Newcomer DeAndre Carter could be the Texans new punt returner, after the team released third-year player Tyler Ervin last week. Head coach Bill O'Brien said Carter would be the "prime candidate" to return punts among other players on the Texans roster.
"We evaluate guys all the time," head coach Bill O'Brien said Monday. "Tyler did a lot of good things for us, great guy, very coachable guy. Just felt like, at the end of the day, we just try to make decisions in the best interest of the team and that was a good move for right now. Just like everything else, you never know. A lot of these guys, you end up seeing back here at some point. I thought it was a chance for us, (general manager) Brian (Gaine) and I, we saw a guy out there on the wire Carter that had had some success doing some of those things so we decided to make that move."
Carter saw action in seven games this season for the Philadelphia Eagles, before the Texans claimed him off waivers prior to their Week 10 bye. The former Sacramento State standout logged 10 punt returns for 103 yards, including a 43-yard return at Tennessee on Sept. 30. He also added 204 return yards on 10 kickoffs. Carter spent time on the 49ers, Patriots and Raider practice squads from 2015 to 2017.
The first-year wide receiver could make his debut for the Texans on Sunday when the team travels to Washington for their Week 11 matchup. Kickoff is set for 12 noon CT on CBS and SportsRadio 610.
