Cade Stover’s broken foot and indefinite sidelining upend Houston’s TE depth, cueing a potential roster upgrade. Stover was a rising factor in two-TE sets; with Irv Smith out for the season, the Texans must lean on Harrison Bryant or Luke Lachey from the practice squad while exploring veteran options in free agency. Jake Andrews’ day-to-day status keeps interior line concerns on the radar. Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios are inching back from hamstring injuries, but timetable remains open.

Fantasy takeaway: Stover’s absence tightens the Texans’ TE target share, elevating Bryant and Lachey as immediate speculative adds with upside if they seize the opportunity, while the team’s free-agent pursuit could alter the midseason TE landscape.

Cade Stover's broken foot leaves Houston with a gaping TE hole and could trigger IR moves or practice-squad elevations. Harrison Bryant or Luke Lachey from the Texans’ practice squad look likely to step in, while Irv Smith Jr. is already down for the count and Brevin Jordan is out for the season. Dalton Schultz remains a veteran anchor, but the target distribution could tilt toward Bryant or Lachey in the coming weeks. The Rams test will also shape how Houston uses two-TE sets going forward.

Philadelphia pulled off a quick pivot, reacquiring Fred Johnson from Jacksonville for a 2026 seventh-round pick, bolstering swing tackle depth behind Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. The move comes amid a string of roster shuffles ahead of the deadline, including a Sam Howell-related deal and another trade haul that signals Howie Roseman’s asset-light rebuild plan for 2026 picks.

Johnson, who logged 482 snaps in 2023 with Philadelphia and started multiple games, provides veteran versatility as a swing option. Expect him to compete for backup-time behind Mailata/Lane, while the Eagles continue to gamble with moves that aim to optimize the 53-man roster and long-term cap flexibility.

Philadelphia adds John Metchie III to the arsenal, trading Harrison Bryant and a fifth-round pick to Houston for the Alabama receiver. Metchie, who beat leukemia after being drafted in 2022, posted 40 catches for 412 yards and a TD in three Texans seasons and had 6 receptions for 53 yards this preseason. In a offense already headlined by A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, along with a potential Alabama reunion for Metchie with Smith, his path to consistent targets isn’t guaranteed, but the upside is real if he recaptures his college form and taps into Hurts’ accuracy and playmaking. His smart route-running and speed offer a clean fit behind a top duo, with the chance to become a meaningful depth piece or flex option as he settles into Philadelphia.

Arizona-born to Alabama, Metchie’s ceiling in Philly hinges on health and opportunity. The trade signals a reimagined passing attack that could lean on a deep, versatile group, especially in the red zone. If he carves out a role, fantasy managers could chase weekly boons in deeper leagues or as a late-season spike, particularly if the offense maintains efficiency and injuries pop at WR. Expect him to compete for snaps but be ready for a gradual elevation rather than immediate volume unless injuries reshape the rotation.

Kevin Patullo outlines how John Metchie could be woven into Philadelphia's wide-receiver corps, providing a trustworthy depth option behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The Eagles reshaped their roster by adding Metchie from Houston in a swap that sent Harrison Bryant to the Texans and yielded a 2026 sixth-round pick. The takeaway: depth at WR matters, and Metchie could be that flexible, reliable piece if injuries bite or the offense needs a tempo spark. The discussion underscores Howie Roseman's aggressive, data-driven approach to roster construction and the value of potential breakout candidates in a star-filled lineup.

Patullo’s remarks emphasize that Metchie isn't intended to supplant the top two, but to complement them and keep the offense humming when Brown or Smith sit. In a high-powered scheme with Goedert and a dozen playmakers, Philadelphia can rely on Metchie’s savvy route-running and teammate-friendly game to contribute in multiple packages. If everything aligns, he becomes a meaningful cog in a dangerous offense; if not, the return is still a cost-controlled depth option with upside.