Houston Texans safety Justin Reid will play in the fewest games of his career in 2020, as the former 2018 third-round pick’s year is over with a hand injury.
Though Reid played in just 13 games this season, all of which he started, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver saw aspects of the 23-year-old’s game that took a step forward despite the setbacks the team faced all year long.
“I think it’s probably just been his leadership off the field,” Weaver said. “Prior to this season, he’s never been the older safety in the room. While you have guys there like Eric Murray and there’s certainly some vets that have done a really good job, he’s kind of that older statesman back there.”
Some of what makes Reid the older veteran in the safety room is the personnel. A.J. Moore came into the league the same year as Reid, and Lonnie Johnson, who moved from cornerback to safety, is in his second year. Though Murray may be a former Kansas City Chiefs 2016 fourth-round pick, he is in his first year with Houston.
Reid is the de facto old man in the room.
Said Weaver: “He’s played a bunch of ball so they look to him as kind of that example. He’s stepped up in that role. That to me is probably where he’s taken the biggest jump. I love the kid.”
Aside from losing a trustworthy defensive back, who provided Houston with 83 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, four pass breakups, and 2.0 sacks, Weaver hates to lose such a valued competitor, who gutted out his hand injury during the entire 36-7 loss to the Chicago Bears last Sunday.
“I hate that he got hurt,” said Weaver. “He gets hurt early in that game and he battles through the entire game just trying to help the team. Even when it was out of hand, he was still out there giving everything he had for the team. I love him. I just hope he gets well soon.”