Defense has taken on Peterson before and done well
As well as Washington running back Adrian Peterson is playing, the Texans have a strong track record of bottling up the Houston resident.
The Texans stonewalled Peterson last year when the Palestine native was playing for the Arizona Cardinals, shutting him down as he rushed for just 26 yards on 14 carries.
“We got everybody to the ball,” Texans defensive coordinator
Romeo Crennel said. “With runners, if you can take away their space and then get guys to the ball, then I think you’ve got a chance to get them on the ground. I think that’s critical for us in this game to make sure we have a lot of guys around the ball.”
At 33, Peterson is having a resurgent season heading into Sunday’s game against the Texans at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Signed in a pinch when rookie
Derrius Guice got hurt, the former NFL Offensive Player of the Year has rushed for 672 yards and four touchdowns.
“He’s still fantastic,” Crennel said. “When you think about what he’s able to do, how hard he runs, what it means to him to be the best runner, he takes a lot of pride in being able to run the ball.
“That’s kind of the way it’s been all the time with him. He’s a strong runner, he breaks tackles, and we’re going to have to get everybody to the ball to get him on the ground.”
Clowney still close with Swearinger
A few months before the Texans cut safety D.J. Swearinger from the roster four years ago, his dog famously bit outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney on his arm.
The incident involving a pit bull sent Clowney to the emergency room in Pearland for treatment for a minor bite and the dog being placed on home quarantine by animal control.
“That was my fault,” Clowney said. “I was playing with his dog when it happened. Stuff happens.”
The dog bite hasn’t dimmed the friendship between Clowney and his former South Carolina teammate. They will reunite Sunday at FedEx Field.
“That's my boy,” Clowney said. “I'm happy for D.J. He’s playing great football for Washington. He’s a great player. He talks a lot of smack. I love him like a brother.”
Mercilus adapts to different role
Wherever the Texans need him, veteran outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus fills the gap. Mercilus has adapted to a different, more versatile role this season.
Unlike in previous years when he emerged as the Texans’ primary pass rusher, especially when
J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney were sidelined with injuries, Mercilus is being asked to stuff the run, operate in pass coverage occasionally, and share playing time.
In nine games and six starts after returning from a torn pectoral that ended his season last year, Mercilus has relatively modest statistics with 20 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles after totaling 19½ sacks in 2015 and 2016.
Mercilus has accepted his role and performed a lot of dirty work that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet.
“Yeah, the coaches ask me to do a lot,” said Mercilus, who had one sack last season before getting hurt after five games. “I'm just doing my job as far as being the player they need me to be. That’s it. I just go out there and do my job I’m assigned to do and go make plays wherever I’m at.”
Gruden: Watson’s ‘a major problem’
As a dual-threat quarterback, the Texans’ Deshaun Watson beats opponents with his arms and his legs.
Watson has eight touchdown passes and zero interceptions in the last three games. He has passed for 2,389 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
“He’s a guy who gives you problems because he can sit back in the pocket and throw accurately, but also he can take it down and run it forever,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said. “He’s a major problem. He’s a next generation-type quarterback who can run and throw and a very effective guy. Coach ( Bill) O’Brien is doing an excellent job with him.”
Cunningham eyes return vs. Titans
When Texans inside linebacker
Zach Cunningham limped off the field against the Miami Dolphins, he was initially concerned it was a serious injury.
It turned out to be a relatively mild sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his knee.
“The way it felt, it seemed like it could have been something,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham returned to practice this week, albeit on a limited basis. He has been working out on the side during portions of practice open to reporters.
The Texans’ second-leading tackler with 62 stops and one forced fumble, the former second-round draft pick from Vanderbilt is considered unlikely to play Sunday. However, Cunningham is expected to return for a Monday night home game the next week against the Tennessee Titans.