Tag: Shaquill Griffin

Texans waive Shaq Griffin, elevate Desmond King amongst flurry of transactions

The Texans made several roster moves on Wednesday, including the decision to waive Shaq Griffin

The Houston Texans are making moves.

The team stayed busy on Wednesday afternoon following an announcement that right tackle Tytus Howard, stationed at left guard for most of the 2023 campaign, is going to miss the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury.

Shortly after the announcement, Houston waived cornerback Shaq Griffin. Griffin started multiple contests for the Texans this season in the absence of Derek Stingley but had played zero snaps at corner the last two games after his interception of Joe Burrow in the Week 10 win over Cincinnati.

After that, it was a series of roster formalities for Houston around the rest of their team. Altogether, they made the following moves:

  • Waived CB Shaq Griffin
  • Placed RT Tytus Howard on Injured Reserve
  • Signed CB Desmond King to the 53-man roster
  • Reinstated LB Denzel Perryman following his 3 game suspension
  • Signed K Matt Ammendola to the practice squad
  • Signed LB Garrett Wallow to the practice squad

Perryman and Ammendola are expected to resume their starting positions at middle linebacker and kicker, respectively, for the team’s game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. King, who was with Houston in the pre-season, may be asked to assist Tavierre Thomas at the nickel cornerback position as he gets up to speed with the defense.

Texans defense bounces back in 20-13 win over the Saints

The Houston Texans defense regained its form in the 20-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 6.

HOUSTON — One week after looking absolutely lost at times during the 21-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Houston Texans defense bounced back to help defeat the New Orleans Saints by a score of 20-13 at NRG Stadium.

Although the defense allowed Derek Carr to finish the game with 353 yards passing, it was not an efficient game for him as he looked sluggish running the offense at times due to the amount of pressure the Texans put on him throughout the game.

“It was on us,” said defensive end Jonathan Greenard. “The offense went out and put points on the board early, and we came out a little sluggish, which going forward we know we can’t do that. We bounced back and made up for that. There is a lot of things that we need to clean up, but it is good to go in the bye week with a win.”

Along with Greenard (7), Will Anderson Jr. (7) and Jerry Hughes (7) were credited with 26 pressures, tied for the third most by any team this season, according to NFL’s Next Gen stats. The linebacker group also held their own against Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who has seen his production increase since his return from his three-game suspension to start the year. He was held to 104 yards from scrimmage and was blanketed all day by Blake Cashman. The fifth-year veteran finished the game with a combined 15 tackles (nine solo).

“[Blake] Cashman has done a great job for us,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “He had a lot of tackles today, flying around all over the field. Really great in the passing game. He’s done a really good job showing up and making big-time plays for us when we need it most. I’m proud of ‘Cash’ [Blake Cashman] and his development. What he provides is confidence. When we’re out there in passing situations, we know he plays really well in coverage. He’s done a great job of tackling and just playing sideline to sideline.”

From his first press conference when he was hired by the Texans earlier this year, Ryans, the former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, has preached unity and communication on the defensive side of the ball. Through the first five weeks, it has been an up-and-down battle to get all the defenders on the same page, and throughout the game on Sunday, it looked as if players were a half-step off from each other until the Saints’ final three offensive possessions of the game.

Houston held a slim seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, which may have seemed like a minor obstacle for New Orleans to overcome with their number of offensive weapons. The Texans held them out of the end zone late in the third quarter as the Saints came away with no points after a missed field 29-yard field goal by kicker Blake Grupe.

On their next drive, New Orleans got inside the red zone but turned the ball over on downs after cornerback Shaquill Griffin and Cashman stopped Kamara on 4th and four from the 15-yard line. They threatened to tie the game up on their final possession, reaching the Texans 24-yard line, but cornerback Steven Nelson ended their hopes with an interception

“I think the main difference from last week to this week was the communication was on point,” said Griffin after the game. “We didn’t have no panic. No panic in our blood this whole game, and everybody was talking. It wasn’t just the D-line [Defensive Lineman], it wasn’t just the linebackers, it was everybody as a whole. I even seen coach trying to get an extra call. So, the communication was key, and when you have that, it makes the game so much easier, and it worked out just right.”

Houston heads into the bye week at 3-3, which matches their win total from the 2022 regular season.

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Texans vs. Falcons inactives: CB Shaquill Griffin out

The Houston Texans declared their inactives ahead of Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Houston Texans released their inactives ahead of their Week 5 tilt with the Atlanta Falcons Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Texans already ruled out linebacker Christian Harris (concussion) and tackle Josh Jones (hand) on Friday.

Houston declared cornerback Shaquill Griffin (calf), cornerback Tavierre Thomas (hand), running back Dare Ogunbowale, linebacker Garret Wallow, and quarterback Case Keenum inactive.

The Texans are getting back tackles Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard in the lineup.

The Falcons declared offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn, defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham, defensive lineman Joe Gaziano, inside linebacker Andre Smith, receiver Zay Malone, and quarterback Logan Woodside inactive.

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Texans’ Shaquill Griffin’s message to Jaguars: ‘I bet y’all miss me’

Shaquill Griffin took his return to EverBank Stadium as a chance at revenge.

The Houston Texans got their first victory of the 2023 season Sunday, but for cornerback Shaquill Griffin the 37-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars meant a little bit more.

Griffin, 28, was moved into the Texans’ starting lineup earlier this week after Derek Stingley Jr. suffered a hamstring injury in practice. That set up the veteran cornerback for a chance at redemption against his former team.

After the game, he told Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union that he very much considered his matchup against the Jaguars an opportunity for revenge.

“I got released by that team during my surgery. So, it got very personal,” Griffin told Lewis after the game. “You try to give so much to somebody. Even in that year when I was playing with them, playing through those injuries and stuff, I gave everything I had to it.”

Griffin signed with the Jaguars on a three-year, $44.5 million deal in 2021. After a relatively strong first season with the team, the cornerback struggled in 2022 while dealing with a back injury. Griffin allowed a game-winning touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 and was placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter.

While the cornerback told the Times-Union that he hoped to return to the Jaguars in 2023, the team released him in March to clear more than $13.1 million in cap space.

On Sunday, Griffin got his triumphant moment as part of a Texans squad that blew out the Jaguars. After one incomplete pass near the Jacksonville sideline, the cornerback took a chance to chirp at his former teammates.

“I said, ‘I bet y’all miss me,'” Griffin told Lewis. “Some of it was talking trash, some of it was all love. Just had my fun little fun with it.”

Griffin recorded 10 tackles Sunday and Jaguars receivers Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk combined for 94 yards.

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5 Texans players who could cause problems for the Jaguars in Week 3

Here are five Texans players to watch as the Jaguars look to bounce back in Week 3:

The Jacksonville Jaguars now sit at 1-1 after suffering a loss in their Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

While they failed to win their home opener, the Jaguars have a prime opportunity to get back in the win column. On Sunday, Jacksonville hosts the Houston Texans, who lost their first two games of the season.

While the Texans have failed to produce a win so far, they’ve shown flashes of talent.

Here are five Texans players who could cause problems for the Jaguars in Week 3:

Shaquill Griffin set to start for Texans after CB Derek Stingley Jr. injury

The Jaguars are likely to see a familiar face in their opponent’s starting lineup Sunday.

Cornerback Shaquill Griffin is expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday against his former team, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston.

The Houston Texans are likely to turn to Griffin against the Jacksonville Jaguars after second-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. reportedly suffered a serious enough hamstring injury in Wednesday practice that the team is considering the injured reserve.

Griffin, 28, began his career with the Seattle Seahawks and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019. When he became a free agent in 2021, the Jaguars signed the cornerback to a three-year, $44.5 million deal.

After a relatively strong first year in Jacksonville, Griffin was a liability in coverage in 2022. Opposing quarterbacks had a 125.0 passer rating when targeting Griffin through the first five weeks of the year before he landed on injured reserve with a back injury. After the season, the Jaguars released the cornerback to clear more than $13 million in salary cap space.

Stingley, 22, was the third overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft and has been off to a good start in his second season. Through the first two games, Stingley was credited by PFF with allowing only two receptions on four targets, although that included a 43-yard gain for Indianapolis Colts tight end Will Mallory.

The Texans are expected to start 30-year-old veteran cornerback Steven Nelson on the other side.

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CB Shaquill Griffin reveals leaders in the Texans’ DB room

Houston Texans cornerback Shaquill Griffin gave insight as to who is taking the reins of leadership inside the defensive back room.

Shaquill Griffin has unique insight into the defensive back room.

The former Pro Bowl cornerback is part of a veteran solution in the Houston Texans’ secondary. Through a week and a half of training camp, Griffin has confidence in the personnel.

“Oh, man, we’ve got some studs on defense,” Griffin told reporters Aug. 3 after practice. “That DB room is stacked. It’s definitely a cool group to be a part of, especially competition wise, and getting the chance learn from a lot of the guys.”

Houston’s secondary had Derek Stingley and Steven Nelson as starting cornerbacks last season with Jalen Pitre as one of the starting safety. The Texans signed former San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward to be a leader for the group, principally due to his work with new coach DeMeco Ryans, who was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator the past two years. However, the players who were on the roster a year ago are still paragons.

Said Griffin: “I’ve seen Stingley stepping up in a big way. I see Pitre being the leader in that room that we need him to be. Steve is just a savvy vet, so it’s good to just continue to learn from a guy like that. I feel like everyone is taking it a step above in that competition room, so that DB group, you have a bunch of studs in there, so I love to be a part of it.”

The emphasis for the Texans’ scheme under Ryans is to have an attacking 4-3 front. The secondary must stay patient as the opportunities for takeaways will theoretically come from the pressure.

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Texans CB Shaquill Griffin sees WR Robert Woods’ influence on young wideouts

Houston Texans cornerback Shaquill Griffin faced Robert Woods twice in the NFC West, and sees some of his same moves permeating through the WR corps.

Shaquill Griffin and Robert Woods go way back.

From 2017-20, the Houston Texans cornerback and receiver faced each other as foes in the NFC West. Griffin played for the Seattle Seahawks while Woods suited up for the Los Angeles Rams.

It is why when Griffin was asked which receivers had performed well through a week and a half of training camp, all the former Pro Bowler could think about was Woods, the “savvy vet.”

“I got the chance to go against him twice a year when I was with Seattle and for him to continue to show up and be that leader for those guys you could tell they’re picking up a lot of the things that he does,” Griffin said.

Woods tore his ACL after nine games in 2021 when the Rams eventually won the Super Bowl. The former Buffalo Bills 2013 second-rounder spent 2022 with the Tennessee Titans, but hardly produced anywhere near his days in Los Angeles — 53 catches for 527 yards and two touchdowns.

Nevertheless the younger wideouts on the roster — John Metchie, Tank Dell to name a couple — still know Woods’ 142 career games give him credibility on playing the game consistently. Griffin is facing some of Woods’ moves as they permeate throughout the receiving corps.

“Even at the top of his route being able to use his hands and hand play to get off and create separation, I’m starting to see the guys do the same move that he’s doing, so I can tell that he is taking it upon himself to make sure that the young group of receivers is starting to step up in a major way.”

The Texans’ receiving corps doesn’t have a household name, which allows the unit to fly under the radar. However, names will emerge if the corps is able to play with any consistency as Woods as shown throughout his 11-year career.

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Shaquill Griffin says Texans’ defense is designed for cornerbacks to create turnovers

Shaquill Griffin detailed how the Houston Texans’ defense is constructed in a way that cornerbacks play a key role in creating turnovers.

Though the Houston Texans’ secondary is highlighted by the younger talent that will take the field at NRG Stadium next season, perhaps their most underrated asset is cornerback Shaquill Griffin who signed with the team as a free agent in the offseason.

Griffin’s veteran presence should help lift his less experienced teammates in 2023, but with the regular season still months away, the function that the cornerback might serve in the Texans’ defense remains unclear. The former Jacksonville Jaguar told reporters about his potential after practice last week about what he expects his role to look like, noting that his primary goal is to create turnovers for DeMeco Ryans’ defense.

“I feel like the main thing he is trying to accomplish with our position, he’s trying to get the corners in a position to really go for that ball,” Griffin said. “I feel like the main thing is the defense we’re able to play, the changes we’re able to do, the help we’re able to get, depending on whatever situation or whatever play-call it is, it gives us the opportunity to really play the ball. The main thing is to create turnovers and get that ball back to our offense, and they put us in a great situation and a great scenario to be able to do that this year.”

For all of the Texans’ faults last season, their secondary managed to intercept 11 passes over the course of their schedule, and with a defensive-minded coach at the helm in 2023, they may be able to exceed that number.

Griffin should play a part in Houston’s effort to exceed its 2022 performance, and with enough playing time, could set career-best marks for ball production in the process.

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CB Shaquill Griffin ready to thrive in the Texans’ defensive system

Cornerback Shaquill Griffin is ready to play at a high level in the Houston Texans’ defensive scheme led by coach DeMeco Ryans.

It wasn’t long ago that Shaquill Griffin was one of the more coveted corners in the NFL.

After the Seattle Seahawks drafted Griffin in 2017, the third-rounder entered 2021 as one of the better available free agent defensive backs. His time with the late-stage Legion of Boom had seen Griffin blossom into an every-down starter for the Seahawks and he was even selected as a Pro Bowler in 2019. Griffin’s career high three interceptions during the 2020 campaign set him up nicely to cash in on the open market and it didn’t take much time at all.

The then 25-year-old corner signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars to kickoff 2021 free agency. His contract was part of a concerted effort by new coach Urban Meyer to turn the team around with rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence and it would also signal his first time as a featured corner.

Unfortunately, Griffin’s tenure was nearly as rocky as the coach that coveted him.

Griffin started 14 games in 2021 but saw career lows in tackles, passes defended, and interceptions. His follow-up campaign in 2022 under new head coach Doug Pederson was then marred by injuries, with Griffin only playing in five games this past season. He was ultimately cut by the Jaguars as a cap casualty.

Now, right back where he started in a position where Griffin needs to prove himself, he saw the new look Houston Texans and the new staff under DeMeco Ryans as a great place to re-write his script.

“Some other teams that kind of showed interest, definitely it was Minnesota,” Griffin told the media in reference to how he chose Houston over other potential suitors. “I talked to Jacksonville again, talked to Washington, talked to a couple other teams, but the only visit I really took was here to Houston, and then once I got here, I felt the energy.

“Kind of felt like I was going to be at home here. I love the system they were already running, I was already familiar with the system that they had. So, I kind of based my decision off something that I knew I would be able to get in and start and move fast right away.”

Griffin’s choice of Houston is not insignificant. Minnesota and Jacksonville are considered high-end playoff contenders in their respective conferences entering the 2023 season. Washington lacks the perimeter corner talent that the Texans currently have between second-year corner Derek Stingley and veteran Steven Nelson.

He’s not the first veteran to highlight the excitement of the Texans’ new system under Ryans. Ryans piloted the league’s best defense in San Francisco last season, winning AP Assistant Coach of the Year, and his corners were some of the major beneficiaries under the scheme. Under Ryans, Griffin will be allowed to be more physical and the scheme should highlight the strengths that made him a Pro Bowl caliber player previously in Seattle.

In San Francisco, Ryans ran predominantly Cover 3, the same coverage scheme Griffin excelled under in Seattle, and blended it with Cover 6 concepts made popular by Vic Fangio to create one of the league’s most difficult defensive systems to prepare for. That unique twist, while still being very familiar to the Seattle defense, is something Griffin has quickly come to enjoy since arriving in Houston.

“I feel like the change-up excites me the most,” Griffin said. “I feel like we’ve got a lot of stuff in our bag to be able to change things up, especially to be able to adapt to any situation. But, number one would be, being in Seattle, I’m definitely familiar with that whole process on how they run their system. So, that kind of makes a lot of things in adjusting really easy for me. So, I love that part.”

The defensive secondary will be one of the strengths of the 2023 Texans. Griffin’s presence alongside Stingley, Nelson and great slot corners like Desmond King and Tavierre Thomas should allow for phenomenal creativity in the secondary. Safeties Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward will be scheme interchangeable and can likely make the picture even more difficult for offenses.

Griffin will look to compete for the starting job opposite Stingley and can provide key depth during the season at a position group that struggled to stay healthy during the 2022 campaign. A return to Pro Bowl caliber play could spark a defensive resurgence under Ryans much faster than is expected nationally.

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