Tag: Derek Stingley Jr.

Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Derek Stingley Jr. helped the Houston Texans win the AFC South and could be on his way to securing Defensive Player of the Month honors.

Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. proved on Sunday that he’s possibly the league’s top defensive back in man coverage.

The NFL tends to agree with that statement heading into Saturday’s showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Stingley was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his two-interception performance that helped the Houston Texans capture their second consecutive AFC South Division Championship.

This marks the second time Stingley has won the award since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2022.

“Stingley has been impactful throughout the entire year. I think for the past three wins, he’s been our defensive player of the game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “So, when he’s making impact plays, it’s putting us in position to win football games.”

In Week 15’s 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins, Stingley notched five tackles, including two for loss, two interceptions and two pass breakups. He also secured the victory with a game-sealing interception against Tua Tagovailoa while in man coverage against All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill.

Stingley led the NFL in interceptions for the week while his two tackles for loss also paced the league for defensive backs.

He became the first cornerback in NFL history to record two interceptions and two tackles for loss in a single game.

With his two interceptions, Stingley became one-of-two players in the NFL this season to record multiple interceptions in the fourth quarter of a game.

“All-Pro Sting,” safety Calen Bullock said following the game. “I’ve been calling him that since camp. And I think he’s gonna go get it.”

In 15 games, Stingley has tallied a career-high 46 tackles, four tackles for loss, five interceptions and 17 passes defended. He’s also recorded a franchise-record six interceptions in the month of December despite missing the entire month due to injury in his rookie campaign.

Derek Stingley Jr. helped the Houston Texans win the AFC South and could be on his way to securing Defensive Player of the Month honors.

The accolade marks the 61st time a Texan has been named Player of the Week and the 22nd time a defensive player claimed the award.


Stingley joins running back Joe Mixon, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and defensive end Will Anderson Jr, as Texans players to win Player of the Week honors in 2024.

Ryans, who handed him the game ball following Sunday’s performances, wants more from the league before the season ends.

“He better be the Defensive Player of the Month,” Ryans said to the locker room postgame

Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. might have sealed the game with one play

Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. made Miami’s comeback effort harder with a fourth quarter interception of Tua Tagovailoa.

The Miami Dolphins were threatening to potentially tie the game against the Houston Texans, but once again the defense made a play.

Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. undercut a pass intended for Tyreek Hill from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has thrown two picks on Sunday after entering with 184 pass attempts without an interception.

Stingley was one-on-one with Hill, who has been held to just two receptions for 36 yards. Miami’s other top receiver Jaylen Waddle did not record a catch before leaving with an injury in the second quarter.

Stingley has four interceptions this season. Stingley and Calen Bullock join the Detroit Lions Kerby Joesph and Brian Branch as the only teammates with four or more interceptions.

Houston has three takeaways, which is the fifth time this season doing so.

Derek Stingley Jr., Joe Mixon among 102 players given superlatives by ESPN

Danielle Hunter, Joe Mixon and Derek Stingley Jr. each feature one trait that makes them a “standout player” in 2024.

How good are the Houston Texans?

As a roster, perhaps a bit underwhelming.

As individuals? A trio of names continue to impress heading into the home stretch.

In the latest article from ESPN, defensive end Danielle Hunter, running back Joe Mixon and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. all were the top players for a certain superlative that stands out as an “elite trait” in 2024.

Mixon, who’s on pace to become the Texans’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Carlos Hyde in 2019, was named the NFL’s “vision/instincts” runner.

“Mixon has been an easy fit in Houston’s zone run game, pressing the ball to the edge and finding the cutback lanes,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote. “Mixon is averaging 88.7 rushing yards, the third most in the league.”

Hunter, a dark horse to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, was given the accolade for “best spin move” after recording 10.5 sacks in 14 games.

“A super disruptive edge defender, Hunter leads the NFL with a pass rush win rate of 27.9%,” Bowen wrote. “He has a devastating spin move that puts blockers in conflict. Hunter’s 10.5 sacks and 42 pressures both rank in the top three around the league.”

Stingley, who’s transformed into a top-three cornerback entering Year 3, was given the title of “best backfield vision” for his ability to read quarterbacks.

“An emerging star in the league, Stingley can overlap seam balls and get a jump on in-breakers because of his backfield vision in the Texans’ scheme,” Bowen wrote. “He has three interceptions and 11 pass breakups.”

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to face off against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. With a victory, Houston would guarantee a second-winning season under DeMeco Ryans.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Watch: Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. gets easiest interception of the season vs. Cowboys

Houston Texans Derek Stingley Jr. just made the easiest interception of his career on primetime against the Dallas Cowboys

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

That’s become a common theme for Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., but even the common fan likely could have come away with the recent turnover thrown at AT&T Stadium.

The Texans are up 14-0 entering the second quarter after Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush threw a pick right in the hands of Stingley. There were clear communication issues between the veteran quarterback and All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb, but one person’s loss is another person’s gain.

More importantly, it’s giving Houston another takeaway to an already impressive start through 11 weeks for the defense. Entering Monday, the Texans were No. 4 in the NFL in takeaways with 18.

Make it 19 and a tie for third place.

The Texans are looking for their first win on ‘Monday Night Football’ since 2018. They’re also looking to snap a two-game losing streak.

Will Derek Stingley Jr. play on Monday Night Football?: Update on Texans CB

Derek Stingley Jr. has been dealing with a hip injury leading up to Monday’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Houston Texans are gaining back wide receiver Nico Collins and defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. for Monday’s showdown in Arlington against the Dallas Cowboys.

While the duo are a welcomed addition to the lineup, Houston (6-4) could be without two starters in the secondary. Rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter suffered a concussion during the third quarter of Week 10’s loss against the Detroit Lions and remains in the league’s protocol.

Fellow cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. played through an injury and now could be out for the Lone Star Battle in what feels like a must-win game for Houston.

Here’s an update on the Texans’ star defender heading into their fourth primetime game.

Derek Stingley Jr. injury update

Stingley was listed on the report as having a hip injury and did not practice Thursday afternoon. He returned Friday as a limited participant and was back at full speed during Saturday’s walkthrough. 

There’s a chance he still appears on the injury report as questionable, but the former No. 3 overall pick seems to be trending toward playing at AT&T Stadium. 

According to KRPC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Stingley is not dealing with anything serious. 

Derek Stingley stats

Stingley, the first-round pick out of LSU in 2022, has been one of the league’s top corners in 2024. According to Pro Football Focus, he currently has a 66.8 overall grade and a 65.8 coverage grade.

In 10 games, Stingley has 10 pass deflections and one interception.

Texans CB depth chart

With Stingley and Lassiter potentially out, here’s the rest of the cornerbacks on the active roster:

  • Ka’dar Hollman.
  • Jeff Okudah
  • Kris Boyd

Okudah, who signed a one-year deal this offseason after four years with the Lions and Atlanta Falcons, was designated to return to practice from the injured reserve last week. While he’s practicing, the former No. 3 overall pick has not been added to the active roster yet.

The Texans could also elevate D’Angelo Ross, who was added back to the practice squad earlier this week. He started two games in place of Lassiter when the second-round pick was dealing with a shoulder injury.

Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.

Will Derek Stingley Jr. play on Monday Night Football?: Update on Texans CB

Derek Stingley Jr. is currently dealing with a hip injury following Week 10’s loss against the Detroit Lions.

The Houston Texans are gaining back wide receiver Nico Collins and defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. for Monday’s showdown in Arlington against the Dallas Cowboys.

While the duo are a welcomed addition to the lineup, Houston (6-4) could be without two starters in the secondary. Rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter suffered a concussion during the third quarter of Week 10’s loss against the Detroit Lions and remains in the league’s protocol.

Fellow cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. played through an injury and now could be out for the Lone Star Battle in what feels like a must-win game for Houston.

Here’s an update on the Texans’ star defender heading into their fourth primetime game.

Derek Stingley Jr. injury update

Stingley, who hasn’t missed a game in Year 3, did not practice during Thursday’s open session. He was listed with a hip injury on the team’s report and now enters the week as questionable.

Since the Texans have an extra day of practice, everything is shifted back by one. Usually, Thursdays provide a better indication of a player’s status because they are the most strenuous practice of the week this week. Stingley’s status on Friday might determine if he plays on Monday night at AT&T Stadium.

How long will Derek Stingley be out? 

According to KRPC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Stingley is not dealing with anything serious and is expected to play against the Cowboys. Even if he’s limited in practice this week, he likely will return for Saturday’s walkthrough before the team rules him one way or another.

If Stingley were to miss Monday’s game, the status for a Nov. 24 matchup against the Tennessee Titans becomes questionable. Houston would only have two full days of practice before having to release the final injury report on Friday.

Derek Stingley stats
Stingley, the former No. 3 overall pick out of LSU, has been one of the league’s top corners in 2024. According to Pro Football Focus, he currently has a 66.8 overall grade and a 65.8 coverage grade.
In 10 games, Stingley has 10 pass deflections and one interception.
Texans CB depth chart

With Stingley and Lassiter potentially out, here’s the rest of the cornerbacks on the active roster:

  • Ka’dar Hollman.

  • Jeff Okudah
  • Kris Boyd

Okudah, who signed a one-year deal this offseason after four years with the Lions and Atlanta Falcons, was designated to return to practice from the injured reserve last week. While he’s practicing, the former No. 3 overall pick has not been added to the roster yet,

The Texans could also elevate D’Angelo Ross, who was added back to the practice squad earlier this week. He started two games in place of Lassiter when the second-round pick was dealing with a shoulder injury.

Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.

LSU OC Joe Sloan to attend Bryce Underwood’s playoff game on Friday

LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan will be in Michigan to watch Bryce Underwood play on Friday

The [autotag]Bryce Underwood[/autotag] sweepstakes is heating up. The five-star QB and No. 1 overall prospect in the country committed to LSU in January. Underwood has held firm on his pledge, but Michigan is making one last run at the in-state star.

We’re just over a month from signing day and LSU is taking advantage of its bye week to check in on Underwood — LSU offensive coordinator [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] will attend Underwood’s playoff game on Friday night.

According to On3, LSU’s 2025 recruiting class ranks No. 4 in the country. Underwood is the headlining piece.

Sloan’s visit comes at a pivotal time. Michigan’s push seems legit, and while LSU will host Underwood in Baton Rouge next weekend, Sloan’s trip should help keep LSU in the driver’s seat.

Underwood is set to be one of the biggest recruits in LSU football history. Landing the nation’s top QB would be a first for the Tigers. Underwood would arrive with similar hype to previous recruits like [autotag]Leonard Fournette[/autotag] and [autotag]Derek Stingley Jr.[/autotag]

The next two weeks will be pivotal for Underwood’s recruitment, especially with Michigan pushing hard for a visit.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

3 causes for concern as the Bills face the Texans in Week 5

3 causes for concern as the Bills face the Texans in Week 5

The Buffalo Bills head to Houston in Week 5 to take on the Texans in a matchup of 3-1 teams.

The Bills will look to bounce back after a losing effort against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, while the Texans (3-1) hope to further prove they belong at the top of the AFC.

The Bills (3-1) are favored by just one point. The Texans will be a tough test for a Bills team that is decimated by injury on defense.

For the Bills to improve to 4-1, they will need to be wary of these three things Sunday:

Texans’ offensive playmakers

(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

The Texans have arguably the best trio of wide receivers in the NFL. Nico Collins has looked like one of the best WRs in the league through a month. Stefon Diggs has shown flashes in the slot. And now they get Tank Dell back from injury. Add on tight end Dalton Schultz and the Texans are a team that will make you defend every inch downfield.

The Texans rank eighth in the NFL in yards per game and fourth in passing yards per game. The Bills are missing key players all over the defense so they will have their hands full. The communication on defense has to be on point.

Derek Stingley Jr. at cornerback

(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

It might be best to avoid throwing in Stingley Jr.’s direction on Sunday.

He’s allowing just a 53.8 passer rating when targeted and already has an interception to his name. The Bills may be wise not to attack him on the boundary often unless it’s thrown out of his reach to a high-flyer like Keon Coleman. Having a threat to worry about at cornerback is all the more reason for the Bills to focus on the middle of the field Sunday.

Top-five defense

(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

The Texans are allowing just the fifth-fewest yards per game in the NFL (273.8). Even in their 34-7 blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the offense was more of the problem. If the Bills offense looks more like their first three weeks then they should be fine. If they look like they did in Week 4 then it could be a long afternoon against the Texans defense. Eyes are on offensive coordinator Joe Brady to bounce back from last week with a solid game plan.

[lawrence-related id=141110,141036,141041]

Texans rookie safety Calen Bullock continues to see more playing time

Houston Texans 2024 third-round pick Calen Bullock saw the most defensive snaps of his young career, potentially making the new starter.

When the Houston Texans drafted safety Calen Bullock in the third round last April, it was with the intent that he would one day become one of the team’s starting safeties. Through three weeks of the season, the day may have arrived. 

Bullock played in 53 of 63 defensive snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. For the first time this season, Bullock out-snapped veteran Eric Murray, who finished with 21 snaps Sunday.

https://twitter.com/JohnHCrumpler/status/1838216756814647603

Bullock’s playing time has increased each week, beginning at 25 snaps in Week 1 before jumping to 37 against Chicago and then peaking at 53 on Sunday. 

The USC product provides exceptional range at safety, something that wasn’t made ready on last year’s roster. He had one interception in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. He has missed out on potentially two more in the last two weeks, including Sunday, when he collided with Derek Stingley Jr. in the air while going for the ball.

https://twitter.com/JohnHCrumpler/status/1838561038842638753

Bringing in the rookie allowed head coach and defensive play caller DeMeco Ryans to comfortably move Jalen Pitre closer to the line of scrimmage at the nickel position. In turn, Ryans has had his defensive playbook open up through three weeks in the season.

Houston followed the NFL trend and played Cover 3 more than any other coverage, but it also used Cover 4 or “Quarters” nearly double the league average last season, according to The Kneel Down.

With Bullock, Houston now has a safety that can cover most of the field, which allows it to use more one-high safety looks, such as Cover 1.

The best example of Bullock’s range occurred in the preseason when Houston used him as the single high safety and entrusted the cornerbacks one-on-one. Bullock read Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kyle Allen’s eyes and reached the sideline as the ball spiraled toward the receiver and out of bounds.

Bullock caught the pass, but he did not get two feet in bounds. 

https://twitter.com/TexansCommenter/status/1822696152371773614

An area of concern for Houston entering the season was its ability to defend explosive plays. Last season, the Texans led all AFC in explosive plays allowed of over 20 yards.

Week 1 only further intensified the concerns with the Texans surrendering three 50-yard completions. Despite seeing eight attempts of 20 or more air yards, Houston has yet to allow a completion in the past two weeks, which coincides with an increase in Bullock’s playing time. 

Houston’s also increased its willingness to send extra pressure in the past two weeks with Bullock playing more. Its Week 2 meeting with the Chicago Bears was the most pressure Ryans has sent since taking over as the Texans head coach, and Sunday, he also called a blitz slightly above his average from a year ago (20.9%), albeit only one percent higher.

Bullock’s physical talent was never a question, but he fell to the third round because of his tackling woes during his three seasons at USC. 

So far, Bullock has yet to miss a tackle in three games, albeit in only five attempts. He also did not miss a tackle in the preseason. It’s a notable improvement in a short time frame because, during his final season with the Trojans, Bullock posted a 13.5 percent missed tackle rate.

Houston extended fellow safety Jimmie Ward’s contract through 2025 before the season, and Pitre’s emergence at slot defender role likely signals he’ll be with the team for the next few seasons. After the season, Stingley will become extension eligible and is in line to become one of if not the highest-paid cornerback in the league.

Fellow 2024 draft pick Kamari Lassiter has the lowest passer rating allowed (14.9) among rookie cornerbacks.

Suddenly, Houston’s secondary, the subject of most of the questions concerning the defense entering the season, has four starters with under three years of NFL experience and is holding up well. 

It may be too early to declare, but Bullock is on pace to be the latest third-round hit from general manager Nick Caserio. Day 2 has been kind to Houston, but Caserio has crushed Round 3 of the draft through his first three seasons, landing  Davis Mills, Nico Collins, Christian Harris and Tank Dell. 

Giants HC Brian Daboll praises Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.

Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. garnered praise from New York Giants coach Brian Dabboll following Saturday’s highlight performance.

Is Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. in for an All-Pro year? That was already a possibility for the rising star of DeMeco Ryans’ defense heading into his second preseason outing.

Fully healthy, the former No. 3 overall pick seems poised for a career-defining year and plays like the one in Saturday’s 28-10 win over the New York Giants certainly backs that statement.

During the opening drive, Stingley nearly picked off a pass intended for rookie receiver Malik Nabers for an easy touchdown against Daniel Jones. A slight stutter left the ball on the ground, but Stingley knew he wouldn’t miss a second time if Jones tested him again.

Following a pick-six from Jalen Pitre, Jones tried to hit well-covered Jalin Hyatt toward the end zone to tie the game. Stingley, who was running stride for stride with the former Biletnikoff Award receiver, took the inside track to make a diving interception.

Giants coach Brian Daboll said postgame that while Jones made the correct read, Stingley made the better play.

“It was man-to-man high and Stingley made a good double move on there that turned into a go,” the third-year Giants coach said. “He left it a little bit inside on the right-hand side. Decision is fine but Stingley just made a nice play. We kind of left it inside on him.”

Stingley, who finished with a 97.5 grade from Pro Football Focus, has been on a warpath in just two brief instances. He’s played 23 total snaps and allowed zero completions while forcing two pass breakups and an interception.

Last season, Stingley lived up to his All-American billing from his time at LSU with five interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 11 games. He’s been one of the AFC’s top defensive backs when on the field, though injuries have hindered his All-Pro potential through two seasons.

If the Texans defender can remain off the injured reserve, he’s in for a career-defining campaign. Plays like the one on Saturday might be expected against quarterbacks like Jones, but they could become a common theme in coverage this fall, regardless of the passer.