in six snaps during Sunday's 26-20 loss to Indianapolis.

Warring did not see a big uptick in playing time after Pharaoh Brown left the game with a concussion. Instead, the Texans allotted more snaps to Jordan Akins (45), while Warring was on the field for only six plays. In the two weeks since coming off injured reserve, Warring has zero catches on two targets over 10 snaps.

Warring played four offensive snaps and was targeted once in Thursday's 41-25 win over Detroit.

The Texans dressed four tight ends and threw just 25 times, limiting opportunities for Warring and the rest of the position group. Houston's tight ends were targeted just three times, the group's second fewest of the season. This was just the second game in two seasons for Warring, who has been dogged by injuries since Houston selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft. As the postseason is unlikely, interim head coach Romeo Crennel may want to experiment and see more of Warring in the final five weeks.

The Texans activated Warring (undisclosed) from injured reserve Monday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Warring will join Jordan Akins, Darren Fells and Pharaoh Brown as the Texans' tight ends. Warring shapes up as the No. 3 out of the bunch, but it's unlikely that he takes any passing-down work from Akins or Fells.

The Texans are expected to activate Warring (undisclosed) from injured reserve before Week 12, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Warring has resided on IR since Week 1, as he dealt with a setback in October but seems poised to return soon. The 2019 second-round pick will usurp Pharaoh Brown as the No. 3 tight end upon return, while Warring's on offense will be minimal behind Jordan Akins and Darren Fells.

Warring (undisclosed) was designated to return from injured reserve Monday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 23-year-old has been on injured reserve since suffering the unspecified injury in the season opener, and the Texans now have a 21-day practice window to activate him. Warring could return for Sunday's game at Jacksonville if he shows well enough in practice this week.

Coach Romeo Crennel said Wednesday that he doesn't anticipate evaluating Warring (undisclosed) for a return from IR until after the Texans' Week 8 bye, Drew Dougherty of the Texans' official site reports.

Warring has been eligible to return from IR since early October, but it doesn't look as though he's yet close to fully recovering from his undisclosed injury. The Texans will hope to get the second-year tight end back sometime in November.

Coach Bill O'Brien said Monday that Warring (undisclosed) could return from IR soon, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

O'Brien didn't state a specific timeline, but Warring can start practicing Wednesday and is eligible to return this Sunday against the Jaguars. If he does get cleared to play, he may enjoy a heightened role if top tight end Jordan Akins (concussion) is unavailable.

Coach Bill O'Brien said Wednesday that Warring (undisclosed) has "a couple of things going on injury-wise" and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official site reports.

The Texans will take another look at Warring once he's eligible to return from IR in three weeks. The exact nature and severity of the second-year tight end's injuries remain undisclosed.

The Texans placed Warring (undisclosed) on injured reserve Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It's unclear what Warring is dealing with, but he won't be eligible to return until Week 5. The Texans activated Pharaoh Brown to serve as the No. 3 TE going forward.

Warring made the Texans' 53-man roster, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Warring survived roster cut-down day while Jordan Thomas did not. He sat out his entire rookie season with a concussion, but the 6-foot-5 tight end with 4.67 speed in the 40-yard dash intrigues the Texans.

Coach Bill O'Brien said Tuesday that Warring (hamstring) "has improved and is a good route runner," Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official site reports.

Warring missed a handful of practices due to a hamstring injury earlier this month, but he looked good upon retaking the field Tuesday. The 2019 third-round pick spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve, but his 4.61 speed makes him an intriguing developmental option in Houston's crowded tight end corps.

Warring hasn't been practicing with the team due to a mild hamstring injury, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Head coach Bill O'Brien said Warring is "a little sore," and he doesn't expect the second-year tight end to miss much time. Warring -- a 2019 third-round pick -- has tough competition ahead to secure playing time in a tight end group featuring Darren Fells, Jordan Akins and Jordan Thomas, so it's positive news that he should return to the field sooner rather than later. With a plethora of pass-catchers in Houston, Warring will need to carve out a role by proving his run-blocking abilities.

Warring has been working out with Deshaun Watson and other teammates, including Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb and Keke Coutee, John McClain of The Houston Chronicle reports.

A 2019 third-round pick with 4.61 speed, Warring suffered a hamstring injury and a concussion last August, ultimately spending his entire rookie season on injured reserve. He's presumably been healthy for a while now, preparing to compete for snaps in a tight end room that also includes Darren Fells, Jordan Akins and Jordan Thomas. The tough competition for targets extends to wide receiver, where the Texans have Cooks, and Cobb alongside Will Fuller and Kenny Stills. The 6-foot-5, 252-pound Warring fits the TE prototype in terms of size and speed, but he wasn't especially productive at San Diego State (51-637-8 career receiving line) and doesn't have a clear path to steady volume in 2020.

Warring (concussion) spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve, but he regularly attended meetings and watched practices, John McClain of The Houston Chronicle reports.

The third-round pick caught just 51 passes in three seasons at San Diego State, eventually vaulting to Day 2 of the 2019 draft on the basis of his impressive workout numbers, including a 4.61 40-yard dash and 36.5-inch vertical (at 6-5, 252 pounds). Warring then suffered a hamstring injury and a concussion in mid-August, and he was placed on injured reserve a few weeks later. He likely regained his health at some point during the season, but an IR stash was rather convenient for the Texans. With Warring, Jordan Akins (hamstring) and Jordan Thomas all under contract for at least two more seasons, it isn't clear if the team will make an honest effort to re-sign Darren Fells, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March and will then celebrate his 34th birthday in April.

Warring (concussion) wasn't participating at practice Wednesday, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic reports.

Warring is now eligible to resume practicing for a potential return off injured reserve but he has yet to retake the field. It's unclear if the 22-year-old has cleared the concussion protocol since landing on IR prior to Week 1.

The Texans placed Warring (concussion) on injured reserve Monday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Warring has been contending with a concussion since training camp, which held him out of all preseason action. With this move, he likely hasn't made many strides in the protocol for head injuries in the meantime. Both Warring and Jordan Thomas (ribs) were put on IR, which forced the Texans to ink veteran Logan Paulsen to bolster the tight end ranks.

Coach Bill O'Brien said Friday that Warring remains in the concussion protocol, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Warring suffered the concussion a couple weeks ago and has yet to clear the league-mandated protocol for head injuries. The rookie third-round pick was unable to play in any preseason games and has no clear timetable for return.