Tag: Texans defensive tackle

Texans work out DTs Taylor Stallworth, Trysten Hill

The Houston Texans worked out defensive tackles Taylor Stallworth and Trysten Hill.

The Houston Texans continue to evaluate beyond the organization for the possibility to improve the team’s depth.

According to a league source, the Texans worked out defensive tackles Taylor Stallworth and Trysten Hill Thursday.

Stallworth was on the Texans’ roster last season, and played one game while recording four combined tackles and a tackle for loss. The Texans placed Stallworth on injured reserve following his lone game in Week 15. Houston later placed Stallworth on injured reserve in May during offseason workouts with an injury settlement and release at the end of the month. Since then, Stallworth has been with the Carolina Panthers, who released him on Sept. 11.

Hill, 25, is a former Dallas Cowboys 2019 second-rounder, and was last with the Cleveland Browns practice squad and was released on Sept. 26.

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Why the Seahawks should sign former Texans DT Roy Lopez

If the Seattle Seahawks can afford to wait, they should look into signing former Houston Texans defensive tackle Roy Lopez.

The Houston Texans are adjusting the composition of their interior defensive line as they cut down to a 53-man roster by Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Central Time.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans are releasing defensive tackle Roy Lopez with the designation of “waived-injured.” The Texans are expected to negotiate an injury settle with the former 2021 sixth-rounder, which will then allow him to join another team.

Lopez played 38 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps through the first two preseason games. Lopez missed the final game with a hamstring strain, although he should be ready to play in two to three weeks.

One team that should consider Lopez ought to be the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFC West club has two of their three nose tackles on the physically unable to perform list in Bryan Mone and Austin Faoliu. Cameron Young, a fourth-rounder, and Matt Gotel, an undrafted free agent, remain as the only healthy interior linemen on the roster.

Lopez is 6-2, 318 pounds, which is comparable to Young at 6-3, 315 pounds. The Seahawks would be able to utilize Lopez to take up space the same way they ask of their other nose tackles.

The former Arizona product also has considerable time on the job despite entering his third season. Lopez has started 29 games across 33 activations since entering the league, and has collected 67 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, 2.0 sacks, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup, and a safety.

If the Seahawks are willing to allow Lopez to get healthy, it could be a mutually beneficial situation.

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Report: Texans to work out former Buccaneers DT Khalil Davis

The Houston Texans seek to work out former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Khalil Davis.

The Houston Texans are taking a look at what is available on the market as it relates to the interior of the defensive line.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans will work out former Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2020 sixth-round defensive tackle Khalil Davis.

The 6-1, 308-pounder played two games for the eventual Super Bowl champions his rookie season, collecting two tackles and two combined hits.

Tampa Bay waived Davis in early October 2021. The Indianapolis Colts claimed Davis off waivers and activated the former Nebraska product for a game before also waiving him by the end of the month.

The Pittsburgh Steelers stashed Davis on their practice squad that November, and he signed a reserve/future contract with the team after the season. Davis was waived at the end of 2022 preseason and ended up with Tampa Bay in late September before being released at the end of November. The Los Angeles Rams signed Davis to their practice squad in December, but did not bring him back on a reserve/future contract.

Davis played the 2023 USFL season with the Birmingham Stallions, who won the league championship.

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Texans stack defensive line in ESPN 2024 mock draft

The Houston Texans continue to add to their dominant defensive line with DT Michael Hall in the latest ESPN 2024 mock draft.

DeMeco Ryans wants an attacking front four; it is one of the aspects of the Houston Texans’ new defense that excites veteran Jerry Hughes.

As the Texans look to improve, they also seek to get younger.

According to Jordan Reid from ESPN, the Texans will use their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to take Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall.

The Texans need to keep adding talent all over the roster, and the defensive line remains a glaring weakness — even after Houston traded up for Will Anderson Jr. in April. Hall is a quick-footed interior defender who displays burst out of the starting blocks at the snap. He checks a lot of key boxes as a pass-rusher, but his early-down reps as a run defender must improve in 2023. He had 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss on only 290 defensive snaps last season.

The pick would be fascinating as the Texans are ostensible loaded at the position with Sheldon Rankins and Hassan Ridgeway. Houston also would be rounding the corner on former 2021 sixth-rounder Roy Lopez, who would be entering the final year of his contract. Not to the mention the Texans invested in 28-year-old Maliek Collins in June with an extension.

Hall established himself as a fascinating defensive line prospect last season with 19 combined tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery through 12 games.

The Texans do not have a proprietary first-round pick in 2024 as they dealt that pick to the Arizona Cardinals as part of the trade for defensive end Will Anderson. Houston’s participation on Day 1 of the draft would be due to the Cleveland Browns’ selection, which the Texans obtained via 2022 offseason trade.

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Bengals DT D.J. Reader will always have ‘love and respect’ for the Texans

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader says he will always have an appreciation for the Houston Texans.

D.J. Reader has had enormous postseason success with the Cincinnati Bengals over the past two years, but the defensive tackle still has a deep appreciation for his original draft team.

The former Houston Texans 2016 fifth-rounder was in Houston June 24 attending a charity dodgeball event at Pitch 25 and elaborated on why he will have a soft spot for the Bayou City, regardless of where he plays pro football.

“I’ll always have love here, the team that drafted me and let me play the game that I love,” Reader said via Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV. “I’ve got love and respect and the opportunity I have. It’s always going to be my roots here. I’m always here. I’m always in the city. I’m always around.”

The former Clemson product made a strong case for a second contract in 2019 with 52 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks through 15 games, all of which he started.

Former Texans defensive end J.J. Watt considered Reader to be one of his best friends on the team. Former coach and general manager Bill O’Brien also had an appreciation for Reader’s play despite the club not being able to work out an extension in the 2020 offseason.

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Report: Texans sign DT Maliek Collins to 2-year extension

The Houston Texans have signed defensive tackle Maliek Collins to a two-year extension worth $23 million.

The Houston Texans like what they have seen from Maliek Collins.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans have signed Collins to a two-year extension worth $23 million with a $10.5 million signing bonus.

Collins originally signed with the Texans during free agency 2021 to serve as the three-technique defensive tackle in then-defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme. The former Dallas Cowboys 2016 third-round pick generated 29 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery through 15 starts.

The former Nebraska product followed up with another 15 starts, collecting 37 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, and two pass breakups.

What new coach DeMeco Ryans appreciates about Collins, along with free agent defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, is their work ethic.

“They work every day,” Ryans told reporters June 13 after the first day of mandatory minicamp. “They’re consistent, right? They’re accountable to their teammates. That’s who I want around, guys we can count on, guys we know what they bring to the party.”

An extension demonstrates the Texans have plans for Collins in Ryans’ attacking defensive front.

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Report: Texans sign former Jets, Saints DT Sheldon Rankins to 1-year contract

The Houston Texans are signing former New Orleans Saints and New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a one-year contract.

The Houston Texans are adding even more beef inside the interior defensive line.

According to Aaron Wilson from KPRC-TV, the Texans have signed former New Orleans Saints and New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a one-year contract worth $10.5 million.

Rankins spent the last two seasons playing for the Jets, coached by Robert Saleh, who was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-20 while Texans rookie coach DeMeco Ryans was the defensive quality control and later inside linebackers coach. Rankins generated 40 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, 6.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries through 31 games, 18 of which he started.

The Texans still have defensive tackle Maliek Collins under contract along with third-year defensive tackle Roy Lopez.

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Texans DL Thomas Booker reveals what DT Maliek Collins has taught him

Houston Texans rookie DL Thomas Booker has been paying attention to the lessons that DT Maliek Collins has been imparting.

Houston Texans defensive lineman Thomas Booker has been paying attention.

The fifth-rounder from Stanford has been playing alongside seventh-year defensive tackle Maliek Collins. The former 2016 third-round pick has been trying to impart wisdom upon the young Booker.

“Maliek is a physical freak,” Booker told reporters Aug. 17. “The way that he moves, the smoothness of his pass rush, the way that he always chains his moves together is something that I really want to get to at some point and that I’m working for.”

Collins fits well with the Texans’ Tampa 2 scheme, which has 3-technique defensive tackles, such as Collins, quickly get into the backfield and rush the passer en route to stuffing the run.

“I think the big point for me that he’s given is just don’t think as much. Just go. This is a defense that prioritizes penetration and disruption, so the more you’re thinking, the less you’re going to be penetrating and doing that,” said Booker. “So that’s a big point that he’s given me. But all the vets, Ross (Blacklock), Derek Rivers, all those guys have given me really good pointers to help me progress my game quicker.”

Booker will have a chance to showcase more of his lessons learned against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 19 at SoFi Stadium.

 

Texans DT Ross Blacklock likes the chemistry of the defensive line

Houston Texans defensive tackle Ross Blacklock says that he is pleased with the chemistry of the defensive line.

Ross Blacklock has been like loose cargo on a ship amid a storm: going back and forth.

The Houston Texans have had as many full-time coaches for as many training camps the 2020 second-round pick has been a part of. With that comes three different schemes.

Typically. The Texans promoted 2021 defensive coordinator and associate head coach Lovie Smith to the main role following the firing of David Culley. With that comes continuity of scheme and personnel that was not present when Blacklock was transitioning from his rookie season to his second season in the NFL.

The cohesion of the defensive line is an element that Blacklock has noticed as he preps for his third season with Houston.

” would say chemistry, when like new guys came in here, we brought everybody in with open arms and everybody kind of felt the love first day in when they were here,” Blacklock told reporters on Saturday after the sixth training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center. “Some guys didn’t know anybody, but we made everybody feel like family and just growing from OTAs and going into camp right now, but the growth has been a lot better.”

Blacklock also notes that the players have a better understanding of Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme, which is a boon when coupled with the on-field cohesion.

Said Blacklock: “Guys are a lot closer and guys are understanding what we need to do as a team, and they are buying in to Coach Lovie’s system. As long as you get that, we got someone we’re working with.”

Blacklock logged 22 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble through 14 games in 2021, one of which he started. The Fort Bend Elkins High School product has shown flashes through his first two seasons, but 2022 might be the year it all comes together for Blacklock.

Texans DT Maliek Collins no longer the old guy in the DL room

Houston Texans DT Maliek Collins no longer has to be the wise veteran in the DL room with the arrival of Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes.

Maliek Collins may have turned 27 years old on April 8, but the former Dallas Cowboys 2016 third-round pick has gotten younger.

The Houston Texans added defensive ends Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes after the draft, and the addition of the 34-year-old and 33-year-old have made Collins just another one of the guys in the defensive line room.

“Those two guys, they are so accomplished, and doing what they done did; the sack totals they done had in their career,” Collins told reporters after organized team activities on June 7 at Houston Methodist Training Center. “I’m just striving to be — to get those type of numbers and striving to be around for 12 and 13 years.”

Addison has tallied 67.0 career sacks through 11 seasons while Jerry Hughes has gathered 58.0. Collins has just 17.0, although he plays inside as a three technique defensive tackle as opposed to on the edge as his older teammates.

What enthuses Collins about his second year with the Texans is familiarity with coach Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme, which is very similar to what Collins’ original draft team ran from 2016-19 under then-defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who was Smith’s defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears from 2010-12. The Texans have added a new blend with defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, who was the Buffalo Bills’ assistant defensive line coach and worked with Addison and Hughes.

“He know what it takes, every day,” said Collins. “I mean, it’s nothing like having a coach that’s played before, and especially that’s played your position. I mean, I think it’s huge.”

While Addison and Hughes are the old guys in the defensive line room, Collins still takes the opportunity to impart wisdom and advice upon third-year defensive tackle Ross Blacklock and second-year defensive tackle Roy Lopez. Collins is buoyed by their development over the offseason.

Said Collins: “I love it. I just try to pay attention to what we’re doing up front. As long as we are doing our job up front, putting pressure on quarterbacks, getting the quarterback and trampling the run on the way to the quarterback, we just try to make their job as simple as it has to be.”

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