Houston Texans safety Justin Reid has a penchant for being able to make the biggest yet cleanest hits in today’s NFL.
Reid’s big hits go back to his days at Stanford. Although his motivation was to avoid being fined, it can be argued that Reid was getting familiar with the target areas in pro football while in college when he would watch San Francisco 49ers film with his brother, Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid.
According to the former 2018 third-round pick, Reid’s big hits actually are quite organic.
“It just came naturally to me, you know what I mean, just natural,” Reid said. “I’m never out there to hurt anybody. I’m not a dirty player. But I am a guy that you’re going to pay the toll if you come across me, you know what I mean, that’s always been my mentality, to play legal, play clean but also play physical and deliver a blow and make guys pay for it if they come my direction.”
Reid is entering the final year of his contract. Through 44 career games, 40 of which he has started, the 24-year-old from Prairieville, Louisiana, has produced 249 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, 2.0 sacks, five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 19 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries.
New Texans cornerback Terrance Mitchell described Reid as “raw” and “tight.”
“Hey, just take him at his word, man,” said Reid. “Tight, raw, all with that, just a guy that’s happy to be here. Just a guy that’s trying to be the best leader I can be for the guys around me and help us get this thing setback on the right course.”
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