Houston Texans tight end Darren Fells set a new single-season franchise record for touchdown catches with seven when he hauled in a 13-yard score in the club’s 28-22 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.
According to coach Bill O’Brien on Monday, the team didn’t really know what they had with Fells during the offseason workouts. Given organized team activities in May and early June are nothing more than basketball on grass, the picture on what Fells could bring didn’t materialize until training camp.
“I think that once we got to training camp and we put the pads on, we really could see what he could do,” O’Brien said. “He was a good blocker, he was very smart and a really good guy.”
Fells has caught 28 passes for 310 yards and seven touchdowns. All but the receiving yards are new career highs for the 6-7, 270-pound target, who has also been as impactful in the locker room and the tight end group as he has been on the gridiron.
Said O’Brien: “Really mature guy, a guy that has been great in the room. Got a lot of younger players in that room and he’s meant a lot to our team.”
At 33 years old, there may not be many more banner years for Fells. However, he has made the most of his opportunities with his fifth team since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013.