The Houston Texans had a welcome surprise from receivers Keke Coutee and Chad Hansen in Week 13’s 26-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
In the wake of receiver Will Fuller’s six-game suspension and receiver Randall Cobb being placed on injured reserve with a toe injury, Coutee stepped up with eight catches for 141 yards. Additionally, Hansen provided five catches for 101 yards.
Though Coutee and Hansen are getting the credit this week, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly includes Steven Mitchell in that group, though the undrafted free agent from USC played just six offensive snaps and was not targeted.
“I think that’s a testament to really those two and Steven Mitchell,” Kelly said. “Those guys did a great job, even before last week, of coming and preparing like they were going to play, so if a situation arose and they had to come and their number was going to be called, they were going to be ready.”
With the Texans already struggling to run the football, there were some concerns as to how Houston would be able to keep drives alive with Fuller and Cobb sidelined. However, Coutee and Hansen were able to meet the challenge and keep the Texans’ passing game as potent as before.
What helped was the work ethic that the receivers displayed behind the scenes, in practice, in training camp, and in offseason workouts with Deshaun Watson that developed cohesion with the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
Said Kelly: “They had already earned the trust of Deshaun to be able to go out there and make plays. Really, I was proud as hell of all three of those guys for them being able to come in and make those plays and really not skip a beat there as an offense.”
Hansen and Mitchell reverted back to the practice squad after Week 13. However, they could be called up again as the Texans take on the Chicago Bears Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Soldier Field.
