Sammie Coates is excited to be a Texan.
Excited because of the offense in which he'll play.
Excited because Deshaun Watson is the quarterback.
And excited because he's feeling good physically.
"I'm healthy now," Coates said. "That was big for me coming down here, was being healthy."
The Texans claimed Coates off the waiver wire in March, and it came after a 2017 hampered by shoulder, ankle and knee injuries during the season with Cleveland. But those health troubles are behind him now, and he's optimistic about his future after seeing first-hand how the Houston offense works.
"There's a lot going on it, and it's good for me," Coates said. "It moves you to the spot you need to be. It puts you in a position to play your best."
Coates has 28 career catches for 516 yards, and caught six balls last season for 70 yards. He explained who he is and what he can do here in Houston if given a chance.
"I'm a big guy," Coates said. "I'm fast. I can play special teams. I can give them offense and make plays. I'm versatile. Whatever they need me to do, that's what I bring to this team."
Getting a chance to play with Watson, though, is a huge positive for Coates.
"He's a great quarterback," Coates said. "He's learning the offense way better than he did last year. His communication is a whole lot better. Just watching him out there, and the things he can do once he gets comfortable, it's going to be scary to see him take over."
Coates and the Texans begin OTAs on Monday at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 1/14/2019)
S, Mike Adams, 27
LB, Tyrell Adams, 50
S, Jahleel Addae, 37
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
OLB, Davin Bellamy, 48
DE, Angelo Blackson, 97
WR, DeAndre Carter, 14
OL, Chris Clark, 77
ILB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Gareon Conley, 22
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
WR, Will Fuller, V, 15
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines, 29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
S, Tashaun Gipson, 39
WR, Chad Hansen, 85
CB, Vernon Hargreaves, 28
RB, Karan Higdon, 31
WR, DeAndre Hopkins, 10
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
RB, Carlos Hyde, 23
RB, Duke Johnson, 25
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
OL, Roderick Johnson, 63
RB, Taiwan Jones, 34
CB, Johnathan Joseph, 24
OLB, Peter Kalambayi, 58
An image from the Oct. 25, 2018 regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins. The Texans won 42-23.
OLB, Chris Landrum, 42
OL, Rick Leonard, 72
S, Shalom Luani, 42
OL, Greg Mancz, 65
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
C, Nick Martin, 66
QB, AJ McCarron, 2
QB, Alex McGough, 3
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
An image from the Dec. 30, 2018 regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans won 20-3.
LB, Barkevious Mingo, 52
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
OL, Elijah Nkansah, 75
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
NT/DE, D.J. Reader, 98
S, Justin Reid, 20
CB, Bradley Roby, 21
DE, Ira Savage-Lewis, 96
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
OL, David Steinmetz, 79
WR, Kenny Stills, 12
TE, Jordan Thomas, 83
OL, Laremy Tunsil, 78
NT, Eddie Vanderdoes, 95
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
DE, J.J. Watt, 99
QB/WR, Joe Webb, III, 5
LS, Jon Weeks, 46
WR, Isaac Whitney, 19
