Case Keenum won’t suit up for the Houston Texans in 2024 after being placed on the season-ending injured reserve.
Given his track record and path back home to Houston, those inside the locker room have plenty of respect for the seasoned vet.
Asked Caserio about Case Keenum potential role with team and he could see him as a coach. #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/cxXvYdrUjf
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) August 28, 2024
“Case is a leader and he’s made a great career in this League for 13 years,” Texans coach DeMeo Ryans said Wednesday. “[He] came from undrafted to making a name for himself. So, proud of what Case has done.”
Keenum’s career moving forward is much of an unknown. After leaving Saturday’s preseason finale with a foot injury, he’ll be out for several months before being cleared to throw.
He’ll also be a free agent entering at age 37 and could be entering a turning point in his career. Keenum, who set multiple FBS passing records while at the Univeristy of Houston, has been a journeyman over the past dozen seasons, playing with six different franchises. He could be reaching his final resting stop once his contract expires after the 2024 season.
“Case has been a good player for this organization for a long time,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “His leadership, his toughness, his intelligence. It’s unfortunate that he’s not going to be able to play football this year.”
Asked DeMeco about Case Keenum’s impact even when not playing and if he thinks Keenum could be a coach one day. #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/nLMGmpENjD
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) August 28, 2024
Keenum will still have a voice inside the locker room. Even though he can’t play, he’ll still attend practice and meetings. He can still appear on the sidelines during games and serve as a mentor for C.J. Stroud following drives.
Ryans said he doesn’t know what’s next for Keenum but he knows the quarterback will continue to lead in whatever path life takes him down. Perhaps being the voice on the sidelines helps him get into coaching, though nothing is imminent.
Caserio tipped his cap to Keenum, espeically after he stepped in last season for the Texans when Stroud suffered a concussion. The veteran went 1-1 as a starter and picked up a critical in-division win over the Titans last year in Nashville.
With the news that Case Keenum will be on season ending IR
It’s time for Coach Keenum to step in
He’d be a great mentor for CJ Stroud pic.twitter.com/S87TRuzPlJ
— CJ Anderson SzN
(@AyooTexanNation) August 28, 2024
Keenum will still be a part of the Texans’ success in 2024, though it won’t come in the way anyone envisioned when training camp broke in July.
“It’s an unfortunate, difficult situation,” Caserio said.
“As far as what he does moving forward, ultimately that’s going to be his choice. I think whatever he decides to do, he’s going to be really good at it.”