DeMeco Ryans addresses Texans’ quiet trade deadline

Jul 30, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans watches players warm up during training camp practice at the Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Texans were questioned in some circles for their quiet trade deadline, and head coach DeMeco Ryans is firing back at those critics.

Ryans went out of his way to address critics of the Texans’ deadline inactivity on Wednesday. The coach defended the organization by saying that many factors go into trade decisions, and that the lack of moves was not down to a lack of effort.

“We have the guys we have,” Ryans told reporters. “Everybody thinks the trade deadline comes and you’re just going to find this guy that saves your team. I don’t see it that way. Transactions were made across the league. And there has to be two parties available to do a trade. Everybody is antsy about trades. It’s not just us going and taking somebody from another team. People have to be available and the trade has to be on good terms for everyone.

“I know everybody is in an uproar about us trading at the deadline. It’s not from a lack of us working to get our team better and improve our team. But there’s no savior to come save our team and there has to be two parties involved.”

#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans was obviously bothered by the discussion around them not making a trade at the #NFL deadline. Here’s what he said: pic.twitter.com/NjDTlsCsoR

— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) November 6, 2024

The Texans are 6-3, but have lost two of three, including a bad defeat against the New York Jets. That has made some fans a bit anxious about whether the team can truly compete with the top tier of the league, especially with Detroit, Kansas City, and Baltimore remaining on their schedule.

The Texans have had some major injuries, particularly to their wide receiver corps. They may simply be leaning on getting some of those pieces back and healthy.