How should Watson feel right now?
Reiss: Frustrated. But just wait until it’s Week 11 and new No. 1 wide receiver Will Fuller has already missed three games.
Jones: Confused. What’s the message O’Brien is sending to his team — let alone his franchise quarterback — right now? If I’m Watson, I’m wondering about my long-term future there — and if I even want one with O’Brien.
Nguyen: Abandoned.
Kapadia: Dejected. The guy has put the team on his back for years, and depending on what else the Texans do, he’ll be going into next season with one of the worst groups of wide receivers. More than anything, Watson has to know that O’Brien is going to continue to make bad decisions that will hurt the roster around him.
Pompei: Watson should be disappointed. It’s going to be more difficult for him to become the quarterback he wants to be without Hopkins. He might never have another wide receiver in his career who is as talented as Hopkins.
Trask: Disappointed, mad, sad and more, but he then needs to shake it off (credit to Taylor Swift) and move forward, understanding that it is part of the business of football — an unfortunate part.
Johnson hasn’t come close to replicating his All-Pro 2016 season — or living up to the three-year, $39 million deal he signed in 2018. He now joins a backfield with Duke Johnson under contract through 2021 as 2019 leading rusher Carlos Hyde faces free agency. What’s your guess as to what David Johnson’s role will be in Houston?
Bordow: I can’t speak to Houston’s offense, but for David Johnson to make an impact, he has to be a much more decisive runner than he was in 2019. There was a belief among some Cardinals players that Johnson became shy of contact once he got paid. Johnson can still be an effective receiver out of the backfield, but whether he again becomes the player he was in 2016 depends on whether his mindset changes.
Reiss: The Texans believe David Johnson is a bounce-back candidate. They felt the same way about Hyde and got a career year out of him. I expect Johnson to take on a similar role, receiving 200-plus carries while Houston looks to target both of its running backs in the passing game.
Nguyen: David Johnson will likely take a majority of the snaps but Duke Johnson will play a significant role. My guess is a 60-40 split. Their skill sets are similar, but David Johnson is a much better runner.
Jones: I expect he’ll be their feature back. Good for him for getting a fresh start and a place to be the lead back again.
Kapadia: My guess is he’ll be among the league leaders in touches next season. If you’re going to do a deal like this, you’re signaling that Johnson is going to be a huge part of the offense.
Pompei: I’m sure the Texans believe they can get something out of him the Cardinals have failed to get in recent seasons. That’s usually how these types of moves are justified.