There wasn’t much for Houston Texans fans to cheer for on Fan Appreciation Day Sunday at NRG Stadium.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, who had lost the past nine contests to the Texans, overpowered Houston and earned their first victory over their AFC South foes, 31-3. The Texans fell to 2-13-1 with one game left in the 2022 campaign.
What Texans fans did have to cheer about was the play of rookie safety Jalen Pitre. The second-rounder from Baylor collected 13 combined tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup in his 15 games for Houston.
Pitre’s day made him the sixth player since 1991 to have 135-plus tackles and at least five interceptions in a season — and the Stafford High School alumnus did it as a rookie in 15 games.
Per Texans PR, Jalen Pitre is the sixth player since 1991 to record 135+ tackles and 5+ interceptions as a rookie.
oDB Rashad Jones (MIA – 2015)
oLB Lavonte David (TB – 2013)
oLB London Fletcher (WAS – 2012)
oDB Donnie Edwards (SD – 2004)
oLB Ray Lewis (BAL – 2003)— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) January 1, 2023
As far fetched as it seems, the Texans may be more talented than their record indicates, as Davis Mills said after the game. General manager Nick Caserio will have to determine how the Texans put it altogether on the field — whether it is through a new coaching staff or adding more talent to the roster at stakeholder positions.
Pitre has 139 combined tackles, five interceptions, eight pass breakups, 1.0 sack, five tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit this season.
