(SportsRadio 610) - Texans wide receiver Phillip Dorsett caught his first touchdown in nearly three years in Sunday’s 38-20 loss to the Raiders.
He double-clutched one of the best throws Davis Mills has made in his short time as an NFL quarterback.
Dorsett ran a bench route and saw cover-two, which was a delight.
"And usually when we see cover-two on those routes, Davis is licking his chops," Dorsett said. "Before I even came out of my break, he threw the ball and I seen it and I caught it last minute. The two dudes were collapsing on it, I just tried my best to just catch it. I double-clutched it but I knew it didn’t hit the ground."
That touchdown reception put the Texans ahead 20-17 with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter, but the Raiders overwhelmed the defense on the ground, in the air and defensively thereafter. They scored a touchdown on two straight offensive possessions and returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown.
It’s been a long and winding road for Dorsett, who is in his first full season with the Texans after spending parts of the 2021 season with the Seahawks, Jaguars and Colts practice squads.
Dorsett, a first round selection by the Colts in 2015, never developed into a full-time starter and was traded ahead of the 2017 season to the Patriots in exchange for quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
While in New England, Dorsett played in two Super Bowls, winning one, though he didn’t record a reception in their Super Bowl 53 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Since the conclusion of the 2019 season, Dorsett has bounced around the league with numerous organizations.
The 29-year-old Dorsett signed a one-year contract with the Texans ahead of the 2022 season worth a little over $1 million with $300,000 guaranteed.
Now, for the first time since 2019, Dorsett might have found a team that can utilize his speed and strength of as a route runner, whether they’re going to be forced into it or not.
The Texans may be inclined to give him more time and targets given the trade deadline (Nov. 1) is right around the corner.
Texans leading receiver Brandin Cooks has reportedly been inquired about by multiple teams in a wide receiver trade market that could include the Broncos' Jerry Juedy and the Steelers' Chase Claypool.
Nico Collins went out in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss with a groin injury. His absence leaves the Texans without a deep threat and their biggest playmaker on the season. Collins averages the sixth-best mark in the league at 16.9 yards-per-catch.
"Next man up mentality,” Dorsett said. "That’s been a part of my career, my whole life. You got to be ready. You got to be ready to play X, Z And F and I’m always ready."
While it’s no guarantee the Texans move on from Cooks, who has restructured his contract twice in the last two years, he is their best and most veteran presence in the receiver room next to Dorsett and Chris Moore.
The Texans brought back a familiar face Tuesday, signing receiver Tyron Johnson, who was part of their 2019 training camp but was cut before the season.
Johnson, 26, was cut from the Raiders practice squad this past weekend.
It remains unclear how the Texans receiving corps could look going forward with injuries and potential movement ahead of the trade deadline.
As a corresponding move to make room for Johnson, the Texans waived receiver Tyler Johnson on Tuesday, who had been with the Texans for the past two months and taken just 29 snaps without a target.
On the heels of one of his best games as a pro, Mills looks to have a tough road ahead with a depleted and weakened receiver corps.
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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