Tag: Kamari Lassiter draft

Will Kamari Lassiter play in Week 12?: Update on Texans rookie CB

Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter was dealing with a concussion last week against the Dallas Cowboys but has returned to practice as a full participant.

Last week, the Houston Texans gained back wide receiver Nico Collins and defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. for Monday’s showdown in Arlington against the Dallas Cowboys.

This week, two more names are expected to return.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. practiced for the first time since Week 9’s loss against the New York Jets and is expected to play. He’s been dealing with an ankle injury that sidelined him for two games.

What about Kamari Lassiter? Will the rookie be cleared to cover Calvin Ridley as the Tennessee Titans look to end a two-game losing streak?

Here’s an update on the Texans’ rookie defender heading into Sunday’s showdown at NRG Stadium.

Kamari Lassiter injury update

Lassiter, who missed two games earlier in the season with a shoulder injury, left during Week 10’s matchup against the Detroit Lions with a concussion. He returned to practice last Friday but did not play against the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football” at AT&T Stadium.

A week later, Lassiter was good to go. he was close to returning but hadn’t quite cleared protocol in time for Monday’s showdown. That won’t be the case this week.

Lassiter was a full participant in Friday’s practice and did not carry any injury assignment heading into the weekend, meaning he’s cleared to play when the Titans arrive for an AFC South clash.

Houston’s been keen on protecting its players from returning early. Collins was activated before the Lions game but did not play because the Texans wanted him closer to 100 percent.

Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o suffered a concussion in Week 6’s win over the New England Patriots and was held out for Week 7’s game against the Green Bay Packers for precautionary purposes.

The player might feel content, but the team doesn’t want to risk further injury.

Kamari Lassiter stats

A second-round pick out of Georgia, Lassiter recorded two interceptions last week, including one before halftime. In eight games, he’s collected 29 tackles, eight pass breakups and three interceptions.

Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 16 of 38 passes for 247 yards for a 42.1 completion percentage with two touchdowns allowed. 

Texans CB depth chart

With Stingley and Lassiter both at full potential, 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. He was added to the roster on Monday in place of former New England Patriots starter Myles Bryant.

Hollman, 30, started opposite Stingley in Monday’s 34-10 win over the Cowboys. He also started one game last season for the Texans en route to securing a division title behind quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Boyd is best used on special teams.

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

Will Kamari Lassiter play today?: Update on Texans rookie CB

Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter is dealing with a concussion heading into Monday’s game 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 left during the third quarter of Week 10’s loss against the Detroit Lions and could be out on primetime.

The Texans have put faith in Lassiter to step up opposite Derek Stingley Jr. He’s been one of the more decisive defenders in coverage and an ideal secondary option for Houston’s man-heavy defense when active, but will he be good to go on primetime?

Here’s an update on the Texans’ rookie defender heading into AT&T Stadium.

Kamari Lassiter injury update

Lassiter, who missed two games earlier in the season with a shoulder injury, left during Sunday’s game with a concussion. He did not practice during Thursday or Friday’s open session as he remains in protocol.

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. That changed to Friday.

Lassiter did however appear in Saturday’s practice. Much like Collins, it’ll be another week after being cleared before fans watch the start defender take the field.

According to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson, Lassiter will not play on Monday night against the NFC East foe.

How long will Kamari Lassiter be out? 

Per Wilson, Laisster should be good when Houston takes on Tennessee next Sunday at NRG Stadium. Even if Lassiter felt healthy enough to play, the Texans are being precautionary with their star defender, as they generally are with players one week after a concussion.

Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o suffered a concussion in Week 6’s win over the New England Patriots and was held out for Week 7’s game against the Green Bay Packers for precautionary purposes. The player might feel content, but the team doesn’t want to risk further injury.

Kamari Lassiter stats

A second-round pick out of Georgia, Lassiter recorded two interceptions last week, including one before halftime. In eight games, he’s collected 29 tackles, eight pass breakups and three interceptions.

Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 16 of 38 passes for 247 yards for a 42.1 completion percentage with two touchdowns allowed. 

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. He was added to the roster on Monday in place of former New England Patriots starter Myles Bryant.

According to Wilson, the Texans plan on starting Hollmon opposite Stingley this week in Arlington.

Hollman, 30, started one game last season for the Texans en route to securing a division title behind quarterback C.J. Stroud. He played in three games for the Baltimore Ravens before being picked up by Houston to the active roster earlier this season.

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

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 Texans and Cowboys after Thursday’s practice:

Kamari Lassiter injury update: Is Texans CB playing Week 8 vs. Colts?

Will Kamari Lassiter be back for the Houston Texans in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts?

Kamari Lassiter is back at practice and feeling like his usual self. That’s a sign in the right direction for the Houston Texans rookie cornerback as the AFC South favorites welcome the Indianapolis Colts to NRG Stadium in Week 8.

After missing the past two games, countless Texans fans have begun wondering if Lassier will return for Sunday’s divisional matchup. The former Georgia star played through a scapula injury suffered in Week 5’s win over the Buffalo Bills but then was ruled inactive in Week 6 and Week 7.

Is he set to return now with the Texans’ two-game road trip over?

Kamari Lassiter injury update

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans noted that even having Lassiter back in limited participation was a sign in the right direction after having limited movement in the shoulder blade the past two weeks.

“It’s encouraging any time you can get those guys back out on the field,” Ryans said Wednesday. “So, good to get him back and we’ll see day by day, see how they continue to progress and see if they can help us this week.”

Lassiter was listed as a limited participant when the Week 8 practice report was released on Wednesday. He was a full participant Friday, meaning there’s a good chance he’s medically cleared to return to drills.

Is Kamari Lassiter playing in Week 8?

Barring a last-second change of heart, Lassiter should be good to go for Sunday’s matchup. That’s a win for the Texans’ secondary following last week’s 24-22 loss against the Green Bays Packers at Lambeau Field.

While D’Angelo Ross played well in Week 6’s win over the New England Patriots, he gave up 95 yards in coverage on seven catches and a touchdown against Jordan Love.

This season, Lassiter has been one of the better rookie cornerbacks. He’s recorded 15 tackles, two for losses, three pass deflections and an interception. According to Pro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks have completed 9 of 24 passes against Lassiter for 193 yards.

Texans CB depth chart

Lassiter is the clear-cut No. 2 option behind Pro Bowl defender Derek Stingley Jr. in coverage. Behind the duo, there’s little starting talent that eases fans’ hearts.

Below is a look at Houston’s cornerback rotation:

  1. Derek Stingley Jr.
  2. Kamari Lassiter
  3. D’Angelo Ross
  4. Ka’Dar Hollmon
  5. Kris Boyd.

Stingley has been one of the league’s better cover corners the last two seasons when healthy. Ross and Boyd are standouts on special teams are known for their consistent tackling skills.

Kickoff from NRG Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Could Texans be without CB Kamari Lassiter past Week 6?

Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter might be out longer than just Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.

Kamari Lassiter won’t suit up on Sunday when the Houston Texans take on the New England Patriots, but that was expected.

Missing beyond Week 6 wasn’t, but it could be a reality.

According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Lassiter suffered a scapula injury on his shoulder against the Buffalo Bills and is expected to miss multiple games this month. The injury is uncommon in the NFL, though one that will be monitored by the Texans’ medical staff.

Lassiter is expected to make a full recovery this season with rest and rehabilitation. According to Wilson, surgery isn’t expected.

Lassiter reportedly suffered the injury during the final series of the Texans’ 23-20 win over Buffalo when he landed on his shoulder while in coverage against Keon Coleman. He managed to stick in the game for the last play, but could have been sidelined if the game were to have gone to overtime.

Medically, the scapula is located in the back of the shoulder between the shoulder and the spine. If the nerve is pinched, it can cause immobility and lingering pain.

Not having Lassiter is a blow to a secondary that already was leaning on Derek Stingley Jr. With Lassiter sidelined, the Texans will turn to a combination of Ka’dar Hollman, D’Angelo Ross and Kris Boyd to fill in until he returns.

A second-round pick out of Georgia, Lassiter has started every game on the outside. He’s recorded 15 tackles, two for losses, an interception of Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and three pass breakups.

Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 9 of 24 passes against Lassiter for 193 yards. He’s allowed one touchdown through five games in coverage.

Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans to be without star rookie DB in Week 6

Kamari Lassiter won’t be suiting up this week for the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans might feel content on offense, but they’ll be missing a vital member of the secondary Sunday afternoon.

Rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter is out for Houston’s showdown against the New England Patriots with a shoulder injury. Lassiter, the Texans’ second-round pick out of Georgia, has started every game this season opposite Derek Stingley Jr. in coverage.

Houston now must turn to either veteran special teams star Kris Boyd or Ka’Dar Hollmon for Sunday’s matchup. Hollman could be the favorite after the Texans signed him to the active roster earlier this week.

Lassiter has been a consistent defender opposite the former No. 3 overall pick, often drawing the No. 2 receiver for an opponent. He did allow his first touchdown last week when Bills rookie Keon Coleman broke free for a 49-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Through five games, Lassiter has an interception, three passes defended and 15 total tackles, including two tackles for loss.

The Texans will also be without veteran safety Jimmie Ward (groin) and wide receiver Robert Woods (foot).

With Ward out, this likely thrusts third-round pick Calen Bullock into a larger role Sunday. On offense, the Texans were already down one receiver in Nico Collins, who landed on the injured reserve earlier this week.

Kickoff from Gilette Stadium is scheduled for noon.

Is Texans CB Kamari Lassiter the favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Kamari Lassiter might be in line to take home the highest honor for a defensive rookie through four games.

Kamari Lassiter has looked the part of a solid No. 2 cornerback through four games with the Houston Texans.

Is he on the same level as Pro Bowler Derek Stingley Jr.? Not yet.

Is he in line to perhaps win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors? According to one publication, yes.

In the latest column dropped by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, Lassiter was named the favorite to win the award one month into the season. Should that hold, it would mark the first time in franchise history that back-to-back players won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. took home the honors last season after tying J.J. Watt’s rookie sack record at 7.5.

Barnwell believes that Lassiter has been one of the “stingiest” corners through one month of action and rarely has allowed an opponent to win during man coverage drills.

“Lassiter should be seeing plenty of targets, but he has allowed opposing quarterbacks to go only 4-of-12 for 123 yards with an interception, which came when he went off his own man in a scramble drill to pick off a Caleb Williams pass in Week 2,” Barnwell wrote.

According to NextGenStats, Lassiter is posting a 42.0 passer rating against a defender in coverage, which leads all rookies with at least over 50 defensive snaps. Barnwell notes that the second-round pick out of Georgia has also been one of the best cover corners —regardless of age — when asked to play in man.

“He hasn’t been perfect — Brian Thomas Jr. got him on a double move for a touchdown last week, only for [Jaguars QB] Trevor Lawrence to miss the throw — but in a season when there aren’t many great rookie defenders through four games, he tops the list,” Barnwell wrote.

Lassiter could be in line to keep building a rookie resume worth watching when the Texans play host to the Buffalo Bills this Sunday at noon CT.

Texans rookie CB Kamari Lassiter will not play in Hall of Fame Game

Fans of the Houston Texans will have to wait at least one more week to see rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter in action.

Kamari Lassiter has been one of the top standouts since the start of offseason workouts. He’s been so consistent that he’ll have time to rest before returning to practice next week. 

According to KPRC 2 Sports, Lassiter will not play Thursday night in the Hall of Fame against the Chicago Bears. The second-round pick will rest with a majority of starters heading into next week’s preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

While Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said that rookies would see extensive playing time against the Bears, he also told SportsRadio 610 that starters would not be active since the team still would have three more preseason games. 

“When I look at the decision-making process of who’s playing, first thing’s first is we have an extra [preseason] game,” Ryans told Texans’ play-by-play announcer Mark Vandermeer. “So, [we] don’t want any of our starters out there playing.” 

Going off Ryans’ comments, it would appear that Lassiter has all but earned the starting No. 2 cornerback spot opposite Derek Stingley Jr. The former Georgia product was expected to compete for starting reps at the nickel position, but blossomed in the early stages of OTAs. 

So far during training camp, Lassiter has worked exclusively on the boundary with the first-team defense and thrived in man coverage. He’s garnered praise from Ryans and veteran receivers for his attention to detail and physical demeanor.

“[He’s] definitely the best young DB I’ve seen coming out of college that I’ve had the chance to go against,” receiver Noah Brown said following Monday’s practice. “He’s very sticky in coverage, very confident in his ability and I think if he keeps on the pace that he’s at, he could have an elite rookie season and an elite career.”

Lassiter, the No. 42 overall pick, shined as a starter during his three seasons at Georgia. During his final year in Athens, he held opposing quarterbacks to a  38.5 percent completion rate, the lowest among SEC defenders and fourth-lowest among FBS cornerbacks.

“He’s not scared to stand up there at the line with you,” Brown said. “He’s not backpedaling out early. He’s trying to get hands on. He’s confident in his ability and you can tell through his play.”

Kickoff from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Can Texans rookie CB Kamari Lassiter fix secondary woes?

Kamari Lassiter might be the key to fixing the Houston Texans’ secondary in 2024.

Following free agency, Texans general manager Nick Caserio understood which direction he’d turn in the upcoming NFL draft.

Moves made at defensive end, running back and linebacker confirmed that cornerback would be a top option on Houston’s big board come early in the second round.

Still, Caserio figured whichever rookie would serve as the “first” pick for the 2024 cycle likely wouldn’t make a “significant impact” in Year 1 since the AFC South champions built a roster worthy of contending in free agency.

That was that thought process before Kamari Lassiter showed up to OTAs. Turns out the second-round pick out of Georgia is forcing his way into being an x-factor for DeMeco Ryans’ defense in Year 2.

Lassiter, a two-year starter for the Bulldogs, shined during practices last month in coverage. Everyone saw the pair of pass deflections against Stefon Diggs posted on the team’s X page, but there’s more behind the scenes.

Lassiter was fluid coming out of his breaks. He broke up a pass intended for the 6-foot-4 Nico Collins despite standing at 5-foot-11. He kept pace with speedster Tank Dell in the nickel on a vertical route, thus eliminating him from the play.

Initially, Lassiter was pegged to compete with Myles Bryant and Desmond King for the starting nickel position. With training camp around the corner, the “Locksmith” might have locked down a spot on the outside opposite former first-rounder Derek Stingley Jr.

“What I have seen from Kamari is a guy that has been locked in since day one that he has gotten here,” Ryans said following OTAs. “He is very competitive, he is making plays, he is an instinctive player. I think a lot of guys have been fired up to see what he has been able to do over the past couple weeks.”

Draft analysts pegged Lassiter as an ideal fit for Ryans’ scheme because of his physicality near the line of scrimmage. Ryans’ patented “SWARM” mentality is built around a player’s premise flying to the football and playing to the end of the whistle.

That’s Lassiter, who allowed just a 38.5% completion rate in coverage last season, the lowest among SEC defenders and fourth-lowest among FBS cornerbacks. The only reason he wasn’t regarded as a bonafide first-round lock was because of an underwhelming 4.64 40 time at his pro day.

Speed hasn’t been a problem in coverage for Lassiter during the early stages of camp. Neither has his attention to detail.

“It’s just that mentality you have coming from the SEC,” defensive end Will Anderson said of Lassiter. “He gets it. He knows now is the time. He doesn’t have to wait for nobody. He’s not scared to jump up in front of the line. He’s not afraid to go make plays. That’s the type of mentality that he has coming from a place like that.”

The Texans were a top-10 defense in nearly every metric last season but failed to capitalize on one major asset: explosive plays. They allowed 60 plays over 20 yards downfield, 28 of which came in the final six weeks of the regular season.

Jalen Pitre struggled with consistency in man coverage after a breakout rookie season. Jimmie Ward was the better of the two downfield, but he also missed seven games due to injury.

Third-round pick Calen Bulock should be considered a long-term replacement for Ward given his center-field-type coverage range. Pitre isn’t a lost cause because of one bad year, but he’ll need to improve in coverage if he plans to be a part of the Texans’ plans past his rookie contract.

Lassiter could fix the issue should he start on the outside. Despite only notching one interception, he eliminated top targets in the SEC, including first-round picks Jameson Williams, Xavier Legette and Malik Nabers.

Ryans won’t hand Lassiter the starting job just because of a good summer. He’ll have to earn it over the next six weeks before taking on Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 1.

Right now, it’s a three-man race for CB2 reps. Former first-round pick Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson signed one-year deals to rejuvenate their careers after underwhelming stints in their first two years. Neither were up to the same level as Lassiter during reps in practice.

The Texans have an offense ready to win a title. The defense, headlined by the pass-rushing duo of Anderson and Danielle Hunter, should put up career numbers if they can stay healthy. Every area on paper improved in the offseason, including cornerback depth after the departure of Steven Nelson.

If Lassiter can start right away as a second-round pick, Caserio once more struck gold in the mid-rounds with another cornerstone entering a new age of Houston football.

C.J. Stroud praised the defense for their work in practice last month, calling it a “dogs on dogs” battle.

“The best teams I’ve ever been on have been the closest teams partially, but also the most competitive teams,” Stroud said.

Lassiter adds to that competitive nature in practice. One could say he elevates it.

“He can do great things for this defense and be a part of something special that we have going on here,” Anderson said.