Tag: Desmond King

CB Desmond King thanks Texans after being cut

Cornerback Desmond King thanked the Houston Texans for the past two seasons after being cut Aug. 28.

For Desmond King, the adventure won’t continue with the Houston Texans.

The former Pro Bowl cornerback was among the Texans’ cuts Monday. King took to X (formerly Twitter) to express gratitude for the city and fan base.

“THANK YOU HOUSTON,” King tweeted.

According to safety Jimmie Ward, King was one of the defensive backs who caught his eye when he signed with the Texans.

“They really impressed me when I got here,” Ward told reporters July 27. “‘Des’ King in the nickel —like, the dude is so athletic. I think he wears like a three-X glove. I knew he was good.”

King generated 127 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, five interceptions, 14 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries through 33 games for the Texans, 25 of which he started.

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Houston Texans cuts tracker: Trimming to get to 53

Here is a look at the cuts the Houston Texans have made as they build their 53-man roster.

The Houston Texans must get their roster at 53 men by 3:00 p.m. Central Time Aug. 29.

In that process comes easy cuts and also some difficult decisions.

“I appreciate guys just their work ethic and how much work those guys put in for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters Monday. “I don’t take that lightly. Our guys have done a great job of doing what we’ve asked them to do. We’ve asked them to work hard each and every day — our guys did that. They didn’t complain, they just worked. So, it’s a hard day. Over the next couple of days — it’ll be a hard few days having to let guys go because I know the work that these men have put in.”

Below are the moves the Texans have made as they build their first regular season roster under Ryans.

Texans CB Desmond King providing tips for rookie QB C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans cornerback Desmond King gives rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud pointers and advice after their team portions of training camp.

HOUSTON — The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes consistency as an agreement or harmony of parts and features to one another or a whole.

First-year Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans must have that word etched into memory when evaluating players on the field looking to make the roster and contribute this season.

One player showing signs of putting together consistent training camp practices is rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who took all of the first-team reps for the second consecutive day as he continues his bid to become the Opening Day starter against the Baltimore Ravens.

In front of the fans in attendance for the first evening practice at Houston Methodist Training Center, Stroud displayed why he is starting to separate himself from the competition with third-year quarterback Davis Mills.

During red-zone 7-on-7 drills, the former Ohio State standout threw a picturesque lob pass to running back Dameon Pierce, who was locked up against cornerback Desmond King. Stroud placed the ball where the only options were Pierce dropping the pass, or it went out of the side of the end zone.

After making a spectacular catch, the second-year running back went to one knee and played the air guitar as the fans cheered him on from the stands.

Stroud struck gold in the end zone again later in the drill when he found tight end Mason Schreck in the back of the end zone for another score.

As practice continued, he began to show that he is a quick learner and rarely commits the same mistake twice. Unlike previous practices where the Texans defenders could bait him into an error or a turnover, Stroud took what was given to him as he consistently moved the ball down the field during 11-on-11 drills.

“I talk to him here and there and let him know that it is ok to check the ball down to your safety (receiver or back),” said Desmond King when asked about the progression of Stroud. “I know you want to make that one (spectacular) pass, but sometimes you have to make the right pass instead of the pass you want.”

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ top-10 Madden NFL 24 grades unveiled

The grades are in! In a show of black and gold strength, the Hawkeyes are well represented in Madden NFL 24. Here’s the top-10 rated Hawks.

It’s that time of year again! July is wrapping up and people are mad online. Yup, it’s definitely Madden season.

EA Sports has started its annual tradition of angering sports fans all over the country with the release of its new Madden ratings. Your favorite $70 roster update and cause of broken controllers is set to release on Aug. 15. Hopefully, the game survives in a non-broken state this year by the playoffs! Hey, maybe things will be different this year.

What certainly won’t be is the time-honored tradition of former Iowa Hawkeyes being some of the best players you can add to your team in Madden. We all know about that black and gold pipeline to the NFL, and there are few better feelings than playing with some of your favorite former Hawkeyes on Madden.

You have no shortage of great Iowa players to pick from when building your team in Madden 24. These are the top 10 ranked Hawkeyes in the newest game.

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Texans CB Desmond King claims number 0

Cornerback Desmond King will be the first No. 0 in the history of the Houston Texans.

The NFL expanded the rules to provide for the use of the number 0 among all position groups, save for offensive and defensive linemen.

With a unique jersey number available, there has been anticipation across all 32 teams as to which player would be willing to make the switch.

According to the Houston Texans’ official website, it appears that there will be a number 0 on the roster in 2023. Cornerback Desmond King switched from No. 25 to the newly available numeral.

The jersey number would mark the fourth different version in King’s career. With the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-20, he sported the No. 20. During his nine-game stint with the Tennessee Titans to close out 2020, King had No. 33.

Other jersey number changes include Robert Woods. The free agent receiver will wear No. 2 as cornerback Tavierre Thomas, last year’s bearer of the numeral, will switch to No. 4, marking the third different jersey number he has worn in as many seasons with Houston.

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Desmond King II reflects on Christian Kirksey’s nomination for Walter Payton Man of the Year award

King, a college teammate of Kirksey at the University of Iowa, told reporters that the linebacker’s nomination was a long time coming

Nominations were submitted by every team in the NFL this week for the league’s most prestigious honor, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, and the Houston Texans selected linebacker Christian Kirksey as their representative for his work in the community this year. Ultimately, every player who is nominated is deserving of the accolade, but only one will be chosen as the league’s top off-field performer for their service.

Cornerback Desmond King II was asked about Kirksey’s nomination on Tuesday and made it clear to the media that the recognition has been a long time coming for his college teammate.

“I’ve been around Christian [Kirksey] for so long now,” King told reporters. “He was actually a senior in college when I was a freshman at Iowa, so I’ve been around Christian. Very great person, very selfless. He cares about everyone that’s around him. Definitely a leader and I congratulate him for being nominated for that award. He is definitely the epitome of being a community guy. That’s something that’s definitely stood out for him since I’ve met him.”

The praise from King is certainly warranted and speaks to Kirksey’s commitment over a series of years to making an impact in the communities he has played in. It takes a special kind of person to be put up for consideration to receive such a high honor, and Kirksey certainly seems to fit the bill.

In his nomination, the Texans cited Kirksey’s work with families in Uvalde, Texas, and his continued commitment to strengthening the team’s bond with Texas Southern University as examples of work he has put in to warrant his selection as the team’s candidate.

Fans should stay tuned to the NFL’s postseason awards as the season winds down to stay in the know about Kirksey’s chances of winning the award.

Desmond King characterizes Cowboys’ passing game as ‘electric’

Desmond King made it clear that the #Cowboys’ passing game won’t be easy for the #Texans’ secondary to contain in Week 14

The Houston Texans are in for a tough matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14, and their players are not mincing words about the challenge posed by their intrastate rival. Dallas is home to one of the league’s top teams, and Houston will be lucky to escape the game without losing by a considerable margin.

The Cowboys’ passing game is a chief concern for the Texans’ secondary, and veteran defensive back Desmond King II told reporters on Tuesday that he has a lot of respect for what Dallas can do when they throw the ball.

“They’re electric. They’re hitting on all cylinders,” King explained. “You got Dak Prescott, and they’ve got some really good receivers over there, so they’re going to do what they’ve got to do win as well. They’ve got two great backs in Zeke [Elliott] and [Tony] Pollard. It’s definitely going to be a challenge for sure, just like any other team.”

Dallas’ multidimensional approach on offense will be difficult for Houston’s defense to contain with consistency, and odds are that the Texans will be more in the business of damage control rather than outright dominance. Their showing against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday gave fans hope that their defensive unit was on the rise, and they still might be, but up against an offensive juggernaut in Dallas, it is likely that they take a step back this week.

Still without rookie sensation Derek Stingley Jr. in their secondary, Houston will need one of their other contributors to step up in their secondary if they hope to put up a respectable fight against the Cowboys. Watch for King to lead the way in this matchup, and for other veterans like Steven Nelson and Jonathan Owens to give the Texans an extra push against Dallas in hopes of getting Houston its second win of the season.

CB Desmond King ‘not really sure’ what Texans vs. Cowboys rivalry is about

Houston Texans cornerback Desmond King says that he is none too familiar with the club’s rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys from the NFC East.

Desmond King isn’t from around these parts.

The former San Diego Chargers 2017 fifth-round pick grew up in Detroit and played his college ball at Iowa. When King joined the Texans in 2021 after spending the first four and a half seasons with the Chargers — and the rest of the 2020 campaign with the Tennessee Titans — it was the first time he lived in Texas.

“I’m not too familiar with the Dallas-Houston relationship,” King told reporters Tuesday. “I’m not from here. I have heard people talk about the game, the battle of Texas. Not really sure what the rivalry is about.”

A comparison King would appreciate is the rivalry between Detroit and Cleveland. The two cities that surround Lake Erie are rivals in everything from baseball to football to basketball.

Like the Texans and Dallas Cowboys, the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions only meet once every four seasons due to the NFL’s scheduling formula. Nevertheless both fan bases can take home bragging rights after the game, regardless of the team’s records going into the contest.

With Dallas at the northern end of I-45 and Houston at the southern end — a three and a half hour drive — a rivalry is inevitable, especially in a football charged state such as Texas.

Dallas and Houston play for the Governor’s Cup. The two sides meet often in preseason with last year being the most recent. In regular season play, the Cowboys hold a 3-2 advantage over the Texans.

The first win in Texans history was a 19-10 victory over the Cowboys on Sept. 8, 2002, at then-Reliant Stadium. The win was a statement to the sports world that the NFL was back in Houston, which had been devoid of pro football since the Houston Oilers left for Tennessee after the 1996 season.

“To me, it’s just going to be another game that we got to go in with the goal to win,” King said.

Texans mark fifth game with multiple takeaways in loss to Browns

The #Texans continue to take losses despite forcing turnovers at a high rate

The Houston Texans’ loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 13 was a frustrating affair, especially given that it constituted their 10th defeat of the season at the hands of their former quarterback. The 13-point margin that ultimately doomed their efforts was indicative of how they’ve squandered opportunities at every turn in 2022, and though they fought hard to the bitter end, Houston remains the league’s most inept team, unable to secure victory at any cost.

Perhaps the only thing that went right for them in the matchup was their ability to force turnovers, which kept the game from getting completely out of hand. Rookie safety Jalen Pitre turned out an admirable performance, snagging his third interception of the season and combining for 16 total tackles in what should be considered his breakout performance.

Likewise, defensive back Demond King II managed to recover a fumble in the game, helping to mark the fifth time that the Texans have forced multiple turnovers this season. Usually, multi-turnover games are considered a rarity, but it seems that when opponents have played against Houston this season, all normal customs and tendencies go out the window.

The most frustrating reality of this milestone is the fact that the Texans can put together a competent defensive gameplan that would normally result in a positive outcome, but the ineptitude of their offense is an insurmountable obstacle that the team just cannot seem to overcome to get a win.

At this rate, Houston will finish the season with one win and a tie to show for their efforts and will lose no less than 14 games en route to securing themselves the first-overall pick in April’s draft. Ostensibly, they’d use that selection to take their pick of the 2023 quarterback class, but it seems that whomever they choose will be up against the gun from day one as they battle the team’s overall incompetence in what is sure to be a whirlwind rookie season.

WATCH: Texans CB Tavierre Thomas strips Browns WR Anthony Schwartz

Houston Texans cornerback Tavierre Thomas managed to force a fumble from Cleveland Browns receiver Anthony Schwartz in Week 13.

The Houston Texans only had one takeaway in the past three games, but they got off to an early start in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson completed a pass early in the first quarter at NRG Stadium. However, as it appeared Cleveland picked up the first down with a reception to receiver Anthony Schwartz, cornerback Tavierre Thomas forced a fumble with cornerback Desmond King recovering.

The Texans took the free possession as far as the Browns’ 16-yard line, but penalties pushed Houston back. Nevertheless the Texans were able to cash in on the takeaway with a 44-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.