Houston head coach Lovie Smith suggested changes are coming, which could involve Allen replacing Davis Mills as quarterback, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports. "We're not pleased with where we are. Do we need to do some things differently? Yes. We will," Smith said.

EDGE Analysis

The coach's comments struck a different tone than the previous week when he was asked about making a change at quarterback. "Made some decisions on how we're going to go forward. Like all changes, anything that we do from week to week, we've got to talk to the players before we talk to you," Smith added Monday. Mills had just 22 passing yards and a pick-six in the first half of Sunday's loss to the Commanders, one week after he had just 35 yards in the first half against the Giants. It's been two years since Allen started a game in the NFL, but the Texans need to shake up an offense that ranks last in yards per game and 30th in points per game.

Allen (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's season opener against the Colts, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Allen will open the season as the third quarterback on the depth chart behind Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel, who was elevated from the practice squad Friday. Allen was expected to be the primary backup behind Mills to open the season, so the move is somewhat surprising.

Allen (COVID-19 protocols) returned to practice Tuesday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports.

EDGE Analysis

Allen was sidelined for Saturday's preseason game after testing positive for COVID-19, but he's since cleared protocols and returned to practice Tuesday. He's currently competing with Jeff Driskel for the backup job behind Davis Mills, so Allen will likely get plenty of action in Friday's preseason game against the Rams.

Allen won't play in Saturday's preseason contest versus the Saints after testing positive for COVID-19, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

In a press conference earlier Thursday, coach Lovie Smith told Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com that Allen wouldn't play due to personal reasons, but the quarterback instead has entered COVID-19 protocols. Allen thus will need to stay away from Texans facilities for at least five days. With Allen sidelined, Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel will handle all the QB reps for the team Saturday.

Texans coach Lovie Smith said that Allen will not play in Saturday's preseason game against New Orleans due to personal reasons, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith also added that Allen missed practice Thursday for similar undisclosed reasons, though it's still unclear just how long the quarterback is expected to miss this preseason. The 26-year-old signal-caller signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with Houston in March after completing 12 of his 19 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown over two games with Washington last season. In Allen's absence, journeyman backup Jeff Driskel figures to see increased run in Saturday's game behind starter Davis Mills.

The Texans are signing Allen to a one-year deal, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

The report notes that Allen's deal is for $2.5 million and includes $2.25 million fully guaranteed. The 26-year-old -- who spent the last two seasons with Washington -- will provide Houston with added QB depth behind Davis Mills, with Deshaun Watson poised to be traded in the coming days.

Allen isn't in line to receive a contract tender from the Commanders, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Allen earned a roster spot as Washington's backup quarterback in 2021, but he made just two appearances and completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. He'll be free to sign with any other team starting next week after the Commanders acquired Carson Wentz from the Colts on Wednesday.

Allen made two appearances during the 2021 campaign, completing 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown for Washington.

EDGE Analysis

Allen came back from last year's broken leg and earned a spot on the team as the No. 3 quarterback, then quickly rose to No. 2 on the depth chart after Ryan Fitzpatrick injured his hip Week 1 and didn't return for the rest of the season. No matter, Allen barely ended up playing, with Taylor Heinicke enjoying a healthy season under center, though his performance was less than stellar, especially toward the end. Allen is scheduled for restricted free agency in the offseason, and presumably will be viewed as a backup whether he stays in Washington or ends up elsewhere. Heinicke, meanwhile, is signed through 2022.

Washington head coach Ron Rivera didn't close the door on the possibility of Allen having a role in the game plan behind starter Taylor Heinicke in Sunday's contest against the Giants, Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington reports. "We'll start off with Taylor, then we'll go from there," Rivera said.

EDGE Analysis

Prior to Week 17, Rivera suggested that Allen would "probably" play behind Heinicke in both of the final two games of the regular season. That didn't come to fruition in the 20-16 loss to the Eagles last week, as Heinicke played all 61 of Washington's snaps on offense. Rivera could be more open to getting Allen some work in the season finale, but it may first take a poor showing from Heinicke early in the contest for the coach to turn the offense over to the backup quarterback. Allen's only two appearances this season have both come against the Cowboys in Week 14 and 16. On the first occasion, Heinicke missed a few plays with an injury, and on the second, Washington was resting him after the game turned into a blowout.

Head coach Ron Rivera said he expects Allen to appear in relief of starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke at some point during Sunday's game against the Eagles, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Heinicke will retain the top job heading into Week 17, his place atop the depth chart is on shaky ground on the heels of disastrous starts against the Cowboys that bookended a Week 15 absence against the Eagles while he was on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Between the two games against Dallas, Heinicke completed only 18 of 47 attempts (38.3 percent) for 243 yards (5.2 YPA) and a 2:3 TD:INT, with Washington losing by a combined margin of 83-34. Allen, meanwhile, relieved Heinicke in both contests, though the latter's brief departure from the Week 15 loss was the result of an injury. In small samples of action in those games, Allen completed 12 of 19 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, but over a larger body of work in his first three professional seasons, the 25-year-old was one of the more turnover-prone signal-callers in the NFL. Assuming Rivera sticks to his plan to have both quarterbacks play Week 17, neither will be an appealing fantasy option while handling less than a full workload. Rivera is leaving the door open for Allen to potentially start the Jan. 9 season finale against the Giants if Heinicke struggles again Week 17.