The Texans aren’t done tinkering their cornerback group. After trading for Gareon Conley from the Oakland Raiders and placing Phillip Gaines on the injured reserve (ankle), Houston is working out veteran cornerback E.J. Gaines, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Gaines, 27, was released by the Buffalo Bills in mid-August after they placed him on injured reserve for a core muscle surgery. He signed a one-year deal with the team.
The then-St. Louis Rams selected Gaines in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Missouri. He spent three years with the team before being traded to the Bills.
In 2017, with Buffalo, Gaines played and started in 11 games. In doing so, he reeled in an interception and nine pass deflections. Pro Football Focus thought highly of the same season. They gave him an 80.6 coverage grade and 0.77 yards per coverage snap, good for 17th and ninth in the NFL, respectively.
Gaines spent one season with the Browns before returning to the Bills. He played in six games for Cleveland.
Gaines has struggled with injuries throughout his career. He has not played a full season in the NFL and missed all of 2015 with a Lisfranc injury. Nonetheless, he has 38 career starts and is reportedly healthy.
