Tag: Neville Hewitt

2 ruled out, 5 questionable in Colts vs. Texans

Here are the injury designations for the Colts and Texans in Week 2.

The Indianapolis Colts (0-1) and Houston Texans (0-1) are entering a divisional matchup in Week 2 that likely will be impacted by injuries on both sides.

On the final injury report, the Colts didn’t rule any players out but did have two players listed as questionable, including one starter. For the Texans, two starters were ruled out for the game while three others are listed as questionable, two of which are starters.

UPDATE: We swapped Colts tight end Drew Ogletree for Kylen Granson. Ogletree was cleared from the concussion protocol and taken off the injury report while Granson was a late addition to the injury report due to a hamstring injury.

Here’s a look at the injury designations for the Week 2 matchup.

Consistency is key for Texans LB Neville Hewitt

Going into his eighth NFL season and second with the Houston Texans, LB Neville Hewitt knows that consistent play is pivotal.

As Davis Mills drops back to pass during the seven-on-seven red zone drill, he notices his tight end Brevin Jordan has made his way to the middle of the end zone and is using his 6-3, 245-pound frame to shield off the safety behind him. Jordan throws up his hand to signal to his quarterback that he is open.

Mills sees the hand and throws the pass towards his tight end with incredible velocity. All indicators showed that this would be a successful play for the Texans’ offense, but something happened while the ball was in the air.

Out of nowhere, eight-year linebacker Neville Hewitt jumps right in front of the pass intended for Jordan and tries to make an interception but is unsuccessful. His attempt caused the ball to go in the air and come down in the arms of rookie safety Jalen Pitre.

Plays like that are what Hewitt has been doing since Day 1 of Texans training camp. He attributes his plays in camp so far to the familiarity with coach Lovie Smith’s system.

“After being in the system for a second year, you kind of got an idea of where you are supposed to be,” Hewitt said after practice. “After studying, watching film and taking coaching, all I am trying to do is get better every day.”

Most NFL players use “stacking days” as a mantra during daily practices. In layman’s terms, it means being consistent in what is working for them and improving on it. That mindset is what a coach wants to see when observing players on the field and film.

Hewitt has “stacked” enough days during training camp for the coaches to notice, including Smith.

“I love everything he’s done since he got here,” said Smith. “As you watch practice just about every day he’s out there, he’s one of the guys that’s bought into.”

After playing all 17 games in 2021, Hewitt had an opportunity to sign elsewhere as a free agent but chose to come back to the Texans for another year.

“It’s a great group of guys here,” said Hewitt about his decision to stay with Houston. “We have a lot of veterans and a lot of young guys, a very good mix. Coming into a defense for a second year, I have a history of coming back in the second year with a better understanding. I play faster.

“So that is better than going anywhere else and trying to figure it out again. I wanted to come back and build chemistry with these guys and make plays.”

Hewitt will have an opportunity to display what he has improved on in camp when the Texans take on the New Orleans Saints at NRG Stadium Aug. 13.

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Texans go through light workout on Day 8 of training camp

The Houston Texans took things lightly on the eighth day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Here are some key observations.

The eighth day of Houston Texans training camp was the most prolonged practice the team has had, and it was also the most detailed. 

With no fans in attendance, the team started putting in some of the plays they will use for their first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. Here are a few observations.

Texans coach Lovie Smith says LB Neville Hewitt ‘knows his role’

Houston Texans coach Lovie Smith says that LB Neville Hewitt is well aware of his role in the 2022 linebacking corps.

Houston Texans coach Lovie Smith knows linebackers.

The 64-year-old got his start in the NFL coaching linebackers for Tony Dungy as part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2000. Smith worked with an eventual Hall-of-Famer in Derrick Brooks, who was one of the catalytic forces in the Tampa 2 scheme.

With the Chicago Bears from 2004-12, where Smith was coach in his own right, the defense featured All-Pros in Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher.

Smith appreciates what Neville Hewitt has brought to the linebacking corps and has a role in mind for the 29-year-old from Marshall.

“I love everything he’s done since he got here,” Smith told reporters after the sixth day of training camp Friday at Houston Methodist Training Center. “He knows his role. He’s going to back up Christian Kirksey. As you watch practice just about every day he’s out there, he’s one of the guys that’s bought into.”

Hewitt spent his time last season working hard in the film room to pickup on traits and tendencies of opponents. The classroom work paid off as he had 10 combined tackles on just 28 defensive snaps against the Miami Dolphins in the Week 9 loss, 17-9 at Hard Rock Stadium.

The former Dolphins 2015 undrafted free agent is working on another dimension to his game that is incumbent upon all defenders in Smith’s system: cultivating takeaways.

Said Smith: “Defensive football is like getting the ball back. You see him punch it. It seems like he’s punched the ball out just about every day, but he’s a valuable backup for us. Will be in the mix as we go through.”

Hewitt played in 17 games for Houston last year, starting in five of them. The 6-2, 234-pound linebacker generated 60 combined tackles, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit for the Texans in 2021.

How did 11 Jets departures play with their new teams in 2021?

How did some ex-Jets perform with their news teams in 2021 after leaving New York?

Joe Douglas sent a lot of players packing last offseason. For the most part, he made smart decisions, as ex-Jets didn’t fare too well with new teams in 2021 after middling careers in New York.

The most notable departures, such as Sam Darnold and Chris Herndon, squandered fresh starts in new cities. A few former Jets took advantage of increased opportunities elsewhere, but New York didn’t miss most of the players Douglas didn’t retain.

Here’s how 11 Jets cast-offs fared away from New York in 2021.

Texans place three players on COVID-19 reserve

The Houston Texans have place three players on the COVID-19 reserve following their 41-29 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.

The Houston Texans may overcome the challenges COVID-19 placed on their roster in their 41-29 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16, but that didn’t keep the novel coronavirus at bay.

The team announced Monday they have placed three players on the COVID-19 reserve in running back David Johnson, linebacker Neville Hewitt, and fullback Paul Quessenberry, who was elevated from the practice squad for Week 16’s game.

The Texans were dealing with COVID challenges as it came to their roster construction ahead of their contest with the Chargers.

Coach David Culley told reporters Monday morning the he was unaware of any players that would be added, but expressed optimism that some players might have a chance to get out of protocol when they assessed the situation on Wednesday.

“We are still going through the weekly testing,” said Culley. “We’ll have a better idea on Wednesday about who we will get back going forward.”

Texans have a chance to prove the Titans are AFC pretenders

The Houston Texans have an opportunity to lay out a blueprint to beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 11.

The Tennessee Titans are running away with the AFC South. In fact, the defending division champions are a game away from their sixth consecutive winning season and seem to be more in play for the No. 1 overall seed.

Could the Titans be in store for a surprise winter of discontent?

According to Mike Jones of USA TODAY, the Titans are a premier team at 8-2. However, they have taken some attrition that could affect them the more the regular season winds down.

Once viewed as an area of weakness, the defense is coming on. Meanwhile, Ryan Tannehill and the rest of the offense are proving they can remain a formidable unit despite the indefinite loss of Derrick Henry. However, durability and depth are a concern, as are struggles in the secondary and along the offensive line. The Titans have 15 players on the injured reserve list and have dressed 80 different players because of rampant injuries. Can Mike Vrabel’s squad continue to absorb these blows as the year drags on?

The Houston Texans visit the Titans Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Nissan Stadium. The Texans know they are in store for a slugfest despite the fact Henry is on injured reserve. The Titans have taken on the personality of their coach, who is a tough yet crafty individual, and linebacker Neville Hewitt knows Houston has to get their assignment and alignment correct with Tennessee’s offense.

“They move around a lot, pretty much,” said Hewitt. “If you’re not lined up right, line up correctly, not doing your job correctly, that’s how they get the big plays in the run game. That’s one of the things we are going to have to do is get lined up correctly that way we can do our jobs.”

Albeit Houston had vastly different quarterback play a year ago, the Titans needed overtime in the first meeting and a last-second field goal in the rematch to sweep the Texans. If the Texans can keep it close like 2020, they may be able to steal one and provide a blueprint for the rest of the conference to depose the Titans.

Texans LB Neville Hewitt believes defense is prepared for Titans’ run game

The Houston Texans knows the Tennessee Titans will be committed to the run. Linebacker Neville Hewitt believes the defense will be ready.

The Tennessee Titans are not shying away from the run just because running back Derrick Henry is on injured reserve.

In the past two games without Henry, the Titans have generated 125 and 198 rushing yards with their three-headed attack of Jeremy McNichols, D’Onta Foreman, and the living legend, Adrian Peterson, who still has plenty in the tank at 36 years old.

The Texans’ run defense has allowed 4.5 yards per carry, tied with the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders for the eighth-most in the NFL. Even though the Texans seem to have a vulnerability on the ground, linebacker Neville Hewitt believes they will be ready to challenge the Titans’ new three-headed monster.

“I think we are prepared,” Hewitt said. “Our defense is prepared to stop the run. If that’s what they do, they are going to continue to do it whether they have Henry or not.”

Hewitt noted that quarterback Ryan Tannehill is still very effective. The former Miami Dolphins 2012 first-round pick has a 12-8 touchdown to interception ratio and a 90.8 passer rating. The Titans also have a dominant offensive line that can protect Tannehill and open up the running lanes.

“They still have a very good veteran quarterback to lead the way for them and the rest of the guys in that room are pretty good,” said Hewitt. “Their offensive line is good. That’s why they are 8-2. If you run the ball well in the league it opens up a lot of stuff for you. If we stop the run and force them in long third downs, it helps us out on defense as well.”

The Texans take on the Titans at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Nissan Stadium. Houston has not handed Tennessee a loss since Week 15 of 2019. Tennessee seeks to hand Houston their ninth of the season as the Titans are eager to wrap up the division and vie for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Texans LB Neville Hewitt turned film study into a big game against the Dolphins

Houston Texans linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill says that he is proud of the way linebacker Neville Hewitt had a big game against the Miami Dolphins.

Neville Hewitt has seen it all as a seven-year veteran in the NFL.

However, the Houston Texans linebacker wants to make sure he knows the team and his opponent each week, which means he delves into hours of film study. The 28-year-old had an efficient game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9 as he racked up 10 combined tackles in 28 defensive snaps.

Fellow linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill says that Hewitt is a guy he appreciates for his professionalism and his approach.

“He’s a true professional,” said Grugier-Hill. “I mean, the guy watches more film than I have ever seen ever, by any teammate I’ve ever played with. He’s always knows what position to be in.”

Although Grugier-Hill and Hewitt are separated by a year in age with Hewitt being the elder, Grugier-Hill says he seeks Hewitt out for advice on how to decipher certain plays or schemes.

Said Grugier-Hill: “Truthfully a lot of time, I go to him for, ‘Hey, what do you think about this play?’ He’s been there for me a lot.  Being out there and playing with him, I was excited for him. To see the stat sheet after and just to see him do his thing during the game, it was exciting.”

According to Grugier-Hill, Hewitt is “watching film all day” and will even call him at night to ask if he had noticed certain details from an upcoming opponent.

“He will call me at night and be like, ‘Hey did you see this play?’” Grugier-Hill said. “I’m like ‘No, I didn’t get there yet ‘like how are you already there with that?’ He’s different with that.”

The Texans will need that level of commitment as they work through their struggles that have wrought a 1-8 record. Houston has Week 10 off, but no doubt Hewitt is somewhere holed up with an iPad taking a look at film from the Tennessee Titans, the Texans’ Week 11 opponent they will face on Nov. 21 at Nissan Stadium.

Philadelphia Eagles showing interest in Jets free agent LB Neville Hewitt

Philadelphia Eagles showing interest in Jets free agent LB Neville Hewitt

As we get deeper into free agency, the Eagles still have several pressing needs to fill, including at linebacker, where Nate Gerry is currently a free agent.

There are several suitable linebackers available in free agency and the Eagles could once again address the position via free agency.

Veteran NFL reporter Manish Mehta is reporting that Jets free agent linebacker, Neville Hewitt is drawing interest from several teams, including the Eagles.

The 28-year-old Hewitt is solidly built, standing 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, but he’s another guy who plays the run fairly well but becomes a victim when forced into pass coverage.

Per PFF, Hewitt allowed a passer rating of 106.0 when targeted by opposing quarterbacks.

Hewitt has started 39 of the 82 games he’s appeared in since entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Marshall in 2015.

In 16 starts last season for the Jets, Hewitt logged 134 total tackles, first among all defenders on the team.

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