Texans rookies are quickly adapting to the NFL
It's still extremely early in the season, but the way these first three games have gone, the 2023 Texans rookie class could go down in the Houston record books. The team earned their first win of the season this past weekend with nearly every single rookie making a sizable impact. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has rightfully […]
It's still extremely early in the season, but the way these first three games have gone, the 2023 Texans rookie class could go down in the Houston record books.
The team earned their first win of the season this past weekend with nearly every single rookie making a sizable impact.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has rightfully stolen the headlines in Houston but it's time to shed some positive light on the other members of the class who are catching on quickly to the NFL level.
While Stroud continues at record breaking pace to begin the season, almost all the other Texans rookies were able to change the game in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Rookie third-round pick Tank Dell led the Texans offense on Sunday with five receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown. His massive game passes Andre Johnson for the most receiving yards by a Texans rookie in a single game.
Stroud's favorite target is now up to 15 receptions for 251 yards and two scores on the year. At his current pace, he's also set to surpass Johnson's record of 976 yards in his rookie season.
The Texans other first-round selection, Will Anderson Jr., is making quite the name for himself too. The third-overall pick was a menace on defense and special teams against the Jaguars.
Anderson currently has six pressures and five QB-hits, including the two on Sunday. The team's new game wrecker has appeared as advertised this season and will quickly turn around the Texans entire defense going forward.
While we're on the defensive side of the ball, fifth-round linebacker Henry To'o To'o deserves some recognition for what he did on Sunday. In the absence of veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman, To'o To'o was tasked with calling the plays on defense.
It's a major responsibility for a rookie to take command of in just his third NFL start. The Texans defense however, held the Jaguars to just 5/13 on third-down under the rookie's direction. To'o To'o was second on the team with six tackles in Week 3, bringing his season total to a team-high 20 total tackles and 12 solo tackles.
Back on offense, rookie center and Texans sixth-round pick Jarrett Patterson started his third straight game in place of injured second-round selection Juice Scruggs.
Patterson had a season-high 83.7 pass blocking grade and a 76.3 run blocking grade in Week 3, according to Pro Football Focus. Patterson hasn't allowed a single pressure in back to back weeks.
As for the rest of the rookies, fourth-round defensive end Dylan Horton had 2 tackles in Week 3 and had his first career QB-Hit in Week 1 against the Ravens and sixth-round wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson is continuing to earn snaps on special teams.
After all this talk, the most important Texans rookie still hasn't been mentioned. Rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans has been the main architect toward turning the Texans seemingly around this season.
As a former defensive rookie of the year himself, Ryans knows what each of these young players have gone through to make such sizable difference this early in their career, no matter what round they were selected.
“I don’t care where you were drafted, how we acquired you,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Are you playing football the right way – the Texans brand of football? If you play that, then you’ll play for us.”
The ceiling for this young Texans team could eventually be through the roof. The play of the rookies has been nothing but special thus far and should continue to improve as the season progresses.
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