HOUSTON — When the Houston Texans kick off their 2021 training camp at the Houston Methodist Training Center Wednesday morning, Justin Reid will be one of a handful of players returning to the franchise from the Bill O’Brien era. The Texans drafted Reid in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft at pick No. 68, and the 24-year-old Prairieville, Louisiana, native has entrenched himself as Houston’s top safety.
But much like the rest of his contemporaries in Houston’s secondary, 2020 was a dispiriting year for Reid.
He recorded his first of two career sacks in back-to-back weeks for the 4-12 Texans, but his overall on-field production was a modest decline when compared to his previous two seasons. Reid failed to record an interception or fumble on the year, and had his season cut short due to a hand injury that limited him to 13 games.
Reid finished the 2020 campaign with 83 tackles (62 solo hits), four pass deflections, four quarterback hits and an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 60.7 — a career-low.
On the heels of his fourth season — which is also the final year of his rookie contract — 2021 will be a year of redemption for Reid. He is coming into camp fully healthy and used the extra time off to physically and mentally prepare his body for a 17-game season.
In the words of Reid, “being in better health means being a better player.” And the Texans — along with their fan base — could witness the best version of Reid’s potential in 2021.
Reid sat down with Texans Wire for an exclusive interview centered around his recovery, Houston’s defensive struggles last season, thoughts on playing under new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith and more.