Interception a boon to Joseph’s preseason participation

After being a spectator in the 2015 preseason to avoid injury, cornerback Johnathan Joseph got off to a slow start but recovered and had one of the best seasons of his career.

This year, the coaches are playing Joseph in preseason, and it’s paying off. He intercepted New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees late in the first quarter of Saturday’s 16-9 victory at NRG Stadium.

One play after his illegal-contact penalty on third down gave the Saints a first down, Joseph made his diving interception.

The pick led to a Nick Novak field goal that gave the Texans a 10-0 lead.

“We had a simple man-toman coverage,” Joseph said. “Five-man pressure. They were trying to run a pick play to get a pick on the linebacker.

“I think the pass rush kind of pushed the pocket, and Brees had to get rid of the ball quicker than expected. I was kind of in the right place at the right time.”

Joseph is playing in his 11th season and is off to a good start in preseason. The idea is to be ready mentally and physically for the regular-season opener against Chicago on Sept. 11.

“I think physically I’ve been right where I need to be,” he said. “I’m still pushing myself to try to fine-tune things for the regular season.

“I think right now I’m just working on the mental aspect, working on small details. Putting your eyes in the right place, get used to tackling, running to the ball, the small things you don’t think about that you need throughout the season.”

Cushing regains Pro Bowl form

Attacking the line of scrimmage Saturday night, middle linebacker Brian Cushing looked like he had regained his Pro Bowl form.

Cushing led the Texans with six tackles, including four solos, in their victory over the Saints at NRG Stadium.

Years removed from having his left knee surgically repaired, the New Jersey native started every game last season and led the NFL’s third-ranked defense with 110 tackles.

“Yeah, I feel great,” Cushing said. “I feel like myself. I’m just trying to go out there and improve every single day.”

It marked the first time in four years Cushing hit the century mark for tackles, and he also had four tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He intercepted Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith during the Texans’ 30-0 AFC wild-card playoff loss.

“His attitude, his energy, his love for the game,” linebackers coach Mike Vrabel said of what Cushing brings to the table. “He knows we expect his leadership, his physicalness and his relentlessness to the ball. That’s what he expects from himself.”

A former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Cushing tore his anterior cruciate ligament four years ago against the New York Jets. Signed to a six-year, $58.653 million contract extension that included $31 million guaranteed to become the highest-paid middle linebacker in the NFL, Cushing broke his leg and tore his fibular collateral ligament Oct. 20, 2013, against the Chiefs.

Now Cushing is nearly three years removed from two devastating injuries. He has 583 career tackles, a dozen sacks, eight interceptions and nine forced fumbles.

“There’s a lot of ball left for me, both physically and mentally,” Cushing, 29, said. “When you get to this part of your career, you only get better, or you get worse. I’m just trying to get better every day. I think I’ve trained hard in the offseason, but at the same time, the further I get away from my injuries, the better I’m going to get.”

Veterans will see plenty of action

Coach Bill O’Brien wants to play as many players as possible as the regular season approaches.

Veterans like nose tackle Vince Wilfork and cornerback Johnathan Joseph are playing in preseason after sitting out last year’s exhibitions. The idea then was to preserve them for the regular season. Both got off to slow starts.

If defensive end J.J. Watt wasn’t rehabbing from back surgery, he would be playing, too.

The Texans learned a lesson last year.

“Their first action can’t be the Bears,” O’Brien said about the first regular-season game at NRG Stadium on Sept. 11. “We learned from last year that we have to do a little better job this year. We want to give the guys live action before we put them in a game that actually counts.”

Texans hit field short-handed

The Texans’ offensive line was short-handed for the second straight game, with four starters sidelined against the Saints.

Rookie center Nick Martin is out indefinitely with a highankle sprain. Pro Bowl alternate left tackle Duane Brown remains on the physically unable to perform list as he recuperates from quadriceps surgery. Right tackle Derek Newton is out with a strained hamstring that has lingered since the start of training camp.

Running back Alfred Blue missed his second game in a row with a shoulder injury described as minor by coach Bill O’Brien.

Defensive lineman Brandon Dunn didn’t dress for the game.

Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney made his preseason debut after missing the Texans’ preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers with knee soreness.

Defensive end J.J. Watt remains on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from surgery to repair a herniated disk.

Reserve safety Lonnie Ballentine is on the physically unable to perform list after knee surgery last season.

Veteran guard Jeff Allen was excused from Saturday night’s preseason game due to a death in his family. He was replaced in the starting lineup at right guard by Tony Bergstrom.