Tag: Will Anderson Jr.

Watch: Texans DE Danielle Hunter pulverizes Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye

Danielle Hunter destroyed Drake Maye to give back the ball to the Houston Texans.

After losing momentum at the end of the first half, the Houston Texans regained it three plays into the third quarter.

Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter defeated his block and unloaded on New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, forcing a fumble that eventually would be recovered by Mario Edwards Jr.

The Texans would extend their 14-7 lead with a 3-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Stefon Diggs.

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Hunter recorded his first sack since Week 2’s win against the Chicago Bears. Houston has three sacks against New England, with Will Anderson Jr. providing the other pair in the first quarter.

Hunter has 2.5 sacks for Houston this season after signing a two-year, $49 million contract with the team in free agency. He replaced Jonathan Greenard, who signed on to Hunter’s replacement with the Minnesota Vikings.

The strip sack was the second turnover, Houston created in New England territory.

The first was Calen Bullock’s interception, which resulted in zero points after Kai’imi Fairbairn had a rare missed field goal.

With a win, Houston would start off the season 5-1, marking its best record since 2012.

Watch: Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. delievers sack on Bears QB Caleb Williams

The Houston Texans fans were on their feet after a sideline incident and Will Anderson Jr. kept them there with a third down sack.

An emotional defensive drive ends with a sack from Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year arrived on Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ blindside nearly untouched for a seven-yard sack to force fourth down.

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On the third play of the drive, Williams threw across the field and Kamari Lassiter picked off the pass, but a defensive holding from Henry To’oTo’o wiped it away.

Later Williams attempted to scramble and Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair laid a huge hit along the Bears sideline.

Al-Shaair popped up and got into it with members of the Bears, fueling the home crowd. A skirmish occured but no penalty flags were called.

Anderson’s sack bring his total to 1.5 for the night entering the foruth quarter.

Texans: DE Will Anderson Jr. ‘good to go’ vs. Colts

Will Anderson Jr. might have missed a month of practice, but the second-year defensive end is “good to go” for Sunday’s contest.

Will Anderson Jr. doesn’t need a medical report to confirm what he already knows. The Houston Texans’ second-year defensive end is back at practice for the first time in over a month.

He’s back for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, too.

“Of course, of course, of course,” Anderson assured reporters when asked if he planned to play at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Anderson, who had been dealing with an ankle injury, was a full participant in practice. His name didn’t appear on the injury report, meaning he’s medically cleared to go full speed through drills.

As a roster, only defensive back M.J. Stewart remains absent from practice in any capacity. It’s a sign that Houston should be about at 99.9 percent full strength when the team takes on their AFC South foe.

“Excited about all our guys out there available working,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Excited about the work that we put in today.”

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Anderson’s impact differs from most. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year is a staple of a potent Houston pass rush that looks to improve after totaling a franchise-record 46 sacks in 2023.

Anderson, who led all rookies in pressures (64) and quarterback hits (22), was responsible for seven sacks, though that number could have been higher if he hadn’t missed two games. The Texans are expecting a breakout season from their J.J. Watt heir-apparent entering Year 2 opposite of four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter.

When at its peak, Ryans believes the duo has an opportunity to consistently “wreak havoc” on Sundays.

“In any passing situations, their ability to disrupt the pocket, disrupt the quarterback, that’s what excites me. If we want to play really good on defense when they’re passing the football, those two guys have to impact the game for us. If they show up and impact the game, it’ll be easier for our guys on the back end.”

Anderson would tend to agree with the second-year coach and fellow Alabama graduate.

“That’s why (Danielle’s) here. That’s why I’m here,” Anderson said. “I know he’s going to wreak havoc. He’s going to do his thing. I’m gonna have his back, and I’m gonna go out there and do the same thing.”

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans Week 1 injury report: Houston gets back DE Will Anderson Jr.

For the first time in over a month, Will Anderson Jr. returned to practice for the Houston Texans.

As practice broke late Wednesday morning at the Methodist Training Center, a welcomed face emerged from the facility with a helmet in hand and ready to take the field.

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. returned to live reps and was a for the first time in nearly a month in preparation for Sunday’s season opener against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year had been dealing with an ankle injury since the team left for the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

While Anderson could need time to ramp back up for full speed, he made it clear during Wednesday’s open locker room that he’ll be suiting up when the Texans take the field against their AFC South foe at noon.

“It felt really good to be around the team again,” Anderson said. “Last week, I just started a little bit. I missed the guys a lot. I’ve been trying to get right. It’s been exciting.”

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The No. 3 overall pick of the 2023 draft has already proven he’s the long-term heir apparent to three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt. Anderson started off his career with a promising road outing against the Baltimore Ravens.

That sparked a season for the ages down at NRG Stadium for the former Alabama All-American. In 15 games, Anderson totaled seven sacks,  64 quarterback pressures and 22 quarterback hits. He also helped Houston’s defense finish with a franchise record 46 sacks en route to its first division title in four years.

The Texans should feel great about their overall pass rush with a healthy Anderson. Free agent addition Danielle Hunter set a tone in the preseason with a sack and two pressures against Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Houston also still has Derek Barnett and Jerry Hughes, both of whom excelled as rotational options last season.

Here’s a look at the full injury report for the Texans and Colts after Wednesday’s practice:

Houston Texans

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
DB MJ Stewart Knee DNP

DNP: Did not practice

LP: Limited participation 

FP: Full participation

Indianapolis Colts

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
WR Josh Downs Ankle DNP
K Matt Gay Hernia DNP

 

Texans practice report: DE Will Anderson Jr. still out heading into Week 1 opener

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. missed another practice as the season opener inches closer against Indianapolis.

It’s probably nothing since Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said second-year defensive end Will Anderson Jr. has been “doing really good” leading up to Week 1’s matchup against the Colts.

It’s still best to always remain cautiously optimistic whenever talking about injuries.

Anderson, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, missed practice again following roster cutdowns Wednesday afternoon. He was present and wearing a team jersey coming over from NRG Stadium so it looks like he’s progressing, but he wasn’t a factor during drills.

Anderson hasn’t practiced since the team departed for the Hall of Fame game against the Bears last month due to an ankle injury. He’s been working on the sidelines, yet hasn’t participated in drills.

The Texans need a healthy Anderson if they plan on winning a second consecutive AFC South division title, let alone a conference one. He was coming into his own late last season opposite Jonathan Greenard, totaling seven sacks and 45 tackles.

That’s only scratching the surface of what Anderson is capable of when at his peak. The Alabama pass rusher dominated one-on-one matchups, amassing 22 quarterback hits in 15 games. He ranked third among edge rushers in pass rush win rate, which ranks one spot higher than Pittsburgh Steelers extraordinaire T.J. Watt and one position lower than the league’s top defensive end Myles Garrett.

That type of pedigree the Texans hope to have in Anderson entering a prosperous Year 2: deadly, direct, and consistent. Garrett and Watt have consistently racked up All-Pro honors since entering the league in 2017, with the former recently winning the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Watt won it in 2021 after tying Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record. Houston hopes Anderson can take that next step forward like T.J.’s older brother and Texans’ legend, J.J., entering his sophomore season in the pros.

Cornerback Jeff Okudah and defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. returned for the first time in weeks after making the 53-man squad. Settle had been sidelined with a calf injury. Okudah, a former top-five pick out of Ohio State, was dealing with a shoulder injury.

Safety MJ Stewart still didn’t practice with an undisclosed injury but ran sprints and did individual drills on the side field. Known for his special teams skills, the Texans chose to keep five safeties over six corners entering the year.

The Texans won’t practice again until Monday as players regroup following roster cuts. After that, the mindset flips to setting the tone for the season opener against AFC South foe Indianapolis in a rematch of last season’s division-deciding Week 18 matchup.

Kickoff from Lucas Oil Stadium is scheduled for noon.

Texans: DE Will Anderson Jr. trending toward playing in season opner

Will Anderson Jr. seems to be inching closer and closer back for the Houston Texans as Week 1 approaches.

Will Anderson Jr. has missed the past three weeks of training camp for the Houston Texans with an ankle injury. Even when out at practice, the former No. 3 overall pick has been working away from the rest of the group.

As roster cuts loom, sights turn to the regular season and the Week 1 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Anderson’s limited practice time now puts his Week 1 status in jeopardy for the reigning AFC South champions.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans offered a positive update on Anderson, stating he’s inching closer back to full speed. As for his status against the Indianapolis Colts?

“We’ll see where Will is over the next couple of days. Will has been doing really good.”

The former No. 3 overall pick proved to be a franchise building block after posting seven sacks on the way to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. He finished third among edge rushers in pass rush win rate, sandwiched between reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and 2022 recipient T.J. Watt.

Anderson, who only played in 15 games as a rookie, also led Houston with 22 quarterbacks and finished second in tackles for loss with 10. He tied J.J. Watt’s rookie sack record and stepped up big in the playoff win over the Cleveland Browns with three tackles for loss.

Houston’s defense should rank among the league’s best in 2024 after adding in Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The Texans already had a foreground in the secondary with Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre, both of whom have looked miles ahead of their skills from a season ago this preseason.

But Anderson is the face of the defense. Houston traded ample capital to move up nine spots in 2023 with the intent of turning the Alabama star into its next version of Watt.

At times, it was easy to see “The Terminator” look like a young version of the three-time Defensive Player of the Year win single battles while breathing new life into Ryans’ defense.

The pieces are in play for Houston to advance past the divisional round for the first time in franchise history. C.J. Stroud has become one of the rising stars in the leauge on offense and should only build off his rookie record-setting season.

The same goes for Anderson, but his top ability throughout the regular season is availability. Ryans’ focus is ensuring Anderson plays more games than he misses in 2024.

Texans training camp attendance: QB Davis Mills, DE Will Anderson Jr. miss practice

Among the rumors of trades, the Houston Texans are simply resting Davis Mills because of sore ribs.

With Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy out for the season after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, the rumors mill has caught fire.

Sam Darnold will start Week 1, but could Minnesota be in the market for another passer to compete for reps? If so, who are the top options?

Derek Carr?

Marcus Mariota?

Davis Mills?

Perhaps the Houston Texans could field calls for the fourth-year signal-caller if the Vikings become desperate, but Mills’ absence from Thursday’s walk-through had nothing to do with a potential trade. According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Mills missed the last two practices after taking a hit to the ribs in Friday’s win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed following practice that Mills was fine.

“He’s done a really good job for us all throughout training camp and the preseason, so feel really good about Davis,” Ryans said Thursday.

Mills’ status for Saturday’s preseason home opener against the New York Giants remains a mystery. The Texans are expected to play starters and could even upgrade their playing time with another week of practice, though Ryans didn’t confirm how long starters would play at NRG Stadium once kickoff is underway at noon.

Mills is in line to take over as the Texans’ backup quarterback after a strong preseason. Through two games, Mills has completed 18-of-26 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown. He’s also improved with the ability to improvise under pressure while behind the line of scrimmage.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) likely won’t take the field after missing another practice. He hasn’t taken reps since the team left for Canton to play in the Hall of Fame game, though he isn’t expected to miss the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

Some might have assumed that Anderson could miss an extended period after ESPN reported that the Texans were linked to New England pass rusher Matthew Judon. Houston and New England have done business in the past and Judon wants to play for a winning franchise to better his odds of a new deal entering a contract season.

Ultimately, the Atlanta Falcons gave up a third-round pick to land the 32-year-old. After signing Kirk Couisins this offseason, the Falcons are trying to win this year. If they agree to a long-term deal with Judon, they should keep their window open past 2024 under potential future franchise quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta signed Justin Simmons to a one-year deal worth $8 million on Thursday afternoon. There were rumors that the Texans had offered a deal, but the two sides never met when the two-time Pro Bowler visited other teams earlier this month.

Anderson missing the preseason isn’t too concerning so long as he’s back to his 2023 ways by Week 4. Houston brought in Danielle Hunter as Jonathan Greenard’s replacement and he’s expected to put Pro Bowl-caliber numbers in Ryans’ front seven.

Other players not practicing and could miss Saturday’s game include cornerback Jeff Okudah, wide receiver Noah Brown, tight end Teagan Quitoriano, offensive tackle Charlie Heck, linebacker Christian Harris, wide receiver Ben Skowronek,  defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr., fullback Andrew Beck and safety M.J. Stewart.

Texans vs. Steelers injury report: DE Will Anderson Jr., CB Kamari Lassiter not expected to play

Kamari Lassiter, Will Anderson Jr. and a handful of other starters are not expected to play on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While the Houston Texans will trot out C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and a handful of other starters on Friday night, not every projected first-team player will see the field.

According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter (ankle) and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) will not play against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium after missing a week of practice.

Other starters not expected to dress include offensive tackle Tytus Howard (minor knee injury), offensive Laremy Tunsil (offseason knee scope),  defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. (calf), cornerback Desmond King (groin), Christian Harris (calf), receiver Noah Brown (strained shoulder), and tight end Brevin Jordan.

Anderson and Lassiter likely weren’t expected to play since they hadn’t practiced in over a week. According to Wilson, neither is expected to miss an extended period and should be cleared for the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

The same goes for Howard, who left practice early under his own pressure on Tuesday afternoon in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. The Texans are thin at offensive tackle, so losing Howard before Week 1 would be a worst-case scenario for the reigning AFC South champions.

Rookie Blake Fisher will start at left tackle in place of Tunsl, but offensive guard Nick Broeker looks to be the favorite to start in place of Howard. He’s worked in reps with the starters during training camp when Howard left the field for medical assistance.

Lassiter is the only cornerback expected to be out. Former first-round pick Jeff Okudah also won’t suit up. He missed Wednesday’s practice, though it’s not expected to be a lingering injury.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

Texans training camp attendance: DE Will Anderson Jr does not participate in Saturday’s practice

Will Anderson Jr. was the latest member of the Houston Texans to have an off-day from practice.

DeMeco Ryans mentioned earlier this week that every player is on their own schedule regarding injuries. Perhaps the Texans are just giving players an off-day with an extended training camp.

Second-year defensive end Will Anderson Jr. did not participate in drills during Saturday’s practice heading into the off-day. The former No. 3 overall pick wasn’t showing signs of injury, so it could just be a day of rest.

Anderson, the reining Defensive Rookie of the Year, has been terrorizing C.J. Stroud every practice while going up against rookie Blake Fisher and Tytus Howard. Throughout team drills, Anderson has proven to only grow as a pass rusher since taking reps in the offseason with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

“I always feel like there’s somebody trying to take my position, and there’s somebody always behind me that’s trying to come get what I want,” Anderson said. “I always want to stay on edge, always want to stay in front, always want to stay up to date with whatever I’ve got going on. That was my whole mindset, and that’s my mindset now.”

Running back Joe Mixon showed signs of returning by working out on the side practice field in agility drills. He’s been dealing with a lower-body injury and hasn’t practiced in over a week.

Laremy Tunsil, the Texans’ Pro Bowl offensive tackle, still hasn’t been cleared to practice, but he did stop by the practice field to watch a few drills. Tunsil underwent a successful arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason after dealing with the injury throughout last season en route to a division title.

Linebacker Christian Harris still hasn’t practiced since the start of training camp. Quarterback Case Keenum, who did not practice on Friday, did return for drills.

The Texans have two more practices before leaving for Canton, Ohio, to take the Bears in the annual Hall of Fame Game.

Texans: Will Anderson bulks up to build off dominant rookie season

Will Anderson Jr. wanted to make sure he was being tossed around this season, so he decided to bulk up a bit in the summer.

Will Anderson Jr. might have won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honors after helping the Houston Texans secure their first division title in four years, but he doesn’t remember the sacks made.

Instead, he remembers the plays missed given his 248-pound frame. Seven sacks for a first-year player is often enough, but not for a player with Anderson’s motor and mentality.

It’s why he chose to bulk up this offseason, adding 15 pounds of muscle to avoid “getting tossed around.” And while the size might seem egregious for a player known for his speed, Anderson said that won’t be a problem.

He still hasn’t lost a step.

“I feel good,” Anderson said following Thursday’s practice. “Some people say I don’t even look big, so I appreciate that.”

Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft, knows sights are high in Houston. Not just from the fans and national media, but also internally.

Few knew what the Texans would be like under a first-year coach and rookie quarterback in DeMeco Ryans and C. J. Stroud, respectively. Some considered seven wins as a victory in itself after three underwhelming campaigns.

Instead, Ryans rocked the locker room. Stroud surged his way to a record-setting season. Anderson pummeled quarterbacks regularly and Houston became the NFL’s next great franchise. The Texans only built their high time with marquee additions in Azeez Al-Shaair, Danielle Hunter, Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs.

Anderson, who tied J.J. Watt’s rookie franchise sack record last season, mentioned there’s plenty of new face in Houston still learning the ropes, but it doesn’t feel that way thanks to offseason team bonding.

“With everybody that’s been here and all the new guys, it just seems like we’ve been playing together for a year or two now,” Anderson said. “It just shows the type of guys that we have in this building.”

Hunter, who led the NFL in tackles for loss last fall, won’t replace Anderson as the face of the pass rush. If anything, he’ll take over for Jonathan Greenard, who cashed in on a career-high 12.5 sack season with a long-term contract with the Vikings.

For Anderson, Hunter’s arrival doesn’t push him to remain competitive. An internal drive carries that mentality.

“I always feel like there’s somebody trying to take my position, and there’s somebody always behind me that’s trying to come get what I want,” Anderson said. “I always want to stay on edge, always want to stay in front, always want to stay up to date with whatever I’ve got going on.”

The Texans return to practice Saturday morning before a rest day on Sunday.