HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have had a resurgence with their offense over the last two games by averaging 35.5 points, and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett played an unsung prominent role in its revival.
Dorsett became a dependable option for rookie quarterback Davis Mills in the passing game, as he averaged 50.0 yards on five catches during the Texans’ two-game win streak.
But during Houston’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Dorsett’s season came to an unexpected end due to an ankle injury he sustained midway through the third quarter. Houston placed Dorsett on injured reserve and his on-field contributions will be missed.
“People already know that Phillip is a fast guy, but he is more than a speedy receiver,” Texans’ wide receiver coach Robert Prince said. “He understands concepts. The first game he was up, we had to play him in spots he did not practice, and he was spot on. We will miss his speed out there, but we are excited about having him in this program moving forward.”
Prince said the best characteristic of Dorsett is his ability to line up in all three receiver spots — which makes the Texans’ passing game more dynamic.
With Dorsett out for the final two games of the 2021 season, his absence could leave the Texans a bit thin at slot receiver. The Texans originally signed Dorsett as a contingency plan after Danny Amendola sustained a knee injury that left the 35-year-old slot receiver on injured reserve.
The Texans elevated Amendola to the active roster on Saturday, but his return may have to wait one more week after landing on Houston’s COVID reserve list ahead of their Week 17 match against the 8-7 San Francisco 49ers.
Dorsett began the season as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars before signing with the Seattle Seahawks in September. In November, Dorsett asked the Seahawks for his release and had a desire to reunite with Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio.
“Nick and I had a good relationship in New England — I knew once I asked for my release from Seattle that I would have a chance to be able to come,” Dorsett said. “Once he offered me the chance to come, I ran with it because I believe in him. I think that he has a great eye for talent, and he has a great football mind. I think he’s going to be able to do great things here if he gets the right pieces together, and that’s the reason I wanted to be here.”
