Searching for positives
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Texans coach David Culley was mostly impressed by Desmond King’s performance at outside cornerback in Sunday’s 40-0 loss against the Bills after defensive coordinator Lovie Smith shook up the secondary partly in an attempt to shut down star quarterback Josh Allen.
King, who played slot corner in the Texans’ three previous games, started in place of Vernon Hargreaves on the outside opposite Terrance Mitchell.
Tavierre Thomas, who signed a two-year deal with the Texans in March, started at slot corner for King.
“We felt like that’s the best position for (King),” Culley said. “We felt like we needed a more aggressive guy playing there. That’s the way he plays. He fits the things that Lovie wants to do on defense. So we moved a few guys around trying to put him in the best position after three ball games to kind of see what best fits for us. And I think it’s worked out pretty good.”
Smith also mixed up the lineup at safety. Justin Reid, the defense’s top playmaker this season, moved from free safety and played closer to the line.
Eric Murray, who’d started in all three previous games, was benched for Lonnie Johnson, who mostly covered the deep zones as a free safety.
The Texans limited Allen to 11-of-18 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown in the first half, and Johnson intercepted Allen on his second drive of the game.
The Texans’ offensive play forced the defense to play with limited rest in the second half, and the Bills eventually broke through.
Allen finished the game with 248 yards passing, two touchdowns and an interception. He attacked King often in the second half, connecting with Stefon Diggs on deep passes of 19, 16 and 37 yards, and then Emmanuel Sanders on a sideline pass that went for 21 yards.
“Our defense was on the field too long,” Culley said. “I thought they played well. I thought they played well enough for us to have a chance in the ball game. But when keep them on the field like we kept them on the field today, you don’t have a chance.”
Greenard, Burkhead exit with injuries
Culley said the chest injury that forced defensive end Jonathan Greenard to exit in the third quarter is not “serious,” although the team’s medical staff will check on Greenard more on Monday.
Reserve running back Rex Burkhead also exited the game with a hip injury, which Culley said was nagging enough to restrict the Texans from using the multi-purpose veteran in passing situations and on thirddown situations.
Burkhead, who previously played for the Patriots and Bengals, recorded his first carry for the Texans against the Bills, which was a 1-yard loss.
Greenard, the Texans’ thirdround pick in 2020, entered the game with four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Greenard had yet to record a tackle against the Bills when he exited the game.
Texans defensive ends Whitney Mercilus and Charles Omenihu started, and Jacob Martin and DeMarcus Walker were a part of the rotation.
COVID, stomach bug infect players, staff
Six Texans players were sidelined at some point in the week leading up to Sunday’s game, and Culley confirmed it was a mix of coronavirus positives and a stomach virus that also infected a few coaches. Starting linebacker Zach Cunningham and reserve defensive tackle Ross Blacklock were put on the team’s COVID-19/reserve list Friday. Blacklock tested positive, and Cunningham was ruled a high-risk close contact and unable to play at Buffalo.
Culley said Cunningham should be able to return to team activities Tuesday. Blacklock’s eventual return could be longer. The NFL’s coronavirus protocols allow vaccinated players to return after testing positive if they pass two tests within 24 hours.
Kamu Grugier-Hill started in place of Cunningham, and he recorded seven total tackles. Reserve linebacker Joe Thomas subbed in when the defense ran its base 4-3 packages, and he recorded two total tackles. Reserve cornerback Jimmy Moreland, backup running back
Scottie Phillips and rookie linebacker Garret Wallow all missed practices this week with an “illness,” and Wallow was the only player among them who traveled with the team.
“Some of that was guys had stomach virus that was kind of going around,” Culley said Sunday. “We actually had a couple coaches with it also.”