Bouye loss causing ripple effect at corner
The loss of cornerback A.J. Bouye to the Jaguars during free agency represented a blow to the Texans’ defense.
Bouye emerged as one of the top corners in the NFL last season and was rewarded with a five-year, $67.5 million contract.
The Texans’ secondary, partly because of a knee injury that has kept cornerback Kevin Johnson out for the past four games and because of the absence of Bouye, has had a revolving door at cornerback besides reliable veterans Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson.
They’ve used Johnthan Banks, who was released, Marcus Burley and Marcus Williams in a third cornerback role.
Meanwhile, Bouye remains one of the highestranked corners in the league as the Jaguars rank fourth in pass defense . The Texans rank 15th overall after finishing second a year ago.
“A.J. is on another team right now, but I am aware of his success,” Texans secondary coach John Butler said. “I am aware that he’s continuing to play well. I’m happy for him. It’s my job to get whoever we have available ready to play and hopefully play well.”
The Texans have had to adjust to several different personnel groupings in the secondary this season.
So far, it’s worked for the most part except against elite quarterbacks.
The Texans allowed eight touchdown passes combined to the New England’s Tom Brady and Kansas City’s Alex Smith.
Johnson injured his left knee against the Bengals and is slated to return to practice next week.
Joseph wins AFC weekly award
Behind the strength of a two-interception performance that included a touchdown return, cornerback Johnathan Joseph was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
He returned a Kevin Hogan interception 82 yards, the fourth-longest return in franchise history and the longest of his career.
Joseph now has 14 interceptions as a Texan, the most in franchise history as he passed Kareem Jackson and Dunta Robinson on the all-time chart.
Texans work out UH WR, others
The Texans worked out former University of Houston wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Ayers is a former Pittsburgh Steelers seventhround draft pick.
Ayers was on the New England Patriots’ practice squad briefly this year.
The Texans also worked out wide receivers Montay Crockett and Tevaun Smith, tight ends Jason Croom, Ryan Malleck and Cole Wick and quarterback Taylor Heinicke.
Hopkins’ big year thanks to Watson
The decline in DeAndre Hopkins’ production a year ago could be chalked up to the incompetence of quarterback Brock Osweiler.
Hopkins wound up falling to 78 catches for 954 yards and four touchdowns, one year removed from making the Pro Bowl when he caught a careerhigh 111 passes for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns.
With rookie Deshaun Watson throwing him the football this year, Hopkins has 37 catches for 382 yards and six touchdowns. He’s on pace to catch 98 passes for 1,018 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“I don’t know that he’s getting back,” Texans receivers coach John Perry said. “The big thing I had talked to him about was the leadership, and he’s been an unbelievable leader. He’s brought out the best in every guy and that’s important.”
So far, so good for Miller, Foreman
Between veteran Lamar Miller and rookie D’Onta Foreman, the Texans have built an effective running back tandem.
Miller leads the Texans with 372 rushing yards and has one touchdown, also catching 15 passes for 175 yards and a score. Foreman has gained 207 yards and had a season-long 39 yard run against the Cleveland Browns.
“I think they’ve been a good combo so far,” Texans running backs coach Charles London said. “We’ve taken a few carries off of Lamar. He’s averaging somewhere between 15 to 18 carries a game. D’Onta’s kind of picking up the slack from there, but I think he keeps him fresher toward the end of games and hopefully fresher in December and January.”
Foreman is averaging 4.1 yards per carry.
“He still has a long way to go, but he’s coming along,” London said. “He’s a downhill, north-south, violent runner. He’s always falling forward. He runs tough.”