There are household names, and then there are ones who are working to become one. Houston Texans linebacker Tyrell Adams fits in the latter category.
On Saturday, Adams took another step in his quest to fit in the former category.
Adams, 27, has played on more practice squads than a hand has fingers. In 2018, he signed with the Texans after his release from the Indianapolis Colts. He had a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers before returning to Houston in 2019.
Filling in for starter Benardrick McKinney (concussion), Adams received his first start in a 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While playing his first defensive snaps of the season, he didn’t fail to make an impression.
“I thought he played very well,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said on Monday. “I think Tyrell Adams, over the last two years especially, when we’ve asked him to step up his role — sometimes he’s been inactive and then other times we’ve asked him to come in and play on special teams.”
In the second quarter of the three-point win, Adams popped the ball out of running back Peyton Barber’s hands. It fell into the out-reaching arms of safety Justin Reid. That left an impression on O’Brien, just as his blocked punt in 2018.
“Last year he blocked a punt, this year he comes in, he plays well on special teams then last week he causes a fumble,” O’Brien said.
In the eyes of the head coach, Adams exemplifies what it means to be a professional football player. A selfless character, he does what the Texans ask of him no matter the question.
“The guy’s just, he’s really one of those guys, in my opinion, that really exemplifies what pro football is all about,” O’Brien said. “It’s about the fabric guys and the role players doing their jobs at the highest level when you ask them to do that. That’s what Tyrell does.”