In their triumph over the Titans, the Houston Texans were able to benefit from a number of late-season signings.
HOUSTON — The majority of the credit for the Houston Texans’ 26-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon goes to rookie tandems Will Anderson Jr. and C.J. Stroud.
However, a few late-season arrivals had an as significant impact at NRG Stadium for a Week 17 match as the two franchise cornerstones of the Texans.
Coach DeMeco Ryans stated, “We’ve had to move a lot of things around due to injuries and things with our roster.” “I’m really grateful to Nick [Caserio], the general manager, and his team for selecting the proper candidates. That’s where it all begins. The players who are able to step in and rapidly catch up are the ones who set the stage for success.
At the beginning of the 2023 season, the Texans did not include defensive lineman Derek Barnett and Teair Tart in their roster. Barnett attempted to regain his position as a key rotational player for the Philadelphia Eagles at the start of training camp. Tart was getting ready to lead the Titans in their final drive to qualify for the postseason.
Three weeks apart, both guys were claimed off waivers, and five months later, they both helped Houston’s defense succeed. The Texans allowed 53 yards of rushing but limited the Titans to 187 yards overall.
Barnett had six tackles and contributed 1.5 of Houston’s five sacks. Despite just recording two tackles in the end against his old side, Tart was a major factor in the game’s biggest momentum swing.
At 10:02 in the second quarter, Tart’s interference on the defensive end contributed to a Jerry Hughes sack-fumble. The Texans led 17-0 after Sheldon Rankins recovered the fumble and scored a defensive touchdown.
Houston’s defensive front, which started the game without Maliek Collins and Jonathan Greenard, made the Texans need Barnett and Tart.
“Our [defensive] line, no matter who’s been in, they produce and play well together,” Ryans stated. “When they gel as a team, our defense takes a whole different turn. Our defensive line is where it all begins up front. They play better when we play well. We simply keep relying on our defensive line. They are our defense’s main motivator. We have a great chance to win games when they’re doing well.”
Against the Titans, defensive back Desmond King II was another late-season addition that made a significant difference. With eight tackles and one pass deflection, King led the Texans in tackles.
King remained with the Texans during training camp and the preseason, unlike Barnett and Tart, but his surprise release on NFL cutdown day in August caught everyone off guard. After his release, he joined with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, King’s tenure with the Steelers came to an abrupt end after three games.
After his sudden departure, King thought that his reconnection with the Texans represented a “fresh start”. The whole locker room was happy to see King return. King’s services have put Houston on the cusp of making its first postseason participation since 2019—nearly a month after his comeback.
Every late-season addition needed to swiftly adapt to Ryans’ defensive philosophy and plan. Ryans stated that each addition has the fundamental qualities of playing hard, persistent, and intelligently despite the X’s and O’s.
Ryans said, “We’re glad they’re here.” Conversely, [Derek] Barnett and Desmond King II have intervened and written plays for us. We were joined by Adrian Amos, Kareem Jackson, and “DHC” (DeAndre Houston-Carson), who we didn’t have to start with.
“There’s a lot of different guys who weren’t here at the beginning of the year, but it just shows the resolve of our team that no matter who’s in, guys are doing their absolute best and helping us to win games.”
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