HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- In his third NFL season since becoming a fourth-round draft pick by the Texans, wide receiver Keke Coutee had not found a consistent role in the offense.
The potential was there. In 2018, Coutee's rookie season, his 11 catches in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts were the most receptions in a debut since the AFL-NFL merger.
Coutee was also a bright spot in the Texans' playoff loss to the Colts later that season with another 11 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.
But in his second and third seasons, Coutee has often been either injured or a healthy scratch.
Whether it was poor route running, or not grasping the offense well enough, or issues with ball security, there always seemed to be a reason to put Coutee on the bench.
“I refer it to some as trials and tribulations," Coutee said Sunday after a team-high eight catches for 141 yards, including a 64-yard reception which set up the Texans' first touchdown in their 26-20 loss to the Colts. "Things happen for a reason. I learned from that, and I've just been waiting to play since that Week 2 game. Ever since then, I've continued to grind, keep my head down and just continued to work hard.”
Coutee's inconsistency, and obvious doubt from former head coach-general manager Bill O'Brien, led to the Texans signing veteran slot receiver Randall Cobb to a three-year, $27 million deal this offseason.
The idea was to provide Deshaun Watson with a reliable slot receiver, which Cobb has been throughout his career. He's also helped mentor Coutee.
But as Watson said after Sunday's loss, he believes in Coutee.
"That's the biggest thing for me as a confidence guy, they already know whenever they step on the field, regardless if it's practice or it's a game, I'm going to treat you like a starter," Watson said when asked about Coutee and wide receiver Chad Hansen, who was called up from the practice squad and had 101 receiving yards on five catches. "I'm not trying to target just one person. Whoever is open, I'm going through my reads, being that quarterback, and I'm going to give you an opportunity to make a play. For me, I expect you to make that play, just like they expect me to make every throw and every play.
"That's the standard."
Texans coaches have explained Coutee's lack of play as a matter of "numbers game" with others playing ahead of him.
They even let DeAndre Carter return kicks and punts instead of Coutee.
Now, with Will Fuller suspended, Carter waived and Cobb injured, that numbers game is playing in Coutee's favor.