Akeem Hunt, promoted Saturday from the practice squad, makes an impact on the running game.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With a decisive style and a burst of acceleration, Akeem Hunt provided a boost Sunday to the Texans’ running game.
Hunt, who was promoted from the practice squad Saturday when backup running back Jonathan Grimes didn’t make the trip due to an illness, rushed for 52 yards on eight carries with a long run of 17 yards. He had a 33-yard run called back because of a holding penalty on tackle Chris Clark.
“Akeem did a great job,” starting running back Lamar Miller said. “He was being decisive, making plays. I think he took advantage of his opportunity.”
Hunt rushed for 39 yards on five carries during the Texans’ final scoring drive. That included a 17-yard run on third-and-16 in the fourth quarter to set up a field goal.
“I wasn’t surprised with what Akeem did,” Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler said. “He seems to have so much bottledup energy. If you get him the ball, he might be able to spring the big one every single time. He’s so athletic, he’s so fast, he’s quick and he’s a smart football player as well. He had great vision and really hit the holes hard.”
Hunt, who has run a 4.37 in the 40, was one of the final roster cuts after scoring a pair of touchdowns in their preseason finale against the Cowboys. He rushed for 96 yards on 17 carries as a rookie last season.
“We brought Akeem Hunt up and he did a great job for us,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “I thought he gave us some juice. He brings a lot of energy.”
The enthusiasm surrounding Hunt was on display on the sidelines. Hunt routinely dances during warm-ups, thoroughly amusing his teammates.
“I fed off of my team’s energy really well and made big plays,” Hunt said. “It was about seizing the opportunity. When they called my name, I just took advantage of it.”
Novak shrugs off troublesome day
Texans kicker Nick Novak shrugged off a pair of missed, long-range field goals, making his final kick of the game Sunday for the deciding margin of victory over the Jaguars.
It was a rough day overall, though, for the veteran kicker as he was wide left from 49 yards and wide right from 50 yards in the second quarter before connecting on a 51-yard field goal during the fourth quarter of the Texans’ 24-21 win over the Jaguars.
“We won the game, that’s obviously the most important,” said Novak, who’s made 19 of 24 field goals for the season. “They’re all kicks I can make. Sometimes, you have days like this.
“I’m still playing because I bounce back. That’s what I’ll do. Thankfully, those kicks early on didn’t prove to be costly.”
Anderson catches a special memory
Texans rookie tight end Stephen Anderson was standing all by himself in the Jaguars’ end zone, waiting for the football to arrive.
The waggle pass from quarterback Brock Osweiler, off a crisp play-action fake, connected with Anderson for a 7-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
“I was looking at Brock, I was happy no one was on me,” Anderson said. “All I had to do was catch the ball. Great protection, great play call, nice, soft pass from Brock.”
The reception was the first NFL touchdown for the undrafted rookie from Cal.
“It was my first one and I will always remember this one,” Anderson said. “I remembered my first one in Pop Warner, high school and college, and now the first one in the NFL. It was pretty special.”
Reader records first NFL sack
When Texans rookie nose tackle D.J. Reader pounced on the Jaguars’ Blake Bortles for his first NFL sack in the third quarter Sunday, one of the first players to greet him was Vince Wilfork.
The five-time Pro Bowl nose tackle has been mentoring Reader and gave him a big hug when he reached the sideline during the Texans’ 24-21 win.
Wilfork was replaced in the starting lineup by Reader due to a groin injury.
“Vince was an assistant coach on the sideline” Reader said. “He was excited.”
A sixth-round draft pick from Clemson, Reader finished the game with two tackles and dropped Bortles for an 8-yard loss.
“I’m taking that jersey home and hanging it up on my wall,” Reader said. “It was a little tough early on without Vince being out there because he knows what’s going to happen every play.”
Injury report
Texans rookie wide receiver Will Fuller is optimistic about his chances of returning for next week’s game against the Raiders in Mexico City. Fuller, who has 25 receptions for 372 yards and two touchdowns, didn’t play Sunday against the Jaguars because of a knee injury that prevented him from practicing fully last week. … Running back Lamar Miller was checked out by trainers for a lingering shoulder injury that has bothered him since a collision during a road loss to the Denver Broncos. Miller returned to play after being examined. He rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries. … Backup running back Alfred Blue returned to play after briefly going to the locker room with a calf injury. … Nickel back A.J. Bouye missed the game because of a sprained ankle he suffered Friday. Bouye is hopeful he could be back for the Raiders game on Nov. 21. … The Texans deactivated wide receiver Jaelen Strong (ankle), linebacker Brian Peters (quadriceps), running back Jonathan Grimes (illness), nose tackle Vince Wilfork (groin) and third quarterback Brandon Weeden.