@Browns
The Texans have traded for Browns running back Duke Johnson.
The #Texans traded a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft that can become a third-rounder to the #Browns for Duke Johnson, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 8, 2019
The Texans had just Lamar Miller on the roster who had significant NFL carries. Johnson was unhappy and had made it clear he would like to play for another team. The compensation is minimal when you consider Johnson is a solid compliment to Miller and under contract for two seasons after this.
Johnson accounted for 630 total yards and three touchdowns last year for the Browns. He averaged five yards per carry and nine yards per reception. Johnson had 47 catches last year while the Texans had 50 catches from all their running backs. In fact, Johnson would have been behind DeAndre Hopkins in receptions on the team last year.
🚨 Duke Johnson heads to Houston!
Johnson's career receiving grade (90.9) ranks fifth among running backs with at least 100 targets dating back to 2015. https://t.co/qHSmqjjMq8
— PFF (@PFF) August 8, 2019
Johnson also ranks 2nd in forced missed tackles per reception (0.34), 7th in yards per route run (1.73) and 4th in percentage of receptions resulting in a first down or touchdown (44.0%). pic.twitter.com/XxCHQnBRvT
— PFF (@PFF) August 8, 2019
Duke Johnson the past two seasons combined (played all 32 games) in RB receiving rankings:
Yards - 5th
Targets - 6th
Receptions - 6th
Touchdowns - 9th
— Cody Stoots (@Cody_Stoots) August 8, 2019
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Astros stumble again as Braves complete gut-wrenching series sweep
Apr 17, 2024, 4:51 pm
Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will make his season debut Friday night at the Washington Nationals.
Houston manager Joe Espada made the announcement Wednesday.
“Getting him back is huge because it brings a level of confidence to our team, a boost of confidence that we’re going to get someone who’s been an MVP, a Cy Young (winner) on the mound,” Espada said. “It's (good) for the morale and to get stuff started and moving in the right direction.”
The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder. He made two rehabilitation starts, the first for Triple-A Sugar Land on April 7 before Saturday’s start for Double-A Corpus Christi.
Espada wouldn't say how many pitches the 41-year-old would be limited to but said they'll keep an eye on his workload.
“We've got to be careful how hard we push him early,” Espada said. “I know he’s going to want to go and stay out there and give us an opportunity to win, but we've got to be cautious of how hard we push him early in the season.”
Verlander wasn’t thrilled with the results in his rehabilitation starts, but he said Monday that those games were valuable in getting him prepared to come off the IL.
He allowed seven hits and six runs — five earned — in four innings against Frisco on Saturday. He struck out three, walked one and threw 51 of 77 pitches for strikes.
Verlander allowed six earned runs and struck out six while pitching into the fourth inning for Sugar Land on April 7.
The Astros have gotten off to a tough start with Verlander and fellow starters Framber Valdez and José Urquidy on the injured list. They enter Wednesday's games last in the AL West with a 6-13 record.
Espada hopes Verlander can be the boost the team needs to get on track.
“It’s good to get him back in the rotation,” Espada said. “With what he means to this club just to get him back on track, getting some innings from him (to) build our rotation with the pieces that we need to move forward is exciting.”