Auburn in the NFL: Cam Newton looking good, Kerryon Johnson battling for No. 1
By Rob Maxwell
WR Sammie Coates, Houston
Former Auburn receiver Sammie Coates always will be remembered for his playmaking ability on the Plains (especially this timely TD from Nick Marshall in the Iron Bowl). His NFL career has been a rocky road, to say the least.
The 2018 season will be his fourth in the NFL and he arrived to training camp with the Houston Texans, his third team in four seasons. Coates has shown flashes of being a playmaker in the NFL, but injuries have slowed him throughout his career.
He caught 21 passes for 435 yards from Ben Roethlisberger in his second NFL season in 2016 with a pair of touchdowns. He looked like the next Big Ben deep threat.
But he ended up in Cleveland last season and caught just six passes for 70 yards.
Now he’s in Houston, providing Deshaun Watson with another target and things are looking good for Coates in the early going of Texans’ camp.
Six for Sammie.@sammiecoates11 | #TexansCamp pic.twitter.com/iojx2bKMC5
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 29, 2018
Even Sammie knows what’s up. “I’m fast. Big and fast,” he answered to the Texans in this fun Q&A.
That should look familiar to Auburn football fans. Coates engaging a defender and shaking him with his strength. Yes, it’s just one play in 1-on-1s in camp, but he’s getting solid reviews.
In general, the receivers at training camp this year seem to be much better than the group a year ago. Sammie Coates seems to be catching almost everything thrown his way and could be a solid option for Watson this season.
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) July 30, 2018