JORDAN AKINS NEWS

Misses Thursday's practice Akins didn't participate in Thursday's practice session due to an illness.

Impact Akins wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report, but he was unable to participate in practice Thursday. Since he wasn't placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Texans presumably believe that the tight end is dealing with a non-COVID illness. However, his participation Friday should provide some clarity regarding his status for Sunday's matchup against Tennessee.

JANUARY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Goes untargeted in loss Akins was not targeted during Sunday's 23-7 loss to the 49ers.

Impact Akins, who was on the field for just five snaps, has three catches for 30 yards over the seven games since Houston's bye week. He was a healthy scratch in three of those games.

JANUARY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

One snap in win Akins did not catch his lone target and played one snap in Sunday's 41-29 win over the Chargers.

Impact With rookie Brevin Jordan back on the field after not playing the previous week, Akins returned to a minor role, although his one target came in the red zone. It's clear the Texans are developing the rookie, and Akins could be playing out his final days in Houston.

DECEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Steps in for rookie Akins caught two of three targets for 24 yards in Sunday's 30-16 win over Jacksonville.

Impact Akins played 20 snaps, his most since Week 9. Rookie Brevin Jordan, who has supplanted Akins as the top receiving threat at tight end, was active but did not play Sunday after dealing with a hand injury during the practice week. It's been established over the last several weeks that a healthy Jordan is the preferred receiving option and is expected to get more opportunities over the final stretch of the season, so Akins' Week 15 involvement should be regarded as a blip.

DECEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sideline View ' Tyson Campbell steals one from Jordan Akins Watch from the sideline as Tyson Campbell records his 2nd career interception in the NFL.

DECEMBER 19, 2021 • JAGUARS.COM

Minor role in return Akins caught his lone target for six yards in Sunday's 33-13 loss to the Seahawks.

Impact Akins was active for the first time since Week 9, but it did not represent a return to prominence at tight end. He played just 12 snaps, fourth among the five tight ends active for the game. Houston has turned its focus to the development of rookie Brevin Jordan, who caught a touchdown pass and was targeted seven times, so fantasy speculators can forget about Akins.

DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to mix Sunday Akins is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Akins is thus active for the first time since Week 9, and in the process, will provide the Texans with added TE depth Sunday. With Pharaoh Brown and Brevin Jordan also in the mix, however, Akins remains a speculative fantasy option.

DECEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Inactive Sunday Akins (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Colts.

Impact With Akins still the odd man out, the Texans' Week 13 tight end options will be Pharaoh Brown, Brevin Jordan and Antony Auclair.

DECEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Won't suit up Sunday Akins (coach's decision) will not play Sunday against the Jets.

Impact Akins will be passed over for a second straight week in favor of Pharaoh Brown, Antony Auclair, and rookie Brevin Jordan. The 2018 third-round selection will try to earn a chance to get back on the field for Week 13 against the Colts.

NOVEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Inactive in Week 11 Akins is inactive for Sunday's game against the Titans, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic reports.

Impact Akins is the odd man out in the Texans' tight end mix Sunday, with Pharaoh Brown back in action. Also on hand to handle Week 11 snaps at the position are Antony Auclair and rookie Brevin Jordan.

NOVEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Catches all five targets Akins caught five receptions for 53 yards on five targets against the Rams on Sunday.

Impact Akins was efficient with his workload, but the five targets marks just the third time in 2021 that Akins drew more than two targets in a game, and his usage Sunday was possibly boosted by the absence of starting tight end Pharaoh Brown (thigh). Not just that, but rookie fifth-round pick Brevin Jordan saw four targets of his own and caught three for 41 yards and one touchdown. Jordan is the same type of tight end as Akins -- a slightly undersized pass-catching specialist -- so if Jordan should emerge further it could occur at Akins' expense. The Texans face Miami in Week 9.

OCTOBER 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Secures two catches in loss Akins caught both of his targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 31-5 loss to the Cardinals.

Impact Akins finished second among tight ends, behind Pharaoh Brown, who had three catches for 11 yards. The Texans' offense has been shut down the last weeks, having scored just eight points in losses to Indianapolis and Arizona. The last Houston touchdown was early in the third quarter of Week 5. There's a chance Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) returns Week 8 against the Rams, which could provide a boost to Akins and the other pass-catchers.

OCTOBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

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OCTOBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Season-high targets in loss Akins caught four of six targets for 41 yards in Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Colts.

Impact This was Akins' most productive game of 2021 and he moved up the target list, tying David Johnson at 18 for the season, second behind Brandin Cooks at 57. Akins and Pharaoh Brown have operated as co-leaders at tight end, altering from week to week as a target leader for the position group, but Akins is considered the better receiving threat. Unfortunately, rookie quarterback Davis Mills is not helping either player's value.

OCTOBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Logs two catches in loss Akins caught two of two targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 25-22 loss to the Patriots.

Impact Akins leads Houston's tight ends in targets (12) and catches (eight), but there's not a lot of fantasy value coming from the team's passing game in general. Fellow tight ends Pharaoh Brown and Antony Auclair share the load while currently playing with an inconsistent rookie quarterback in Davis Mills.

OCTOBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 5

The Carolina Panthers’ defense started the season hot, but were a little less scary last week against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys

OCTOBER 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texans shoot blanks; embarrassed after 40-0 loss to Bills

Rookie quarterback Davis Mills and the Houston Texans were left embarrassed in a 40-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills

OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tallies four catches in loss Akins brought in four of five targets for 32 yards in the Texans' 24-9 loss to the Panthers on Thursday night.

Impact The fourth-year tight end came into the game with just one reception for 17 yards through the first pair of contests, but Akins end up tied for second in catches with Anthony Miller on the Texans for the night. The Central Florida product was a safety valve for rookie quarterback Davis Mills, and given that the third-round pick is likely to continue operating a more conservative offense than veteran Tyrod Taylor (IR-hamstring) would, Akins could be busy again in a Week 4 road matchup against the Bills on Sunday, Oct. 3.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 3

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Makes first catch Akins caught one of two targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 31-21 loss to Cleveland.

Impact Akins' catch was his first of the season. He and Pharaoh Brown each played 38 snaps, but neither played a significant role in the passing game. Brown had been banged up entering the game and Houston also lost tight end Antony Auclair to an eye injury. Pending the health of those two heading into Thursday's game against Carolina, Akins could be in line for increased snaps and targets.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Targeted twice in win Akins did not catch either of his two targets in Sunday's 37-21 win over the Jaguars.

Impact Akins played a surprisingly subordinate role in the passing game to Pharoah Brown, who caught four of five targets for 67 yards. The one saving grace is that both or Akins' targets were in the red zone.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 1

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Makes lone preseason catch Akins caught one of two targets for nine yards in Saturday's 23-16 loss to Tampa Bay in preseason Week 3.

Impact Akins, who had just one catch during preseason action, should be considered the Texans' top pass-catching tight end, ahead of 2021 fifth-round draft pick Brevin Jordan. The question remains, however, are pass-catching tight ends valuable for an offense that will attempt to run the ball more than it did in 2020. Given that Houston is not expected to be competitive this season, thereby playing from behind, Akins should generate fantasy interest.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Records no stats Saturday Akins was not targeted during Saturday's 20-14 win over the Cowboys in preseason Week 2.

Impact Akins made his preseason debut but did not start, per Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle. That honor went to Pharaoh Brown, who also made his preseason debut. The tight end position group was largely invisible, as only rookie Brevin Jordan was targeted (twice) and had one catch for seven yards. Akins and Brown are one-two atop the depth chart, but if the Texans rely heavily on the ground game --which is the consensus -- then Brown is the more favored blocker of the two.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to practice Akins (leg) returned to practice Monday, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Akins missed four practices and the preseason opener while dealing with muscle tightness in his leg. He's a clear favorite to lead Houston tight ends in targets this season, but he may not have the blocking chops for a three-down role, which in turn would cap his volume ceiling as a pass catcher. The Texans also have blockers Pharaoh Brown and Ryan Izzo competing for TE snaps, in addition to the more receiving-focused guys like Akins, Kahale Warring, Anthony Auclair and rookie fifth-round pick Brevin Jordan.

AUGUST 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE