Cierre

Wood

A former Notre Dame star, Wood barely made a mark in the NFL bouncing around practice squads. Now 28, Wood is being charged with the murder of his girlfriend’s five-year-old daughter, La’Ravah Davis. Amy Taylor, the girl’s mother, is also being charged with child abuse or neglect after La’Ravah went into cardiac arrest and died Tuesday evening. The girl allegedly died from a lacerated liver. Absolutely terrible news.

The Texans’ No. 3 back is worth monitoring because overworked starter Arian Foster is already injured, and backup Ben Tate has been oft-hurt since entering the league. In CSN Houston’s projection, Wood makes it over fellow UDFAs Ray Graham and Dennis Johnson because Wood “just seems like a better runner” and “is the kind of guy who might end up being a No. 2 next season.”

Wood (5-foot-11 1/4, 213) was a rotational back throughout his career, tallying 2,447 yards and 16 touchdowns on 450 carries (5.44 YPC). He caught 52 passes. Wood ran 4.56 with a 1.53 ten-yard split at the Combine, the latter time confirming his short-area burst. Wood runs frustratingly small for his size -- he’ll dance in the backfield and is poor in short yardage -- but is creative and laterally elusive with quick feet. He’s got an outside chance to develop into an NFL asset. Arian Foster’s backup, Ben Tate, will be a free agent after this season.

Karim, entering his fourth season, is competing with undrafted rookies Cierre Wood, Dennis Johnson, and Ray Graham for the role, and he’s rushed for 92 yards on 15 carries through two preseason games. Karim will be the second back in the game behind Ben Tate in Sunday’s regular season dress rehearsal against the Saints. Karim also has special teams experience.

Despite rushing for 75 yards on 15 preseason carries and having 26 games of regular-season experience, Karim loses out to UDFA Cierre Wood. Wood becomes a name for deep Dynasty leaguers to stash away as Ben Tate is entering a contract year and Arian Foster has a ton of tread on his tires.

Wood beat out veteran Deji Karim and fellow undrafted rookie Dennis Johnson for the job. In three preseason appearances, Wood rushed 25 times for 132 yards (5.28 YPC) and caught four passes for 35 yards. With Ben Tate in a contract year and Arian Foster’s tires getting really bald, the Notre Dame product is a Dynasty stash.

Johnson rushed seven times for 11 yards in the preseason opener while Wood ripped off 59 yards on 10 carries. “He had a couple plays where he got a little negative and a return at the end of the game where he’s messing around a little bit back there,” coach Gary Kubiak said of Johnson. This remains a camp battle to watch as Ben Tate heads into a contract year and Arian Foster continues to rack up mileage with an inability to shake injury.

Meanwhile, No. 3 back competitor Dennis Johnson managed 11 yards on seven runs with a six-yard catch. Wood is making a case for the job behind Arian Foster and Ben Tate, which would make him a nice deep fantasy sleeper. “He exceeded expectations,” coach Gary Kubiak said of Wood. “He has talent and he has opportunity, and when those two things come together, good things happen.”

A “name” undrafted free agent, Wood was cut loose by the Texans in October after allegedly smoking marijuana in the team hotel the night before a road game. He spent the final two months of the year on the Patriots’ practice squad. Wood averaged 5.5 yards on 35 preseason carries. He’ll compete for one of the Ravens’ final roster spots in next summer’s camp.

Wood was originally signed two weeks ago, but the deal was voided by the NFL because Wood hadn’t been credited with a “credited year.” Wood will fight for the Ravens’ final running back spot in camp. An undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame, Wood averaged 5.5 yards on 35 preseason carries for the Texans last summer.