Reports on potential Watson deal with trade deadline weeks away. And injury updates

According to multiple reports, the Dolphins and Houston Texans continue to be engaged in a potential trade for embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday the Dolphins could complete a trade for Watson sometime this week.

The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 2, giving Miami — or any other team interested in dealing for the Pro Bowl quarterback embroiled in legal issues — a little less than two weeks to make an in-season move.

“If the Texans and Dolphins are unable to consummate the trade this week, they want to get it done by the league’s deadline. The Dolphins have been talking to the Texans about Watson off and on for months, and those talks have intensified into serious negotiations,” the report said.

And according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the Texans continue to discuss a potential trade to the Dolphins and are “maintaining hope of hammering out a deal.”

The Miami Herald reported before the start of the regular season that the Dolphins remained interested in trading for Watson, 26, but not at Houston’s asking price, which reportedly included multiple first-round picks and additional assets in return, whether it be more picks, players or a combination of both.

Watson has not played this season as the Houston Police Department and FBI continue to investigate allegations against Watson of sexual misconduct. Twenty-two massage therapists have accused him of sexual misconduct and there are 10 criminal complaints against Watson. No charges have been filed and the NFL has yet to suspend Watson or place him on the commissioner’s exempt list.

Watson has a no-trade clause in his contract, giving him the leverage to facilitate a trade to the team of his choice and Miami is reportedly among the top franchises he’s interested in. It’s unclear if a deal would include any trade protections in case Watson is suspended but inquiring teams would likely seek such insurance.

When coach Brian Flores was asked multiple times before the start of the season about the Dolphins’ support of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the wake of the team’s reported continued interest in Watson, he publicly backed his second-year quarterback but did not address the Watson reports.

At 1-5 with five consecutive losses, the Dolphins’ hopes of a playoff appearance in Year 3 of the partnership between Flores and general manager Chris Grier are quickly fading. Tagovailoa missed three games with fractured ribs and had an encouraging performance in the team’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday but the team has dealt with constant shuffling of a struggling offensive line and a defense that has regressed from last season’s play.

Injury report

The Dolphins held a walk-through Wednesday after the long plane ride back from London and a quintet of players who were unavailable for last Sunday’s game were estimated to have participated to some extent.

Cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, wide receivers DeVante Parker and Preston Williams were all listed as estimated to be limited participants with their respective injuries. Adam Shaheen was listed as a full participant.

“They’re all getting better, they’re all treating and they’re all doing everything they can,” Flores said. “I think tomorrow is going to tell us a lot more about their potential status for the game.”

Tagovailoa, who was activated from injured reserve and played last Sunday for the first since fracturing his ribs in Week 2, was estimated as a limited participant, too.