Texans moving on from Demaryius Thomas

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher 

The Houston Texans are planning on releasing wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. The Texans get out of his contract that was due to be $14 million in 2019. 

When the Texans traded for him in October 2018, it was expected to be a long-shot that he would return for the 2019 season. After being acquired, he did not prove enough for the Texans to keep him. 

The Denver Broncos acquired a fourth-round draft pick for Thomas. He had 23 receptions for 275 yards and two touchdowns in seven games. 

In late December after playing the Philadelphia Eagles, Thomas tore his Achilles. 

He has said after the injury that he is not considering retirement. The 31-year-old has declined and will likely face a tough market in free agency.

By ridding themselves of Thomas’ $14 million cap hit for 2019, the Texans are not responsible for paying any dead cap money. He was paid four-years, $52 million of the five-year, $70 million deal he previously signed with the Broncos. 

Before the trade to the Texans, Thomas made eight starts with the Broncos. He had 36 receptions for 402 yards and three touchdowns. 

In total, he had 59 receptions for 677 yards and five touchdowns with both teams. The 677 were the fewest he had in a season since his second-year in 2011 when he had 551 yards.