Tag: 2024 Houston Texans

Watch: Texans Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter records first sack of preseason

Houston Texans splash free agent signing, Danielle Hunter, recorded his first sack with the team in Friday’s preseason contest.

For the first time this preseason, starters took the field for the Houston Texans on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For the first time since putting pen to paper, Danielle Hunter made his presence felt as a member of DeMeco Ryans’ defense.

Hunter, the prized acquisition of the offseason, recorded his first sack in a Texans uniform by bringing down Steelers starter Justin Fields for a loss of eight yards on third down, forcing the Steelers to punt on their second drive.

The Texans would score on a 34-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Tank Dell on the following drive to make it 7-0.

Hunter, 29, joined Houston during free agency, agreeing to a two-year, $49 million deal with $48 million guaranteed. The signing paired him with reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., who is not in action on Friday.

The Houston native Hunter spent nine years in Minnesota, playing eight and recording 87.5 sacks, including a career-high 16.5 last season along with 23 tackles for loss which led the NFL.

Watch: Texans QB Case Keenum finds Cam Akers for Texans’ second TD of preseason

Houston Texans training camp addition running back Cam Akers took over his first drive that resulted in a four-yard touchdown grab.

The Houston Texans signed running back Cam Akers during training camp to add to its running back rotation. After watching Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor handle the initial snaps out of the backfield, Akers shined when he stepped on the field for the first time this preseason.

The former second-round pick hauled in a 4-yard touchdown from quarterback Case Keenum to extend Houston’s lead in the second quarter of the Hall of Fame Game. Chicago responded with a touchdown to give the 17-14 lead heading into halftime.

During the nine-play drive, Akers, who last played for the Minnesota Vikings, made six plays before finding the end zone for six points. He had four rushing attempts for 11 yards and two catches for 18 yards.

Akers’ first catch came on second-and-11, when a low snap led to Keenum dumping it off to the newly acquired back, who spun past a defender for a first down.

Akers is working back from an Achilles tear he suffered in Week 9 of last season against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s the second time since being drafted out of Florida State in 2020 that he’s torn his Achilles.

The Texans will kick off heading into the second half.

Watch: Texans QB Davis Mills finds TE Teagan Quitoriano scores TD on opening drive

Texans tight end Teagan Quitoriano scores nine-yard touchdown on Houston’s opening drive of Hall of Fame Game.

The Houston Texans strike first in Canton.

Behind quarterback Davis Mills, Houston strung together a methodical 13-play, 69-yard drive resulting in a 9-yard touchdown pass to third-year tight end Teagan Quitoriano to take a 7-0 lead over the Chicago Bears in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

Mills looked left and extended outside the pocket before finding Quitoriano in front of the line to gain. The former Oregon State tight end escaped the nearest defender for the opening drive touchdown.

Mills completed 5-of-7 passes for 44 yards with Quitoriano catching two passes for 21 yards on the drive. Three other Texans caught a pass on the drive with the longest being Quitoriano’s 12-yard reception.

Houston converted a fourth-down on Chicago’s side of the field to continue the drive. Mills nearly connected with running back Dare Ogunbowale for a touchdown pass on a wheel route, but a defensive penalty restricted the Texans running back.

Houston is resting most of its starters, though poject starters Kenyon Green and Juice Scruggs were a part of the drive along with second-round pick Blake Fisher, Chris Reed and Nick Broeker.

The Texans will kickoff to begin the second half.

Texans RB Dameon Pierce will not play in preseason opener

Houston Texans No. 2 running back Dameon Pierce will receive the starter treatment and will not play on Thursday against the Chicago Bears.

Dameon Pierce will not play in the Houston Texans preseason opener against the Chicago Bears in the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game.

Houston is resting its starters in the extra preseason contest, but Pierce’s status remained up in the air until the announcement of his inactivity. Pierce had a strong rookie campaign, rushing for 939 yards in 13 games.

He had a less successful sophomore season, eventually losing his starting role to current New York Giant Devin Singletary. Houston traded for former Pro Bowler Joe Mixon, who has been dealing with a minor quad injury throughout training camp.

Pierce has earned praise in camp for improving his decisiveness and strong offseason. His resting solidifies his status as the No. 2 running back behind Mixon.

Without Pierce on the field, Houston will have a running back rotation of Dare Ogunbowale, Cam Akers, Jawhar Jordan, British Brooks and J.J. Taylor. Ogunbowale was the lone back with on the active roster last year, while the rest were either practice squad members, signed or drafted this offseason.

Watch: Texans WR Andre Johnson arrives at Pro Football Hall of Fame

Andre Johnson has officially touched down in Canton, Ohio in preparation for the Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend.

Andre Johnson has officially touched down in Canton, Ohio.

Johnson, the first major star in Houston Texans’ history, is ready to have his bust cemented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy well beyond his time at NRG Stadium.

The former Pro Bowl receiver sent a message to fans, thanking them for the kind words before Saturday’s enshrinement.

“I’m super excited,” Johnson said. “I got a chance to see some fans earlier, sign some autographs. I can’t wait until Saturday to give my speech. Thank you guys. See you tonight at the game.”

Johnson, the Texans’ all-time leader in every receiving category, waited years for this moment to arrive. It’s fitting that as Houston looks poised to begin a new era of winning behind C.J. Stroud, it’ll see a Hall of Famer represent the franchise forever in Canton.

Drafted No. 3 overall out of Miami in 2003, Johnson spent 12 seasons with the Texans, helping the franchise not only make the playoffs for the first time but also win its first-ever postseason game.

Over his dozen seasons with the Texans, Johnson caught 1,012 passes for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns. He also posted an NFL record 21 games of at least ten catches for over 100 yards in 14 seasons.

Johnson, plus the rest of the 2024 Hall of Fame class, will be inducted at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. Coverage will be televised on ESPN.

Texans OC Bobby Slowik hints at Stefon Diggs’ potential role

Houston Texans wideout Stefon Diggs arrives on a one-year deal, but may have to prove his ability evolve in hopes of staying with the team.

The Houston Texans will play another opponent for the first time on Thursday, but fans will likely have to wait before seeing newcomer Stefon Diggs in action.

Diggs, acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, headlined Houston’s bountiful offseason. The move unionized one of the league’s top receivers with a trio of proven talent for quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who pulled himself out of head coaching opportunities to return to Houston, is tasked with bringing all the pieces together on the offensive side of the ball.
Slowik will have many mouths to feed in year two, with none more extensive than Diggs.

The four-time Pro Bowler made it four straight 100-reception seasons and six consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns last year with the Bills.

In a recent interview on Chris Long’s “Green Light Podcast,” Slowik broke out multiple topics, including his thoughts on Diggs’ potential fit in the Texans offense.

“One thing I think people underrate with Diggs is how good of a ball-in-hands player he is,” Slowik said. “He’s a very good runner when he has the rock.”

Houston’s offense recorded 1,976 yards after the catch, the 12th-most among teams in 2023. Nico Collins accounted for nearly 30% of the Texans’ YAC. Meanwhile, Diggs finished with 404 of his 1,183 yards coming after the catch, gaining 3.8 yards after the catch per attempt, according to Pro Football Focus.

“He had a lot of underneath catches that most receivers were getting 10 yards on, and Stef was taking them to the house,” Slowik said. “It was a throw he caught at four yards that most guys get six, and he got 12.

“The difference between second and four and second and one or the difference between second and seven and first and 10—for us, that’s everything. The more we can stay on track, the more we really believe in what we can do as far as being efficient until we can get explosive.”

 

While Houston averaged the 13th-most points per game at 22.2, the offense mainly relied on explosive plays to lift it at times. Sharp Football Analysis found that the Texans scored on 37.8 percent of their drives per game, 15th in the league, and ended with a touchdown at 19.7 percent.

The latter was a bottom-12 mark in the league.

Collins and Tank Dell, Houston’s top returning targets from an AFC South division-winning season, are better suited for downfield roles. Both finished with an average depth of targets above 11.5 yards. Dell’s 14.4 ADOT ranked top-20 in the league.

Houston’s quarterback targeted the short area of the field—less than 10 yards—on 40.5 percent of his attempts, third-lowest among qualified passers. Diggs’ presence underneath may alleviate pressure on Stroud to constantly connect downfield like he did a year ago.

When Minnesota dealt Diggs to Buffalo in 2020, he arrived as an ideal downfield threat for Josh Allen. Now entering his age-30 season, he may be a model security blanket.

Texans HOF WR Andre Johnson to throw out first pitch at Astros game before ceremony

Before legendary Texans receiver Andre Johnson travels to Canton, Ohio, he’ll make one last pit stop at the Juice Box to see the Astros.

With the countdown clock in full effect, the city of Houston is honoring its newest Hall of Fame athlete.

Former Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson will throw out the first pitch Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park as the Astros take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. That’s only one part of the surprise that comes with $1 hot dogs on Tuesday.

The Astros have dubbed Tuesday “Andre Johnson Night,” honoring the longtime Texans star before his trip up to Canton, Ohio, for the Hall of Fame ceremony next weekend.

Arguably the top player in franchise history and its first Hall of Famer, Johnson will toss the pitch to another H-Town G.O.A.T. in former Astros second baseman Craig Biggio. Biggio was the first player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Astros.

The Astros are going all out for No. 80 during his moment at Minute Maid. The first 10,000 fans will receive a special Andre Johnson Hall of Fame bobblehead. On top of that, a portion of the proceeds from the daily 50/50 raffle will go to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Georgia Frontiere/Rosenbloom Family Assistance Fund, which “supports enshrinees and their families during times of need,” according to a release from the team’s PR staff.

Drafted No. 3 overall in 2003, Johnson became Hosuton’s first legitimate football star since the Warren Moon and Oilers era during his illustrious 12 seasons. He set every major receiving record in franchise history while earning seven Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro honors.

Johnson finished his Texans career with 1,012 catches for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns.

The festivities begin for the Texans on Aug. 1 as the defending AFC South champions take on the Bears in the annual Hall of Fame Game. The Class of 2024 enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 3.

Johnson, who will be introduced by former Texans coach Gary Kubiak, will be the last to speak among those being honored for their historic careers.

Texans Training Camp: Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson’s work ethics wowing teammates

When the Houston Texans signed Danielle Hunter they paired two of the league’s hardest working pass rushers.

When Jonathan Greenard signed with the Minnesota Vikings early in free agency, it seemed Houston Texans star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. would have to shoulder a heavier load in Year 2.

Then, the Houston Texans gave him a running mate in Danielle Hunter to form one of the league’s top pass-rushing tandems.

Hunter, who spent eight seasons with Greenard’s-now Vikings, chose to return home on a two-year deal worth $49 million. A native of Katy, the four-time Pro Bowler dominated the local Houston competition at Morton Ranch High School before taking his talents to LSU.

Anderson’s relentless motor attracted Houston in the 2023 NFL Draft, leading it to mortgage a bit of its future to move up nine spots to No. 3 overall to make him the heir apparent of three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt.

Together, they may be the NFL’s hardest-working duo.

“I sit next to Danielle in the locker room, and we talk every single day, same thing with Will, talk to him every single day and just their mindset and their work ethic just speaks for itself,” linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said following Monday’s training camp practice.

The pair of 2023 Pro Bowlers combined for 23.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss, including a league-leading 23 from Hunter, and both finished top 20 in pass rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Obviously, they’re great players, but it comes from the work that they put in as well,” Al-Shaair said.

Anderson’s offseason work has included putting on weight to better survive a full season, jumping from 248 pounds to 263. Early returns have been positive, albeit without pads thus far.

“I’m bringing my skills and knowledge, teaching everybody on the d-line skills that they need to take their game to the next level,” Hunter said after Friday’s practice. 

The duo’s relationship is growing, with Anderson calling Hunter “very approachable” while learning from the seasoned veteran.

Hunter, who has 87.5 career sacks, isn’t showing signs of slowing down after posting a career-high 16.5 sacks last season. He’s also been durable. Outside of the 2020 season and most of 2021, he’s played at least 14 games each year.

And when on the field, he’s been near-impossible to block.

 

Houston finished 2023 with a franchise-leading 46 sacks. Along with Hunter, the Texans signed Denico Autry, who has flown under the radar due to all the marquee names on the practice field.

Pads are on and fans will be eager to see the talented pass-rushing group, headlined by its two hardest workers moving forward.

Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.: ‘Defense further along than last year at this time’

Overshadowed by the offense’s firepower, the Houston Texans defense looked like a strong unit on Monday.

With the Houston Texans adding Pro Bowlers Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon to an offense featuring Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz, all led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, expectations were high for the ‘five-headed monster’ to be one of the league’s best.

So far, it’s been the defense that’s shown out four days into camp.

While Houston’s offense was without Schultz and Mixon on Schultz during Monday’s practice, the Texans dominated on defense in the sweltering Texas heat. Multiple players had impressive showings, including big names like Danielle Hunter and under-the-radar pickups like Jeff Okudah.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has been encouraged by the battles in practice and believes it shows the “makings of a good team.”

Third-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. took it a step further by saying the defense is further along than they were at this point last year.

 

The 2023 defense allowed the 11th-fewest points last season, but Houston is looking to maximize its time with Stroud on his rookie contract. Multiple offseason moves were made to upgrade the unit, including the signings of Hunter, Okudah, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and others.

Hunter, who last season led the NFL with 23.5 tackles for loss with the Minnesota Vikings, beat offensive tackle Tytus Howard for what would’ve been a sack. He also pulled out his best J.J. Watt impersonation by swatting a pass down at the line.

Hunter mentioned on Friday how the Texans’ defensive game plan involves less reading and more attack. Al-Shaair, who played under Ryans in San Francisco, echoed the sentiment on Monday.

“I think if you’re playing defense the right way and it’s just fast, you talk about SWARM, and that’s like the embodiment of everything that we try to do,” Al-Shaair said after Monday’s practice. “It’s just an exciting, physical, fast defense, taking the ball away, making plays, big hits.”

Jacob Phillips, another linebacker acquired this offseason. showed off his pass coverage skills by deflecting a pass intended for running back Jawhar Jordan in the flats.

Ironically, Phillips was drafted by the Cleveland Brown in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft with a pick that was originally Houston’s before it traded the selection away in exchange for former running back Duke Johnson.

Houston’s secondary has been the main discussion point throughout the early parts of the offseason, and Monday provided another twist in the story. Third-round pick Calen Bullock took snaps with the first-team defense as the strong safety opposite Jimmie Ward while Jalen Pitre remained in the nickel.

Eric Murray played the most with the first team, similar to the first three practices. Bullock had an opportunity for a highlight reel play, reading Davis Mills and breaking on a pass, but dropped the potential pick-six.

At 6-foot-2, Bullock could be the center-fielding type of defensive back that Houston lacked a year ago. He also has a chance to join second-round pick Kamari Lassiter as one of two rookie defenders that could make an impact this season.

Lassiter, the No. 42 overall pick out of Georgia, has been one of the top performers in practice. On Monday, he broke up another pass in man coverage against Diggs during team drills.

“When you look at somebody like Kamari, he came in, a little bit more NFL-ready to go,” Al-Shaair said.

Lassiter has been playing opposite Stingley, and the latter drew praise from Diggs, who called the former No. 3 overall pick “one of the best DBs in the league.”

There will be more back-and-forth with the offense winning some days, but the Texans’ defense offered a glimpse of their potential.

NFL personnel praise Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. in latest rankings

Derek Stingley Jr. is already being viewed as a top defensive back entering 2024 following his breakout season with the Houston Texans.

Two seasons into his NFL career, and Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. seems to have transformed into the next rising defensive star.

While evaluators envisioned Stingley as one of the top young defensive prospects coming out of LSU, cornerbacks, in general, can often take time to flourish.

Still, countless scouts figured the 2022 No. 3 overall pick would eventually become one of the league’s top cover corners in due time.

That time has arrived following a season in DeMeco Ryans’ man-heavy system. Executives seem to agree that last season’s success wasn’t a fluke and more is expected from the 6-foot-1 defender entering Year 3.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled over 80 executives, coaches and personnel members to rank the top 10 cornerbacks heading into training camp. Stingley, who totaled five interceptions in 11 games last season, rounded out the list at No. 10.

“Stingley went one pick ahead of [Sauce] Gardner in the 2022 draft — Nos. 3 and 4, respectively — and while Gardner captivated earlier, Stingley is validating his status, too.” Fowler wrote. “Stingley had major ball production in 2023, with five interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 11 games. His 31% ball-hawk rate led the league.”

The rankings also show how high a player ranks among the evaluators. For Stingley, he appeared on at least one ballot at the No. 2 spot, trailing only Broncos’ Pat Surtain II, Browns’ Denzel Ward, Titans’ L’Jarius Sneed and Gardner.

One AFC scout mentioned how skills matched the eye test when watching the film.

“So smooth and athletic,” the scout said. “No physical limitations. Really strong with good ball skills.”

Health remains the one concern surrounding Stingely’s promising career. After playing ten games over his final two seasons at LSU, he’s only played 20 in two years for Houston due to lower-body extremities.

General manager Nick Caserio mentioned that injuries are “a part of the game” and out of the team’s control. Even with back-to-back injuries that’s forced him to miss time, everyone has been pleased with Stingely’s growth and attentiveness in coverage.

“Derek’s in a good spot. He’s had a really good offseason,” Caserio said last week before Houston’s first training camp practice. He’s worked hard.

“We’ll see how it goes here in training camp.”