UCF alum Bouye wants just a win
JACKSONVILLE — Cornerback A.J. Bouye has moved on with no regrets about the Houston Texans not making a stronger push to re-sign him or putting him under their franchise tag last spring.
And when the Jaguars play the Texans for the second time this season on Sunday at EverBank Field, Bouye said he won’t carry any desire for vengeance.
He just wants a win, which would clinch the Jaguars’ first playoff berth in 10 years.
“It’s just the next game that’s very important against a good team that the record doesn’t show but we know what they’re capable of,’’ said Bouye, a former UCF standout. “I’m not going to say it’s a lot of pressure, but it’s just a great opportunity for our team to make that next step forward.’’
Yet, it’s obvious the Jaguars benefited this season from Texans’ reluctance to re-sign Bouye.
Bouye, who played his first four seasons with the Texans before signing a five-year, $67.5 million free-agent contract with Jaguars in March, is tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions.
The Texans’ entire secondary have combined for nine interceptions.
Behind Bouye and Jalen Ramsey, the Jaguars are holding teams to a league-low 174.2 yards passing. The Texans rank 26th in the league, allowing 241.8 yards per game.
“Well, yeah, there’s no doubt, he was somebody that we all really wanted back, no doubt about it,’’ Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He was playing real well. He’s a hell of a player and, like I said earlier in the week, we developed him, he’s worked a lot on his own and then he’s gone to Jacksonville and done a nice job in their scheme.”
In the Jags’ 29-7 seasonopening victory at NRG Stadium, Bouye and Ramsey teamed up to limit Texans top receiver DeAndre Hopkins to just 55 yards on seven catches.
That’s likely to be the Jaguars plan again on Sunday with both Bouye and Ramsey taking turns covering Hopkins, who is the second-leading receiver in the NFL with 1,233 yards.
“He [Hopkins] is one of the top three or four receivers definitely in the league,” Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash said. “And they target him a lot, obviously. We have to know where he’s at all times. We’re very blessed to have some good players and A.J. has played solid football all year.”
Hopkins was listed on the Texans’ injury report with a toe injury that forced him to miss Thursday’s practice.
Hopkins, however, has not missed a game this season. And in last week’s 26-16 loss to San Francisco, Hopkins caught a seasonhigh 11 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. He has caught an NFL-high and franchise-record 11 touchdown passes this season even though the Texans have lost three straight and six of their last seven.
“I felt like once they got Deshaun [Watson] that finally give him the recognition that he deserves because even without him he’s still scoring every week,” Bouye said. “He has great route craft, great hands. You have to be on your A game on every play.”