Derek

Rivers

Boone joined the Texans on a two-year, $2.4 million contract this offseason but won’t be joining the team in Week 1. Boone was left fighting for backup duty with Devin Singletary and Dare Ogunbowale, and is once again in search of a new home. Boone has rushed for just 137 yards over the last two seasons and is unlikely to see any significant playing time in 2023. In addition to Boone, the Texans also released DE Derek Rivers.

Rivers suffered a torn biceps late into training camp and subsequently missed all of last season. Now back with the team, Rivers will look to secure a spot on the Texans’ 53-man roster this season. A six-year veteran of the league, Rivers lost his rookie season to a torn ACL and has appeared in just 24 games since 2018.

Per Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, Rivers was having a strong camp while aiming to make Houston’s final roster. He bounced between the team’s practice squad and active roster in 2021, appearing in five total games. Rivers earned one sack and a pair of TFLs.

Rivers was New England’s third-round pick in the 2017 draft, logically reuniting with Nick Caserio and Jack Easterby in Houston. He primarily played on special teams upon being poached by the Rams off waivers last year, logging 75 total snaps (17%) with that unit from Week 12 on.

The 83rd overall pick in the 2017 draft, Rivers was the Patriots’ top pick that year but missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL and also missed all of 2019. A plus-plus athlete coming out of Youngstown State, Rivers has just 2.5 career sacks across 14 games. He gets a fresh start in L.A.

Rivers hadn’t played much this season, posting 1.5 sacks and six pressures on 16% of defensive snaps. The 2017 third-rounder will likely be signed to the practice squad if they clear waivers.

Headlined by Cam Newton, the Patriots have had a mini COVID outbreak for a couple of weeks now. It’s confirmed that Michel did test positive, but Mason and Rivers fell in the NFL’s new “high risk close contact” category of the COVID-19 list. The NFL has been aware of the situation and still plans to play Week 6 as scheduled.

Rivers (6’4/248) was a three-year starter and four-year contributor on the Penguins’ D-Line, setting school records in sacks (41) and tackles for loss (56.5) and earning first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference three times. A tight end and linebacker in high school, Rivers’ athleticism showed up in Indy with 80th-percentile SPARQ results and 4.61 speed. It shows up on Rivers’ tape with a freakishly quick get-off and ability to drop into zone coverage. Rivers is making a huge jump in competition and has limited versatility as a left end only out of the FCS, but his motor never stops. Rivers has a chance to develop into a rich man’s Jabaal Sheard.

A four-year starter for small-school Youngstown State, Rivers lit up the Missouri Valley Conference. An exceptional athlete, Rivers is someone who explodes off the ball and can drop back in coverage. His biggest concern is the huge leap in competition.

Rivers injured his left leg or knee during a joint practice with the Texans this week. The fact the Patriots are sending him home for tests suggests the injury could be serious, although the team may just be being careful with a player who was not going to play in the second preseason game anyway. With Rob Ninkovich retired, the Patriots have questions at defensive end.