Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins ends 1-day holdout
HOUSTON (AP) -- It was something Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith hoped wouldn't drag out, and in the end it lasted just one day.
After missing the opening day of training camp, Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins ended his holdout Sunday following the Texans' first practice.
The Texans removed Hopkins from the reserve/did not report list and granted him reinstatement to the active list on Sunday afternoon.
Hopkins, who is scheduled to make $1 million in base salary this season, and the team were still in constant communication. Smith said the dialogue was positive throughout the short holdout.
During the holdout, Hopkins was being fined $40,000 per day he missed, but now because of his return he will be able to cash in on a $445,004 roster bonus on Wednesday.
Hopkins is coming off the best season of his career with 1,521 yards receiving, third-best in the NFL, 111 receptions and 11 touchdowns.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for DeAndre Hopkins," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "I love coaching the guy and I speak for everybody here that he's a heck of a player and when he comes back he'll be thrown right in there. That's the way it's going to go."
With Hopkins briefly holding out and J.J. Watt still recovering from back surgery the focus and attention weren't fully on the players participating in the team's first practice, but rather on those that weren't.
"It's the National Football League, things happen whether it is injuries or anything else you just have to coach the guys that are out on the field," O'Brien said. "Once we get into our meetings and we come out here, we're just focused on coaching the guys that are out here."
Even though Watt couldn't practice, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year jogged his way around the edge of the field on Sunday.
In late July, Watt had a herniated disc removed from his back, which was an injury suffered during last season but began flaring up during the offseason.
As far as his body overall, Watt says he feels good but is listening to everything the doctors say to ensure a speedy recovery.
"I can't be out here for long periods of time right now, I still have the stiches in," he said. "Can't really sweat it out too much out here and I can't stand for that long. As soon as I'm healthy enough to come out here and stand up I will, I'm going to be out here helping with whatever I can."
Watt said he will get back onto the field as soon as he's cleared by the doctors, but didn't rule out the possibility of missing some playing time. He has never missed a game in his NFL career.
"I can't put a solid start date on when I'm going to be able to play," he said. "Never missed a game in my five years. In 2012 I missed all of training camp, didn't have a problem there. Don't see this being a problem. I don't plan on missing my first game now but I can't promise it."
