HOUSTON — When the Houston Texans opened their training camp in late July, they did so without presumed starting tight end, Pharaoh Brown. He began camp as one of four players listed on the PUP list due to an undisclosed injury. A week later, Brown — along with Lonnie Johnson Jr. and Cornell Armstrong — made his return to the field.
On the surface, Brown appeared to be just as effective during camp as the player he was throughout the 2020 season — where he caught 163 yards in 13 games for the Texans. But behind closed doors, Browns’ most challenging task has been trying to recover from his battle with COVID-19 — a battle Brown says is still lasting.
Brown had an implacable experience with COVID, and his symptoms became worst once he received the vaccine.
“I still don’t have my wind back yet,” Brown said following training camp practice on Monday. “I had COVID in July, and then I had some more reactions to the vaccine — so I’ve been having a cough and headaches. I think once I can get through that, I’ll be feeling much better.”
The amount of traveling Brown will have to do throughout the season motivated him to get the vaccine. Although he did not know much about the long-term effects, Brown compared the indeterminate consequences of the vaccine to the known ramification of drinking and smoking — which has not deterred the general public from engaging in its activity.
But not even a clash with COVID-19 would be enough to prevent Brown from relishing his second season with the Texans. After going undrafted in 2017, Brown is entering his fifth NFL season — but considers 2021 to be his second career year.
He had a brief stint with the then Oakland Raiders in 2017 and signed with the Cleveland Browns the following year. In Cleveland, he only played two games and developed a relationship with quarterback Tyrod Taylor. It wasn’t until he signed with the Texans in September of 2020 when Brown finally received his first opportunity to play in the league.
In addition to proving he could excel as a pass-catcher, Brown provided the Texans extra protection on the front line with his blocking. According to Pro Football Focus, the Ohio native ended the 2020 season with a grade of 78.2 in pass protection and 75.5 in run blocking.
“You never know when your opportunity is going to come,” he said. “Being undrafted, those opportunities come slim. So when you get it, you got to take it. I’ve been preparing each year like I knew I was a starter, and I believed I could play in this league. It was just a matter of opportunity. Just preparation — opportunity is finally meeting preparation.”
Brown credits his emergence last season to the comfortability he felt with the Texans, and what he is leaning on amid a congested competition at the tight end position. But similar to his battle with COVID, Brown’s most significant competition is once again behind closed doors.
“I’m always just trying to compete against myself every day, trying to get one percent better and it’s not really taking a jump,” Brown said. “It’s getting experience and doing me. I’m always trying to be myself, on the field, and off the field.”