Tag: Dylan Horton

Texans DE Dylan Horton in remission after 2023 Hodkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis

Houston Texans 2023 fourth-round pick Dylan Horton announced he’s in remission and plans to return to the team at some point.

In the week leading up to the Houston Texans’s Christmas Eve matchup against the Cleveland Browns, I approached wide receiver Nico Collins at his locker. I took my usual position standing in front of the empty locker to his left, with Christian Harris’ locker to my right.

As I waited for Collins to prepare, I asked him a question that caught him off guard about the player whose locker I had occupied once a week for the past five weeks.

“I know you miss seeing the rookie around,” I said to Collins.

“Man, I have not seen him in a long time, and my thoughts and prayers are with him,” Collins responded. “I had some great talks sitting next to him about being a rookie and navigating through life as an NFL player.”

It had been a while since Texans defensive end Dylan Horton, selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft out of TCU, sat next to Collins. He was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list on Nov. 23 — four days after Horton recorded three tackles in a 21-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals — and missed the rest of the regular season and two postseason games.

At the time, Horton said in a statement he was “dealing with a personal health matter that will keep me away from the team for an indefinite period of time.”

Four months later, the 23-year-old from Frisco, Texas, revealed he stepped away after being diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma but had recently gone into remission.

“On December 1st, 2023, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma,” Horton said in the statement. “Through God’s grace, I’m blessed to say that I’m currently in remission!

“I am grateful for the love from my family and friends, and support from the texans organization and my doctors. My next objective is to complete my treatments, then get back to playing the game that I love. Thank you for your prayers and support as I continue this journey.”

Before he took his leave of absence from the team, I spoke with Horton about the Texans locker room culture following the Cardinals game.

“It’s a great feeling,” Horton said to Texans Wire at the time. “You feel the energy coming to practice, coming to the facility, coming to the games, and everybody is excited. We have to keep going.”

 

Horton is the second player from the Texans whose health issues affected their rookie season.

Wide receiver John Metchie III was diagnosed with leukemia before training camp in 2022 and had to sit out an entire season as he recovered from taking treatment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He has since fully recovered and appeared in 18 games for Houston this past season.

As for Horton, it sounds like Horton will make the same push to return to the field as Metchie did.

DE Dylan Horton to step away from Texans due to personal health matter

Houston Texans rookie defensive end Dylan Horton is stepping away from the team due to a personal health matter.

The Houston Texans will be without one of their rookie defensive ends indefinitely.

Fourth-round defensive end Dylan Horton released a statement through the team Wednesday that he will be away from the team indefinitely.

“I’m currently dealing with a personal health matter that will keep me away from the team for an indefinite period of time,” Dylan said. “I want to thank my family, my teammates and the entire Houston Texans organization for the support and care they have already provided me. I will provide updates from time to time, but my main focus right now is on my health and recovery. Thank you and God bless.”

Dylan had collected 13 combined tackles, one tackle for loss, two quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery through 10 games.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=601917191]

Texans’ Jerry Hughes plays big brother for all rookie DE

The Houston Texans’ Jerry Hughes has embraced the role of being the big brother for all of the rookie defensive ends in the DL room.

Jerry Hughes is one of the NFL’s most experienced defensive lineman, and on a team that is as inexperienced as the Houston Texans are heading into the 2023 season, expectations for his role as a mentor are at an all-time high.

A former 2010 first-round pick, it would seem only natural Hughes spent most of his time giving pointers to No. 3 overall pick Will Anderson. However, Hughes has a whole brotherhood that needs his direction.

“Yeah, I mean, [I mentor] all the young guys, honestly,” Hughes told reporters June 13 after mandatory minicamp.

Two of the other defensive ends in the room are fourth-rounder Dylan Horton — a former TCU product like Hughes — and undrafted Ali Gaye from LSU.

“All those guys, I try to be their big bro, whatever questions they have,” said Hughes. “I kind of seen it all in the NFL. Off the field, on the field, whatever they have, I try to be there for those guys. They’ve been here the entire off-season giving it their all, asking a lot of questions. That’s what we want. We need them to win games this year, so I’m excited.”

That excitement is sure to pay off if the Texans’ younger contributors can make sparks fly under his direction during the 2023 season. With a new coaching staff and revamped roster in place, Hughes may see his role on the field diminish over the course of Houston’s schedule.

The work Hughes is putting in now to acclimate the first and second-year talent on the team’s roster will make him an indispensable part of the Texans’ defense.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=46914089]

Texans DE Jerry Hughes sees ‘lot of upside’ in rookie Dylan Horton

Houston Texans defensive end Jerry Hughes believes that fourth-rounder Dylan Horton has potential in the new defense.

Jerry Hughes has known Dylan Horton for a while.

The Houston Texans’ fourth-round pick was wearing Hughes’ No. 98 while with TCU, their alma mater. At the Horned Frogs’ spring game last year, Hughes introduced himself to his future Texans teammate.

“He was wearing No. 98, so, I figured go see who the guy is at TCU who is rocking my old number,” Hughes told reporters June 13 at mandatory minicamp.

Most spectators are aware the Texans shored up their edge defense with Alabama defensive end Will Anderson at No. 3 overall. However, the Texans continued to add to their trenches with Horton at No. 109 overall in Round 4.

Hughes summed up Horton as, “another tall, tremendous athlete with a lot of upside,” who has the ability to, “kind of get off the ball, use some of his size to his advantage.

Horton is listening to the instruction defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire and assistant defensive line coach Rod Wright have been dispensing throughout the Texans’ offseason workouts.

Along with undrafted defensive end Ali Gaye from LSU, Hughes believes the Texans’ defensive line has a trio of rookies who can help Houston achieve their objectives defensively in 2023.

Said Hughes: “It’s going to make us that better of a team when we have young guys that can fly around, play fast, and also be smart as well.”

The Texans gave up the most rushing yards last season at 170.2, and gave up the fourth-most yards per carry at 5.1. Having an attacking defensive line with younger players hitting their potential is a recipe to fortify the trenches.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1416]

DE Jerry Hughes says Texans rookies are vocal, asking questions

Houston Texans defensive end Jerry Hughes says that the rookies are very vocal and asking questions during meetings.

Being the new person at a job can be as awkward as a new character being written into season five of a TV series, and it is no different for NFL rookies.

Typically youngsters avoid asking questions during meetings, hoping to figure out the problems they couldn’t grasp in a more familiar environment.

According to defensive end Jerry Hughes, the Houston Texans have rookies on defense who aren’t afraid to be vocal in the classroom.

Defensive ends Will Anderson, Dylan Horton, and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o are leading the charge and ask questions on concepts they don’t quite understand or need further clarification.

“Henry, Will, Dylan, those guys are vocal, they’re asking questions,” Hughes told reporters Tuesday after mandatory minicamp. “We’re talking about technique throughout practice. It’s not where we’re just wasting time. The minute we walk in this building, it’s football on.”

At 34 years old, Hughes keeps being the older veteran wherever he goes. As the former TCU product enters his second season with Houston, Hughes appreciates the spark from the rookies.

“I think that’s what I love to see,” said Hughes. “You love that you got a young group of guys that are passionate about this game, who want to take their game to the next level. They’re constantly on it day in, day out.”

Hughes accepts that the rookies are atypical when it comes to their desire to learn.

Said Hughes: “Normally when you get around a bunch of people and you’re kind of new into that environment, you kind of tend to be more standoffish, kind of want to shrink down in the chair versus being a little bit more boastful, willing to ask questions, willing to get it repeated so you can make sure you understand it. Because you’d be surprised, there’s a lot more other people who need that understanding as well. When you have young guys doing that, that’s just a great mentality that you love to have.”

Coaches can instill so much, and veterans can carry the torch so long. Ultimately a team can only cross the chasm into prosperity with younger players buying in.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=46914089]

Texans GM Nick Caserio says DE Dylan Horton will play more on the line of scrimmage

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio says new DE Dylan Horton, while having coverage skills, will play closer to the line of scrimmage.

The Houston Texans provided new coach DeMeco Ryans with reinforcements for his edge defense.

Houston picked Alabama defensive end Will Anderson No. 3 overall on Day 1, and then started off Day 3 with taking TCU defensive end No. 109 overall in Round 4.

Even Horton has the ability to play in coverage as he did in the Horned Frogs’ defense last year, general manager Nick Caserio envisions the 6-4, 257-pounder being more of a defensive end along the line of scrimmage in Ryans’ scheme.

“Look, him dropping into coverage isn’t necessarily like a strength of his,” Caserio said. “Now, it’s something that he’s done. Does that help him relative to what we’re going to ask him to do and teach him? Probably not. With a lot of players, not just Dylan, but what we’re going to ask them to do may be a little bit different than what they’ve done previously in their system.”

The Texans are staying with a four-man front, a leftover from the Lovie Smith deployment of the Tampa 2 scheme over the past two seasons. However, how Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke implement their four-man front will be different.

As such, Horton will need to make adjustments to his game.

Said Caserio: “I’d say we’re going to probably more of a four-man front. So with four down linemen, probably play with his hand on the ground more than he would play from up or in a spatial alignment. Now, he’s been a back to front. He was a safety or whatever he was. He kind of gradually moved towards the line of scrimmage. Again, the viewpoint of the game, when you’re — it’s more about spatial awareness and spatial understanding, but then when you’re playing defensive end, it’s really specific. It’s a little bit less space, less multiples, then you’re focused on the player that’s in front of you.”

Horton generated 51 combined tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and a forced fumble through 15 games for TCU last season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1416]

WATCH: TCU DE Dylan Horton takes draft call from Houston Texans

See former TCU DE Dylan Horton take the call from the Houston Texans to select him in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Houston Texans made sure to keep Dylan Horton inside the Lone Star State to start his NFL career.

As Houston was turning in the pick to take the TCU defensive end No. 109 overall in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL draft, general manager Nick Caserio called Horton.

“How are you, buddy? How are you doing?” Caserio asked.

“Doing well,” Horton said. “How are you doing?”

“Good, good,” said Caserio. “We’re about to make your day a little bit better. So, we’re on the clock here. We’re going to turn the pick in and make you a Texan. So, congratulations.”

“Thank you, thank you,” Horton said.

“You bet, you bet,” Caserio replied.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1362]

WATCH: Best highlights from Texans DE Dylan Horton from TCU

Take a look at some of the best highlights from Houston Texans fourth-round DE Dylan Horton from TCU.

The Houston Texans selected defensive end Dylan Horton with the No. 109 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft Saturday.

Horton was a key piece of TCU’s defense last season and should serve as valuable depth behind third-overall selection Will Anderson on the Texans’ roster.

Horton was a productive player for the Horned Frogs and will have a chance to contribute in Houston as the team looks to rebuild next season. Check out some of the highlights that warranted his selection in the fourth round to get more familiar with his game:

Houston Texans pick TCU DE Dylan Horton No. 109 overall in Round 4 of 2023 NFL Draft

The Houston Texans drafted TCU DE Dylan Horton with their No. 109 overall pick in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Houston Texans are loading up along the defensive line.

The Texans used their No. 109 overall pick in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL draft to take former TCU defensive end Dylan Horton.

Horton, 22, played with the Horned Frogs from 2020-22, racking up 110 combined tackles, 25.0 tackles for loss, and 15.5 sacks through 32 games.

The Frisco High School product had his most iconic game of the season in the College Football Playoff semifinal when TCU beat Michigan 51-45. Horton generated 4.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl.

Horton stood at 6-4 and weighed 257 pounds according to his measurements at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=1365]

One EDGE prospect in each round of the 2023 NFL draft

The Browns have options.

With the 2023 NFL draft set to kick off in just a few days, the Cleveland Browns could use more depth at edge rusher opposite Myles Garrett. The team got very little production from any other edge players. This year’s class has some intriguing pass rushers that could improve the overall talent in the edge room.

Based on the free agency period the team had, pass rusher and defensive tackle will likely be the focus early in this draft. The team also needs help at linebacker but the linebacker class isn’t good outside of a few players. Let’s take a look at one edge player in each round for Cleveland.