Houston Texans cornerback Keion Crossen has been a gem for the defense and special teams.
The Texans acquired Crossen from the New England Patriots at the end of preseason in 2019. Since joining Houston after the club gave up a 2021 sixth-round pick to get him, Crossen has provided more than 46 combined tackles, one quarterback hit, and two pass breakups in 30 career games, two of which he has started.
According to defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, the former 2018 seventh-round pick from West Carolina gives energy to the team.
“He’s an energy-giver,” Weaver said. “He competes. He can probably put on a little weight. In Chicago it was a little windy and I thought he was going to get blown away out there, but he is awesome and he competes. He’s like a gnat. I love the kid to death and I’m happy he’s on our team.”
On the 80-yard touchdown run the Texans defense gave up on their first play of the game in Week 14 to commence their 36-7 loss to the Chicago Bears, Crossen was racing on the backside to attempt to stop running back David Montgomery, even though it wouldn’t be possible for Crossen to make a play in time.
“We give up an 80-yard run in the first play in Chicago, which everybody knows,” said Weaver. “What people don’t know is on that 80-yard run, Keion Crossen was on the backside numbers and got in the picture where he was like at the end – he couldn’t have made the play but you talk about just giving tremendous effort and care every single snap. That’s that guy.”
With the Texans thin at cornerback with Phillip Gaines questionable for the game, Crossen will get another shot to prove his worth in the secondary as the Texans take on the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.