Versatile Johnson gets more time at safety

When the Texans drafted Lonnie Johnson Jr. in the second round last year, they hoped he would provide a physical, speedy presence as an outside cornerback.

Now, the Texans are having Johnson play safety. He got increased playing time as a deep safety during Sunday’s loss to the Ravens and recorded three tackles. Johnson had 23 defensive snaps, one less than third safety A.J. Moore.

At 6-2, 213 pounds with 4.38 speed in the 40-yard dash, Johnson is a big defensive back with an aggressive style. He played played some safety as a rookie and finished with 41 tackles, seven passes defenses and no interceptions in 14 games and seven starts. He was also penalized 10 times and spent a lot of time this offseason refining his trail technique.

“I like Lonnie at safety,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said Monday. “I think Lonnie has the size and ability to play safety. He’s a good tackler. He’s an instinctive player.

“I think he did some good things at safety and I think he’ll get better and better doing that. He can obviously still play corner and help us in that area, too.”

Johnson said during training camp that he is comfortable lining up wherever the Texans want to deploy him.

“I play DB for the Texans, I just don’t play corner,” Johnson said. “Like OB said, I can do a lot of things, so I just play DB for the Texans. That’s just my title.”

Blacklock’s ejection for throwing punch

Rookie defensive tackle Ross

Blacklock earned his ejection from Sunday for unnecessary roughness because he threw a punch, according to Bill O’Brien.

The punch wasn’t evident on the game film.

“I’ve spoken to him. I didn’t see it on the tape,” O’Brien said. “I know that it happened. I know what the official told me. I didn’t see it, either, but the official told me that he threw a punch. We’ve addressed it and we’ll continue to address it.”

Receiver Coutee takes another step back

Receiver Keke Coutee is falling back into a familiar pattern: needing to overcome another setback in his career.

Although talented, Coutee has battled frequent durability issues and mistakes.

His latest was a costly fumble Sunday against the Ravens as cornerback Marlon Humphrey forced the turnover that linebacker L.J. Fort returned for a touchdown. Coutee was benched after the fumble.

“Nobody feels worse about the fumble than Keke,” Bill O’Brien said. “All of us have to take care of the ball better. Keke is working hard in practice. He’ll work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen again. I’m sure he feels terrible about it.”

Hopkins sets record with his new team

DeAndre Hopkins is already setting NFL records with the undefeated Arizona Cardinals.

The former Texan set an NFL record for the most catches in a player’s first two games with a team with 22 receptions for 219 yards and one touchdown on 25 targets.

Two-ex Cowboys on practice squad

The Texans signed former Cowboys receiver and kick returner Dwayne Harris and former Cowboys receiver Devin Smith to the practice squad, cutting wide receiver Tyler Simmons.

Running back C.J. Prosise reverted to the practice squad after being elevated to the active roster Sunday.

The Texans have scheduled a workout for former Cardinals defensive tackle Miles Brown, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.