JORDAN AKINS NEWS

Nearing return Akins (leg) is close to returning to practice, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson reports.

Impact Akins has been dealing with muscle tightness in his leg since Wednesday, and he's been held out of practice since then. The tight end also missed Saturday's preseason opener against Green Bay. Coach David Culley is optimistic that the 29-year-old's injury isn't serious, but a better idea of his status likely will be revealed once he's able to increase his activity level.

AUGUST 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Misses third practice Akins (leg) missed a third consecutive practice Thursday, Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official site reports.

Impact Houston head coach David Culley suggested the injury is not serious, so it's likely the team is being cautious with one of its potential starters. It's a good bet Akins doesn't play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Packers, opening up reps for several others, including 2021 fifth-round pick Brevin Jordan, who ended Thursday's practice session with a touchdown catch, per John Harris of the Texans' official site.

AUGUST 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Expected back soon Coach David Culley said Akins (leg) shouldn't be out for long, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson reports.

Impact Given that he's dealing with mere muscle tightness, Akins should be back on the practice field soon enough, even if he misses one or two preseason games. He's competing for playing time at tight end, but none of the other options (Pharaoh Brown, Ryan Izzo, Kahale Warring, Brevin Jordan, Anthony Auclair) looks like a serious threat for regular targets this season. If the Texans are to have a fantasy-relevant tight end this season, it likely will be Akins.

AUGUST 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bothered by muscle tightness Akins will miss practice Wednesday with muscle tightness in his leg, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson reports.

Impact Akins is the team's top pass catcher at tight end, a position otherwise manned by blocking specialists or untested young players in Houston. His absence from practice frees up reps for Kahale Warring, Brevin Jordan and Pharaoh Brown.

AUGUST 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Looking good at camp Akins made a number of catches at Thursday's practice, John Harris of the Texans' official website reports.

Impact Akins is on track to work as Houston's top pass-catching tight end, with an opportunity to handle more snaps (and possibly targets) after Darren Fells left for Detroit in the offseason. The Texans did draft Brevin Jordan in the fifth round and still have 258-pound blocker Pharaoh Brown and 2019 third-round pick Kahale Warring, but Akins is the only tight end on the roster with more than 19 NFL receptions. Given the poor state of the team's WR group, Akins could see a handful of targets per game -- possibly even more if he can improve his blocking and earn a three-down role.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Akins Leading the Way for Houston’s Tight Ends | Daily Brew Heading into Year 4, Jordan Akins is the seasoned veteran of the Houston Texans tight ends group.

JUNE 17, 2021 • HOUSTONTEXANS.COM

Houston Texans: Jordan Akins needs to be an impact player For the Houston Texans to have success during the 2021 NFL season, one of the players on offense who will need to make an impact is Jordan A...

MAY 24, 2021 • TOROTIMES.COM

Texans address needs by adding QB Mills, WR Collins

Despite tying a franchise low with just five picks in the draft this year, the Houston Texans managed to address needs at quarterback and receiver

MAY 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lags among targets Akins caught one of two targets for nine yards in Sunday's 41-38 loss to the Titans.

Impact Akins, who was Houston's third-most targeted receiver in 2020, was sixth among the seven receivers targeted Sunday. He finished with 49 targets, 37 passes, 403 yards and one touchdown. Akins emerged as the Texans' primary tight end in 2020 and has one year left on his contract. The makeup of next season's team depends on the whims of what will be a new general manager and head coach, but Akins should return as the starter in 2021.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Four catches in loss Akins caught four of four targets for 39 yards in Sunday's 37-31 loss to the Bengals.

Impact Akins led Houston's tight ends in targets, receptions and yards, but he has not recorded a touchdown since Week 1 despite leading the position group with seven red-zone targets. With one game remaining, Akins needs one catch and 24 yards in Week 17 to record new career highs.

DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Reaches 50 yards in loss Akins caught five of six targets for 50 yards in Sunday's 27-20 loss to Indianapolis.

Impact Akins has become the top tight end threat on the roster and has six targets in three of the last five games. He's up to 43 targets over 11 games, which puts him within shouting distance of his career-high 55 targets established over 16 games in 2019. However, Akins has found the end zone just once, and Houston's tight ends account for just three of quarterback Deshaun Watson's 27 touchdown throws. Week 16 has the Texans hosting the Bengals, whose defense is tied for 30th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends.

DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Texans take step back with embarrassing loss to Bears

The Texans took a step back on Sunday with an embarrassing 36-7 loss to the Bears

DECEMBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Second in targets Akins caught three of six targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 36-7 loss to the Bears.

Impact Akins once again led Houston's tight ends in targets while finishing second among all Texans receivers in the loss. The team was without its top three wide receivers from the start the season -- Will Fuller (suspension), Brandin Cooks (foot) and Randall Cobb (toe) -- which jumbled up the targeting options for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Cooks could return for Week 15 against the Colts, which would bring some normalcy, but Fuller is done for the year and Cobb is considering shutting down. That could open the door for Akins, who leads the team's tight ends in targets, to maintain a significant role in the game plan going forward.

DECEMBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Watson all by himself as Texans lose 36-7 to Bears

Deshaun Watson did everything he could for the Houston Texans but it wasn’t enough

DECEMBER 13, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Leads Texans tight ends again Akins caught two of three targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Colts.

Impact Akins led Houston tight ends in targets and snaps (45), something that has been a common outcome when he's been healthy. However, the position group did not experience an uptick in targets even as the Texans played without Will Fuller (suspension), Randall Cobb (toe) and Kenny Stills (released); instead, the offense double-downed on the remaining wide receivers as Keke Coutee (nine targets), Brandin Cooks (eight) and Chad Hansen (seven) took up the slack. Akins could see more opportunities in Week 14, as Houston will be on the road in Chicago against a defense that has allowed nine touchdowns to tight ends.

DECEMBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Colts are huge challenge for Texans in wake of suspensions

The Houston Texans would have had their hands full against Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts under the best circumstances

DECEMBER 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist for Week 14: Streaming targets, free agent sleepers include Philip Rivers, Denzel Mims, Jordan Akins Now's the time for owners to stay ahead on the fantasy football waiver wire and scout potential free agent pickups. Ahead of Weeks 13 and 14...

DECEMBER 3, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Keke Coutee, Jordan Akins and other Texans who will play more due to suspensions Texans WR Will Fuller and CB Bradley Roby both announced Monday that they've received six-game suspensions for using PEDs.

DECEMBER 1, 2020 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Targeted twice in win Akins was targeted twice in Thursday's 41-25 win over the Lions.

Impact Akins and the rest of tight ends did not play a significant role Thursday. He had two of the position group's three targets, including one red-zone chance. Houston was down two wide receivers, which gave the tight ends a chance to make an impact, but that never materialized. The snap count was relatively even among the group with Akins (26 snaps) third behind Pharaoh Brown (30) and Darren Fells (28). Week 13 brings a matchup with Indianapolis, which has allowed the fourth fewest yards and just one touchdown to opposing tight ends.

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Texans have benefited from TE Jordan Akins' run after the catch ability Houston Texans tight end Jordan Akins has provided the offense with the added element of having another target with run after the catch abil...

NOVEMBER 25, 2020 • USATODAY.COM

Back atop TE list Akins caught five of six targets for 83 yards in Sunday's 27-20 win over the Patriots.

Impact Akins re-emerged as the team's top tight end option, amassing more targets than Darren Fells (three) and Pharaoh Brown (two) combined. The 11 targets for the position group was the most since Week 2 and could be a sign of things to come should Randall Cobb (toe) and Kenny Stills (quadriceps) miss significant time. With a short week to prepare for Thursday's meeting in Detroit, Akins could be in line for a significant workload.

NOVEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Watson, Watt lead Houston to 27-20 win over New England

Deshaun Watson threw for 344 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, and J

NOVEMBER 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

One target in loss Akins caught his lone target for five yards in Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Browns.

Impact Akins' target was in the red zone -- the tight end's third target inside the 20 this season -- but overall, Houston's tight ends weren't used much in the game. They were thrown to just four times among Deshaun Watson's 30 pass attempts. Akins and Darren Fells each had one target while Pharaoh Brown was targeted twice and had a touchdown.

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to action Akins caught two of four targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 27-25 win over the Jaguars.

Impact Akins returned to the lineup after missing three consecutive games with a concussion and ankle injury. The third-year tight end opened the season as the lead tight end but on Sunday, he finished third in snap count (22) behind Darren Fells (33) and Pharaoh Brown (25). The diminished playing time is likely the result of the Texans exercising caution. Prior to his recent injury, Akins was the leading tight end target, as he was Sunday.

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to full practice Akins (concussion/ankle) was a full participant in practice Wednesday, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic reports.

Impact Akins practiced fully for the first time since Week 4, which is when he last took the field. This news paves the way for Akins to get back on the field Sunday in Jacksonville and split tight end snaps with Darren Fells.

NOVEMBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE