HOUSTON — One play Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre would love to have back from last week’s tilt with the New England Patriots occurred in the first quarter of the 20-9 preseason win.
On third-and-8 from the New England 14-yard-line, Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe threw a pass over the head of Texans cornerback Steven Nelson to Tyquan Thortnon that was very risky with Pitre lurking over the top. Thornton made the catch in front of Pitre, who was awaiting an overthrow by Zappe.
Looking back on the play, the second-rounder from Baylor wishes he would have taken a better approach to the pass, as he has become very aggressive when trying to record an interception.
“Oh, yeah, I’m going for the ball every time,” said Pitre on Tuesday about his style of play when the ball is in the air. “I feel like it’s important that we get takeaways for the offense to get the ball back, and every time the ball is in the air, I’m looking to do that. I understand that I’m not perfect, and sometimes plays like that [Thorton’s reception] are going to happen, but I’m not going to dwell on those things.
“I’m going to look [for] ways to improve it, and I think in that situation, just going up and high-pointing the ball would probably help me, but I’m always looking to get the ball back in the offense’s hands.”
“I go to sleep with on my mind and I wake up with it on my mind,” said Texans safety Jalen Pitre about the game of football. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/lYgu0VBXKI
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) August 15, 2023
On Wednesday, Pitre made his words become action as he had an interception that he returned for a touchdown during two-minute drills against the Miami Dolphins, who came to Houston early to participate in two joint practices.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was on the verge of ending the practice session with a touchdown drive after completing two quick passes, one to tight end Durham Smythe, who found an opening behind Texans safety Jimmie Ward and another to superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill who had managed to find himself open on a crossing route.
“Oh, he’s the ‘G.O.A.T.,’ said Texans rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. about safety Jalen Pitre who had a ‘Pick Six’ to end the first day of joint practices against the Miami Dolphins. “Honestly, he works his butt off every day.” #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/DPBWfzYNmk
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) August 16, 2023
Miami was in a prime position to move the ball closer to the goal line. Still, as Tagovailoa went to deliver the quick slant pass to wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, Pitre jumped the route for the interception and dashed toward the opposite end of the field for the defensive touchdown, where he was met by his safeties coach Stephen Adegoke and the majority of his teammates who had sprinted alongside him both on the field and sideline.
“Time to go home,” Pitre screamed as he and his teammates made their way through the opening leading to the practice bubble but quickly returned to the field.
“Oh, he’s the ‘G.O.A.T.,’” Texans rookie edge rusher Will Anderson responded when he was asked about Pitre’s interception. “Honestly, he works his butt off every day. I can’t say enough good things about him. He brings the team up and has a lot of energy every day. He just has something about him, he has that tick in him that makes him go, and it’s contagious and spreads to the whole defense.”
