Teagan

Quitoriano

Collins went from being day-to-day to week-to-week to missing a minimum of four games in just a few days. It’s a tough blow for the Texans and the NFL’s leading receiver, as Collins won’t be eligible to return until Week 10 at the earliest. Collins has totaled a league-high 567 receiving yards this season, while his 17.7 YPR ranks third in the league amongst receivers who have seen at least 30 targets. His absence will create a target boon for both Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, and will put Dell in the weekly conversation as a top-24 play in fantasy. In a corresponding move, the Texans have signed tight end Teagan Quitoriano from the Bears’ practice squad.

Houston let Quitoriano go at last cuts with an injury settlement, so now that he’s healthy it’s not a surprise to see the two sides link up again. He was a 2022 fifth-round pick for Houston and played 481 snaps his first two seasons. He’ll mostly be a blocking tight end for Houston.

Patterson was carted off in Week 8, leaving QB C.J. Stroud out a starter on the Texans’ offensive line. Backup Michael Dieter will likely take over at center. TE Teagan Quitoriano (groin) was also placed on injured reserve.

The second-year tight end provided the Texans with six starts in his rookie season and returns to a once again crowded tight end room. He spent time on injured reserve to start the 2022 season and began camp on the physically unable to perform list. Quitoriano is currently listed second on the team’s depth chart but the Texans also added three able bodies through free agency in presumed starter Dalton Schultz, Eric Tomlinson and Nick Vannett. The tight end depth chart remains murky, at best, leaving this a situation to largely stay away from outside of Schultz.

In the process, he created 73 percent of his yardage on the season. Quitoriano caught a 52-yard seam ball to account for most of this, and also was wide open on the sideline for another long-ish catch. Quitoriano caught a pair of goal-line touchdowns this year but is more of a blocking tight end. The sixth-round pick may enter the offseason as Houston’s No. 1 tight end by default as his snap counts were trending up after a preseason IR stint. He’s not fantasy-useful at the moment, but he’s young enough to change that if the right structure is placed around him.

The rookie tight end has started 5-of-8 games for the Texans since returning from IR in Week 9. With Quitoriano sidelined, Jordan Akins and Brevin Jordan will see increased snaps this week.

The fifth-round rookie won the Texans’ No. 3 tight end job over veteran blocking TE Antony Auclair. Getting placed on IR means Quitoriano will miss at least the first four weeks. Houston may look to re-sign Auclair after Week 1.

Dane Brugler notes that Quitoriano “shows the promise of an NFL combination tight end because of his size and toughness as a pass-catcher and blocker, but he struggled to show playmaking skills in either area on tape.” He had just 40 catches for 512 yards in his college career in Oregon, and figures to not threaten Brevin Jordan and Pharaoh Brown on the Texans depth chart in his rookie season.

Less than 24 hours after the Beavers season concluded with a loss to Utah State in the LA Bowl, Quitoriano (6'6/256) made the announcement he will prepare for the upcoming draft. He missed Oregon State’s bowl game after having surgery two weeks prior. Quitoriano was not a significant factor in the passing game during his collegiate tenure and he should be looked at as more of a pass-blocking tight end.

The Beavers will begin fall camp without their projected starter at tight end, as Quitoriano (6'6/256) injured his foot while running routes this summer. The hope is that the redshirt senior, who caught 14 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown last season, will be good to go by the third week of fall camp. The good news for Oregon State is that they don’t lack for depth at tight end, as Luke Musgrave will also figure prominently in the team’s plans. Also fighting for reps will be freshmen Jake Overman and Tommy Spencer. Quitoriano’s absence means that Musgrave will begin camp atop the depth chart.