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.”
Will Anderson Jr. felt like he was being tossed around last season and bulked up from 248 to now 263… still made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
“Some people still say I don’t even look big, I appreciate you for that” 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/2D8PPBN7Hc
— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) July 18, 2024
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.
“I always feel like somebody is trying to take my position,” said Houston Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. when I asked him what keeps him motivated. #TexansTrainingCamp24 #BigSargeMedia pic.twitter.com/W2IOUrYJyB
— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) July 18, 2024
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.