Tag: Will Anderson Jr.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. made a case to win Defensive Player of the Year for his performance in the month of October.

Another week, another accolade for Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

The second year pass-rusher was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month Thursday, the league office announced prior to Houston’s matchup against the New York Jets.

This marks the first time Anderson has earned Player of the Month honors. The former No. 3 overall pick has been the defensive back toward a 3-1 record during the month of October and 6-2 overall, the team’s best start since 2012.

Entering Thursday’s game, Anderson recorded 17 tackles, including an NFL-leading seven for loss. He’s also accumulated five sacks, one pass defensed that resulted in an interception and one fumble recovery that sealed a victory.

His sacks led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL during October, while also recording 12 stops at or behind the line of scrimmage, the second-most in the NFL.

Drafted out of Alabama in 2023, Anderson  has recorded at least one sack in the last three contests, just one-of-eight players to do so across the league this year. His magic month is highlighted by a Week 6 performance that featured four tackles for loss, a career-high three sacks and a pass defensed that was deflected to his teammate for an interception.

Anderson’s career day concluded with him being honored as AFC Defensive Player of the Week after becoming just the 12th player in NFL history to record at least five tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and one pass defensed in a game.

Through eight games, Anderson has a career-high 7.5 sacks and also leads the NFL with 11 tackles for loss.

This marks the 20th time a Texan has been honored as player of the month and the first time a defensive player has garnered the award since J.J. Watt claimed the nod in September of 2018.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Detroit Lions on Nov. 10 as the primetime game on Sunday Night Football.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. making a case for Defensive Player of Year

Will Anderson Jr. very well could be on his way to winning the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award if he keeps up his production.

(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)

C.J. Stroud has already proven to be one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL entering his second season with the Houston Texans.

Will Anderson Jr. is holding up his end of the bargain on defense, too.

The former No. 3 overall pick continues to trend upward toward All-Pro honors as the 2024 season reaches the halfway point. Anderson delivered another strong outing in Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts, adding two more sacks to his season total on 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson.

Last season, Anderson finished with seven sacks in 15 games en route to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. Through eight games, he posted 7.5 to go along with 11 tackles for loss.

To quantify those numbers, Anderson is third overall in sacks behind New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and New York Jets defensive end Will McDonald. He’s first in TFLs, with Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt still two behind him.

Houston was mocked for trading away a future first-round pick to move up nine spots for a defensive end. With Richardson being benched, plus the inconsistent play from Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson, it seems like the Texans made the right call.

At 6-2, Houston remains in the hunt for the No. 1 seed as they take on the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.

Anderson could add to his sack total with another promising outing against an underwhelming Jets offensive line that’s allowed Aaron Rodgers to be sacked 23 times.

Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. joins Alabama legend on sack list

Will Anderson posted three sacks in Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots and made Alabama football history in the process.

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was first a star at the University of Alabama before he ever arrived at NRG Stadium.

Now, he joins a fellow Saturday legend in the Sunday history books.

With his three-sack outing in Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots, Aderson joined Hall of Fame linebacker and former Crismon Tide standout Derrick Thomas as one of 16 Alabama alums to accomplish the feat.

Thomas, who played 10 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, leads all Alabama players in three-sack outings in 10. He also holds the NFL record for the most sacks in a game with seven.

Anderson has a ways to go before he enters the same conversation as Thomas, but he could have had the best game of his young career. On top of totaling three sacks, Anderson finished with eight tackles, four tackles for loss and a pass deflection against rookie quarterback Drake Maye that led to an interception by Eric Murray.

“Massive game for him,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “To be able to get after the quarterback the way he did with three sacks, also forced an interception by Murray.

“I felt his mindset in pregame warmups, so I knew it was going to be a really good day for him. Will, he’s getting better every week. This is his best game by far.”

Anderson is on the trajectory to earn Defensive Player of the Year recognition entering Week 7’s road trip against the Green Bay Packers. He leads the NFL in tackles for loss with nine and ranks fifth in sacks with 5.5.

Those in Tuscaloosa knew of Anderson’s potential. At Alabama, he was a two-time unanimous All-American, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner as a linebacker.

After being drafted No. 3 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Houston moved him from a 3-4 outside linebacker to a 4-3 defensive. Nothing changed about his approach. The future Pro Bowl would tie J.J. Watt for the Texans’ rookie sack record with seven en route to winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Thomas, who passed away in 2000 at the age of 33, finished with 126.5 career sacks. Entering the halfway point of the new season, Anderson currently sits with 12.5.

Kickoff at Lambeau Field is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. Named AFC Defensive Player Of The Week

Will Anderson’s performance in Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots has earned him the league’s highest defensive honor in Week 6.

 

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said he sensed that Will Anderson Jr. was about to pop off Sunday against the New England Patriots.

“I felt his mindset in pregame warmups,” Ryans said following a 41-21 victory at Gillette Stadium. “So, knew it was going to be a really good day for him.”

Ryans was right. Now, the NFL is taking notice.

Anderson was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 6, the league office announced Wednesday. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year earned his first career Player of the Week honor after racking up three sacks against rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

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“Massive game for him, to be able to get after the quarterback the way he did,” Ryans said. “Just a reall productive day by him, and he stayed after it. I loved his energy from start to finish.”

Sacks were the headline of Anderson’s performance in Foxborough, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. The former No. 3 overall pick finished with eight tackles, including four tackles for loss and added one pass breakup, which led to an Eric Murray interception.

His sacks and tackles for loss both ranked first across the NFL last week, while his tackles led the team and tied for the most among defensive linemen league-wide. Entering Week 7, Anderson leads the NFL with nine tackles for loss and ranks fifth in sacks with seven.

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Anderson’s honor marks the second time this season and the ninth occurrence in franchise history a Texan has been named Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks. The accolade stands as the 60th time a Texan has been named Player of the Week and the 21st time a defensive player has garnered the honor.

Houston has now claimed Player of the Week honors in four of its first six weeks, the most in the NFL and most in team history through Week 6.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. joins elite class in win over Patriots

Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is well on his way to winning the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2024.

Will Anderson Jr. was always expected to be the foundational piece of DeMeco Ryans’ defense when the Houston Texans traded up nine spots in the 2023 NFL Draft to select him third overall.

Some would argue the former Alabama edge rusher was destined to be this era’s J.J. Watt down off NRG Drvie, though even that’s a high compliment for someone just transitioning to the next level.

On Sunday, Anderson might have taken a step toward being the official heir of the three-time Defensive Player of the Year and a favorite to win the award himself this fall.

Anderson picked up three sacks against  New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye in the Texans’ 41-21 victory at Gillette Stadium, a first for the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year.

“Proud of Will, massive game for him to be able to get off the quarterback the way he did,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Three sacks, also forced an interception there by [Eric] Murray. Just a really, really productive day by him and he stayed out there. Loved his energy, right? From start to finish. He came out.”

On top of three sacks, Anderson also added a tackle for loss against running back Antonio Gibson in the second quarter. Murray’s interception was caused by a batted pass at the line scrimmage after Anderson won his one-on-one battle against New England’s offensive line.

With his performance, Anderson joined Watt as the only player in franchise history to record three sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass deflection in a game. Watt hit the marker twice during his 10-year career with the Texans after being drafted out of Wisconsin in 2011.

While he doesn’t rank among the top three, Anderson’s 5.5 sacks are tied for fifth-most entering Week 7, alongside Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby. His nine tackles for loss currently lead the NFL, as does his 28 QB hits.

Watt, who finished with a franchise-leading 101 career sacks, won Defensive Player of the Year in his second season after totaling 20.5 QB takedowns. Anderson needs 15 more to surpass the total and performances like Sunday could help him reach the goal.

‘The Texans travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday at noon CT.

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.