Team’s veterans not ready to stop
Core group of experienced players expect a bright future
Since Texans veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph joined the AFC South franchise six years ago via a five-year, $48.75 million free-agent deal, he’s missed just six games.
Although Joseph dealt with cracked ribs, a bruised lung, a concussion and a forearm injury this season, he played all but three games after undergoing offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection recorded 45 tackles and nine passes defended.
Now, Joseph, 32, is planning on returning for his 12th NFL season.
“Not at all,” said Joseph when asked following the Texans’ 34-16 AFC divisional-round playoff loss to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium if he plans to retire. “I feel good, finished up really strong down the stretch. As long as my body is letting me do that, I’m looking forward to playing each and every year.”
Vital to the future
The Texans have a key group of veteran players vital to the AFC South champions’ prospects for the future. Besides Joseph, that includes middle linebacker Brian Cushing, 29, and offensive tackle Duane Brown, 31.
“We’ve got a good core group of veterans,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “You know, Brian Cushing, Duane Brown, and you know guys like that, they aren’t going to let our team go out there and not play hard.”
For his career, Joseph has 598 tackles, 26 interceptions, five returned for touchdowns, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Joseph is under contract through the 2017 season under a three-year, $22 million deal that includes $11.5 million guaranteed after being paid $6.5 mil- lion this season with a total roster bonus of $500,000 paid $31,250 per game active.
Joseph is excited about the future for the Texans’ top-ranked defense.
“Always one year at a time, looking forward to the offseason, getting better, trying to get over the hump,” Joseph said. “This one stings, but several young guys are playing really well.”
It wasn’t complicated to figure out why the Texans fell short against the Patriots.
Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler threw three interceptions. Rookie wide receiver Will Fuller dropped a potential touchdown pass. The kickoff team allowed a 98-yard return for a touchdown.
It made the burden too much for the NFL’s topranked defense, which intercepted Patriots quarterback Tom Brady twice, sacked him twice and hit him eight times.
“I’m proud of my guys, man,” said Brown, who had a resurgent season after recovering from a torn quadriceps tendon. “We fought through a lot of adversity to get to this point. Came out here and played arguably the best team in the league and we held our
own for a while. A lot of self-inflicted mistakes that cost us. We had a heck of a season all things considered.
“I think defense played their tails off, you know what I mean? You can’t ask for much more going against that offense. They’ve got one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, one of the best coaches of all time and when you turn the ball over against them, penalties, things like that, backing you up in the red zone, it hurts. So we’ve got to find a way to cut those out and I think we’ll be a lot better for it.”
Brown is under contract for the next two seasons at base salaries of $9.65 million
and $9.75 million. He proved he can be a strong run and pass blocker this season and is a potential candidate for a contract extension to lower his salarycap figures.
“Everybody just needs to improve a little more,” Brown said. “Just playing smart football. Up front being able to run the ball consistently, being able to communicate, better protection. That’s all I can really speak on right now.”
Another season ended in frustration for the Texans, and the AFC divisional-round playoff loss to the Patriots leaves Cushing with some things to contemplate. The former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl selection ended the season relatively healthy after enduring a sprained knee and fractured bones in his back early this season.
“Personally, I feel good,” Cushing said. “At the same time, I wish we were still playing. It’s one of the things I will need to think about over the next couple of days and re-evaluate. I’m just trying to get a grasp on everything.”
Not far away
Cushing is under contract through the 2019 season. He’s due a $5.5 million base salary in 2017 and $1.25 million in roster bonuses with a hefty salarycap figure of $9.54 million. The Texans value Cushing’s leadership and football skills and he remains a productive presence next to emerging young inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney.
Cushing said he feels like the Texans, led by the NFL’s top-ranked defense, aren’t far from being a contender.
“I think we are close, but, at the same time, we have to win,” Cushing said. “It’s just frustrating that we didn’t.”