Texans wide receivers 'want to see each other eat' in 2023
The Houston Texans (2-2) are continuing to prove the rest of the NFL wrong in 2023 just by keeping their head down and putting in the work. Now, after four weeks, the Texans are in a four-way tie for the lead in the AFC South and have just as good of a chance as any […]
The Houston Texans (2-2) are continuing to prove the rest of the NFL wrong in 2023 just by keeping their head down and putting in the work.
Now, after four weeks, the Texans are in a four-way tie for the lead in the AFC South and have just as good of a chance as any of the other three teams to win the division.
A big part of the Texans transformation this season has been orchestrated by the continued support and camaraderie between the dynamic group of pass catchers surrounding their rookie quarterback, C.J. Stroud.
"Every single one of them wants to see each other eat," Stroud said after the Texans massive 30-6 win in Week 4. "It's everybody working together. Just building chemistry everyday in practice has been really big for us."
The chemistry between Stroud and his weapons has certainly been on display through the first four games of 2023. Houston's wide receiver room especially seems like one of the tightest units in the entire league, with each player wanting to see the man standing next to him shine brighter than themselves.
The result: Houston now has three wide receivers over 150+ receiving yards this season, including two over 200+ yards. In Week 3's win over the Steelers, it was once again Nico Collins' day to shine.
The Texans leading receiver in 2023 finished the game with a career-high 168 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Prior to this season, Collins has never eclipsed 100+ yards receiving in a game and now he's done it twice this season with Stroud at quarterback.
Wide receiver John Metchie III even got involved and made a big play against the Steelers, hauling in a 22-yard reception on a 2nd-and-long play. The second year wide receiver appeared in his third career game on Sunday after battling back from a torn ACL in 2021 and missing his entire rookie campaign after being diagnosed with leukemia in July 2022.
The Texans second-round pick in 2022 is just another weapon the Texans plan to continue utilizing in the offensive game plan going forward.
"It was a blessing to see Metchie get some love today," Stroud said. "To see him make a play on an in-breaker, that was a really big thing to see from Metchie. That's somebody we're going to lean on this year and he's going to be big for us."
The last two weeks, it's been wide receiver Tank Dell who's shined in the spotlight on the Texans offense. The rookie recorded a combined 12 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns in Weeks 2-3, but was quiet in Week 3. This in turn, opened the door for Collins' massive performance by forcing the defense to also account for Dell's abilities as an offensive weapon.
The most overlooked player in the Texans wide receiver room has still been the team's most consistent threat in Robert Woods. Woods has recorded 3+ receptions and 25+ yards in each of the team's four games this season. The 11-year veteran has continued to lead by example for the younger wide receivers, which exactly why the Texans brought him in this offseason.
Exactly half of Woods' 18 catches this season have come on 3rd-down in 2023. Woods continues to be the unsung hero of this Texans offense just by continuing to extend drives and provide more opportunities for his fellow offensive players.
If the Texans wide receivers continue to play at this level and challenge each other to make an impact each and every week, this offense could truly have what it takes to potentially challenge for the AFC South crown by the end of the season.
Texans statement win over Steelers has bigger meaning than 2-2 on the year
The Houston Texans destroyed the Pittsburgh Steelers.
