Stills living up to the hype, could see an increased role
Kenny Stills’ immediate impact on the Texans’ offense didn’t come as a surprise to coach Bill O’Brien.
When Stills scooted away from coverage for a touchdown catch against the Saints in the season opener a week after being acquired in a trade from the Dolphins, it reinforced the Texans’ glowing scouting reports.
“I’ve been watching Kenny for a long time,” O’Brien said. “Kenny has got really good speed. He’s tough. He’s a really good route runner, he’s a sharp route runner, he’s smart. We knew that he could add something to what we were looking for at that position.”
Now, Stills is poised to increase his versatile role in the Texans’ offense. With Will Fuller out with a groin injury for at least this week, and not a lock to play in the Texans’ playoff game as the injury normally takes two to three weeks to recover from, Stills will ascend to the No. 2 receiver role, working in tandem with Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
“I just try to lead by example, knowing every position on the offense and being prepared when my number is called,” Stills said. “That gives me more opportunities if someone does go down.”
Stills has 4.38 speed in the 40-yard dash, making the former him the second-fastest receiver on the offense behind Fuller (4.28).
He has 40 catches for 561 yards and four touchdowns on 55 targets and has played in all but two games. When he’s in single coverage, Stills can win his matchup.
“On every team I’ve been on, we’ve had high-caliber players,” Stills said. “I’ve benefited from having these other superstars on the team. I know I’m going to get one-on-one coverage and have to win my matchup. I take pride in doing that.”
Because of his advanced knowledge in his seventh NFL season, Stills can contribute regardless of where he’s lined up or what part of the route tree he’s executing.
“It’s a concept,” Stills said. “If you learn the concepts of the offense, you can play any position. I’m comfortable with everything besides running back.”
Stills has played in 107 career games and has 299 career receptions for 4,699 yards and 36 touchdowns with a 15.7 average per reception.
“I just knew that he was a great person off the field,” quarterback Deshaun Watson said. “He’s just a great teammate, great friend, so he’s definitely been a great addition for this team.”
Fuller officially out; Watson questionable
Wide receiver Will Fuller officially was ruled out with a groin injury for Sunday’s game against Tennessee.
The Texans are holding out hope that Fuller could return for a playoff game next week.
Meanwhile, quarterback Deshaun Watson is questionable with a back injury.
If the Texans opt to rest Watson in a regular-season finale that may have no playoff seeding impact, backup A.J. McCarron would fill in for him.
Watson’s back injury isn’t considered serious, but it would make sense to err on the side of caution to have him 100 percent healthy for the postseason.
DeAndre Hopkins also is questionable with an illness that bothered him all week. He didn’t practice Friday. If Hopkins is out, then Kenny Stills, DeAndre Carter and Keke Coutee would be the primary wide receivers.
Several other players are questionable, including cornerback Bradley Roby. The Texans’ top corner was added to the injury report Thursday with a hamstring injury. Roby missed five games with a strained hamstring this season, but this injury is considered minor. Laremy Tunsil (ankle) is questionable and another candidate to be rested.
The Texans are expected to tread carefully with any injury situations.
Johnson relegated to special teams
Rookie corner Lonnie Johnson Jr. has been waiting his turn lately.
The second-round draft pick has displayed flashes of potential this season, batting down passes in single coverage against Chiefs stars Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.
However, Johnson has been relegated to a special-teams role the past two games with zero snaps on defense. He was flagged twice in one drive for defensive holding before the Broncos scored on a red-zone touchdown pass
Although the Texans are enamored with the 6-2, 213-pounder’s size, aggressiveness and 4.36 speed, they want him to add some polish to his game by avoiding penalties and learning how to play the football better in the air to intercept passes. Johnson has no interceptions in 13 games and five starts with 38 tackles and seven passes defensed.
It’s been a mixed bag overall for Johnson, who has vast potential and still could emerge as a lockdown corner in the future.
Bradley Roby and Gareon Conley are the starting outside corners with Johnathan Joseph playing sparingly behind them. Vernon Hargreaves is the primary
nickel back.
“We have some other guys who have played in the league on the team we’ve added since we had Lonnie, so they are doing pretty good,” Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said. “I tell Lonnie all the time, ‘You’re still a rookie, and you’ve still got a lot to learn.’ He’s learned a lot, but the ability to learn the receivers that you have to go against, he doesn’t have that catalog built up yet.”
Omenihu fined after illegal blindside block
Rookie defensive end Charles Omenihu has been fined $28,075 by the NFL for an illegal blindside block against Tampa Bay.
The fifth-round draft pick from the University of Texas plans to appeal the league punishment.
The penalty nullified a touchdown by safety Justin Reid on an interception return.