Tag: Derek Stingely Jr.

Texans vs. Cowboys injury report: Latest updates, news for Thursday

Several Texans players were not at practice on Thursday afternoon in preparation for Week 11’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday

The Houston Texans have an extra day to prepare for their matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

That means an extra day to get players healthy enough for action.

Receiver Nico Collins and defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. practiced in pads for the first time in nearly a month after being added back to the active roster. Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards with 567 during the first five games, missed the past five weeks with a hamstring injury.

Edwards, who started the first six games for the Texans, was recently activated after serving a four-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy.

Both players are on the path to play Monday night in Arlington. The same might not be said about rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who did not practice Tuesday afternoon.

Lassiter, Houston’s No. 2 cornerback, left during the third quarter of Week 10’s 26-23 loss against the Detroit Lions with a concussion. He’s currently in the protocol stages before being cleared to return.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) and defensive tackle Foley Fatkukasi (foot) didn’t practice and might not make the trip north. Defensive end Denico Autry (rest day) is expected to be back on Friday.

Here’s a look at the injury report for the Bears and Packers after Thursday’s practice:

Watch: Texans rookie CB Kamari Lassiter records first NFL interception

Houston Texans 2024 second-round pick Kamari Lassiter recorded his first interception in the NFL a series after Derek Stingley Jr. added one

First, Derek Stingley Jr.

Now Kamari Lassiter.

Both Houston Texans cornerbacks can say they’ve intercepted No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams on primetime television.

The Bears’ rookie quarterback escaped a sack from Danielle Hunter but tried to do too much and underthrew a pass intended for Rome Odunze. Lassiter, the Texans’ second-round pick out of Georgia, intercepted the pass for his career pick in the pros.

https://twitter.com/HoustonTexans/status/1835517034957775217

Nicknamed ‘Locksmith,’ Lassiter had an interception erased earlier in the game by a defensive holding penalty. His pick was the second straight Chicago drive that ended in turnover.

The Texans secondary, which allowed three 50-yard completions a week ago, has kept Chicago’s passing attack in check for most of the evening.

The pair of interceptions bring Houston’s season total to three. Lassiter also is the second member of the Texans’ rookie class to create a turnover, joining third-round safety Calen Bullock.

Texans CB Derek Stingley hires David Mulugheta as new agent ahead Year 3

Derek Stingley Jr. has a new representation going into the 2024 season.

Derek Stingely Jr. is switching representations.

According to reports, the third-year Houston Texans cornerback is now being represented by agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Mulugheta currently represents Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, along with several other high-profile players in the NFL.

The news was first reported by NFL.com and later confirmed by The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander.

Stingley, who previously was represented by the Ballengee Group, will be eligible for a massive contract extension entering next offseason. When healthy, the former No. 3 overall has proven himself as one of the top cover corners in the sport, totaling six interceptions and 18 pass breakups in two seasons.

Mulugheta has been known for getting his clients paid by either their current team or on the open market. He most recently helped Love receive a new four-year, $220 million deal this offseason to stick around in Green Bay.

Mulugheta also represents former Texans Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson, who following his decision to decline to play for Houston following the 2020 season, was traded to the Cleveland Browns for three first-round picks. The Browns then agreed to a new five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with Watson through 2026.

The Texans have the option to either pick up the fifth-year option on his deal, keeping him through 2026, or re-sign him after this season. With how current contracts have gone for cornerbacks who have career years in Year 4, Houston could be wise to get ahead of schedule and ink Stingley to a new deal before the asking price expands.

Stingley seems poised to build off a surging sophomore season. In the preseason game against the New York Giants, he intercepted Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and nearly came away with a pick-six on the opening drive.

“I haven’t seen a defensive back have as good as ball skills as he has. It’s just like a super power of his,” rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter said. “He’s just able to snatch it up out of the air. It’s just something that you really can’t teach. You can’t coach that. That’s something that God blessed him with and he uses it all the time.”

The Texans open the 2024 season on the road at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 8 against the Indianapolis Colts.

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.”