Kamari Lassiter NFL debut, Stefon Diggs’ connection with C.J. Stroud and running game in focus for Texans against Giants

HOUSTON – Breaking on the football, Kamari Lassiter reacted fast to its trajectory to disrupt the passing lane.

It was a routine play by the Texans’ rookie cornerback, one that mirrors how he has performed since the defending AFC South champions drafted him in the second round from the national champion Georgia Bulldogs program.

Now, it’s time for Lassiter to take his skills and test them in an actual game situation.

Held out of the Texans’ Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears as the starters didn’t participate and sidelined against the Pittsburgh Steelers with an ankle injury, Lassiter returned to practice this week and has had no setbacks. Now, he’s set to make his NFL preseason debut at noon Saturday against the New York Giants and quarterback Daniel JJones.

“Kamari’s probably come in, again, with the mindset in terms of the compete, the attack, this sort of aggressive mentality that we’re looking for in those guys,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “I mean, he’s all that. He’s all business-like and wants to work.”

Since being drafted, Lassiter has worked with the first-team defense.

“I can’t even remember a catch caught on him in a long time, so he is doing what he is doing,” Pro Bowl alternate cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. said. It is the reason he is here and locked on that side of the field.”

Whether it’s Diggs, Tank Dell or Nico Collins, Lassiter has been up to the task against all of the Texans’ talented trio of wide receivers. The speed of the game and its complexities aren’t too big for him.

“Kamari has shown up every day,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Quiet, but he’s locked in, focused and intense. You don’t notice him much because he’s always doing his job. He’s always where he should be. He’s always in position. He’s always doing what we ask him to do and as a rookie, that says a lot.

“For a young guy to come in and not be noticed a lot for doing something negative, everything has been positive with Kamari and he’s exactly the guy we saw from the Georgia film. Dialed in and a lot of people call him a dawg. He is a dawg. He’s locked in and it will show up even more I think once we get the pads on. Encouraged with where he is.”

Selected 42nd overall and signed to a four-year, $9.014 million contract that includes a $3.376 million signing bonus, Lassiter has high expectations for himself. And so does his coach.

Lassiter yielded the lowest amount of passing yards last season in college football, according to Pro Football Focus analytics. He did a great job shadowing and limiting the production of first-round wide receivers Malik Nabers (LSU, New York Giants) and Xavier Legette (South Carolina, Carolina Panthers).

Lassiter worked regularly with the first-team defense during offseason practices. Now, Lassiter is primed to earn a starting job.

“I just want to come in and show everybody that I’m a savage,” Lassiter told KPRC 2. “I feel like I’m a physical corner. I feel like I’m a guy that brings a lot of energy to the game and I feel like I can help a team out and do whatever it takes to win.”

“I feel like I just always want to prove myself right,” Lassiter said. “I never sought out to prove anyone wrong. I just thought that I could always be here. I always thought I could play at the highest level in college and my family always believed that. It’s just always about proving ourselves right. Everything that I do is really just to kind of just prove myself right just to make sure that I know I’m here for a reason.”

The competitive mettle Lassiter is displaying is convincing teammates of his readiness and skills. Nothing has overwhelmed him.

“He could be ready, he might even be ready right now,” Diggs said. “Technique is sound, seeking knowledge and wants to compete at a high level and he ain’t running from it. I’m talking my junk to him a little bit, just to kind of get him going, and he’s right there. He’s standing 10 toes down, so something that you like to see in young players is that confidence.

All of the Texans’ top draft pick’s energy is done with a specific goal in mind: establishing himself as a reliable player who can be counted on to immediately contribute as part of the team concepts and strategies.

“I’ve just really trying to get better at everything, really try to work my technique, work on my progressions and stuff like that, just kind of getting comfortable with the basics,” Lassiter said. “Really just trying to be a whole different kind of savage.”

Lassiter is already making a positive impression on teammates, including veteran safety Jalen Pitre.

“He’s a dawg,” Pitre said when asked about which younger players have stood out. “He’s locked in.”

For Lassiter, after excelling in the Southeastern Conference, to know he has left established teammates with confidence in him is emotionally significant.

“It’s just good to hear,” Lassiter said. “Honestly, that’s what you want to do when you come into a situation like this. You want to earn the respect of your teammates and come in and show them that I’m here to stay and earn that respect from them. It’s good to hear that from one of your teammates. It means a lot and you also want to earn the respect of your coaches. That’s what I came in to do, to earn the respect of everyone.”

Lassiter yielded only 136 passing yards and no touchdowns on 15 receptions off 37 targets last season to rank first in the NCAA among cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Lassiter has a special silver chain with an engraved lock with ‘K3′ stenciled in the middle. He’s nicknamed the Locksmith and won two national titles with the Bulldogs.

“You see the mentality of just his eyes and his demeanor,” Ryans said. “Like in the meeting room, he’s locked in. You can see it in his eyes that he’s truly taking in what you’re giving him when it comes to coaching points or directions. I mean he’s locked in from that standpoint. When he comes out here on the field, it’s the same thing. He’s not a loud guy by words, but he’s a loud guy by his actions.”

• Source: Texans agreed to four-year, $9.014 million deal with second-round corner Kamari Lassister

DIGGS, STROUD CHEMISTRY GROWING

Stefon Diggs and Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud have collaborated with growing chemistry and timing throughout training camp.

Stroud and Diggs were cooking this week, especially on deep throws.

Stroud found Diggs on a pair of long touchdown passes.

He also beat Lassiter in a red-zone drill for a score on a perfectly thrown spiral the rookie had no chance to defend.

Acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Bills, Diggs has been a strong fit in the Texans’ offense and in the locker room. The four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver has the leadership potential to be a team captain.

Diggs wasn’t targeted in brief action last Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps that will be different Saturday against the Giants when the starters are slated to play at least one quarter, if not more.

“It has been growing since Stefon got here,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said of Stroud, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Diggs who has four consecutive seasons of at least 100 catches and 1,000 yards. “The amount of times those two have put in together with no one else around, with no one watching, no video cameras filming for coaches, you guys not here, they are making sure they are putting the work in.

“We know that and we have seen it a lot of times before it comes to fruition and practice in team periods. You can see it in routes on air. You can see how they talk, how they converse in between plays, it has been coming.”

RUNNING GAME NEEDS TO IMPROVE

The running game was stuck in neutral against the Steelers, for the most part.

The Texans rushed for 80 yards on 27 carries for an average of three yards per run.

Dameon Pierce started and gained just four yards on four carries, but there was no real room to run as the Texans’ line got stonewalled at the line of scrimmage with Tunsil, Mason and Howard all not playing. The leading rushers were Jawhar Jordan with six runs for 22 yards, wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson with one run for 19 yards and Cam Akers with six runs for 17 yards and Dare Ogunbowale running for one touchdown.

“With the running game, I think, first off, we have to stay attached on our blocks,” Ryans said. “Especially on the front side we have to stay attached and we have to finish better on the front side to get the runs going. I think a lot of our runs got stalled because we had guys penetrating in the back field and guys shooting gaps. We have to respond better to movement to get our run game going.”

Now, Texans Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon could make his debut with the team after missing the first two games with a quadriceps injury. He has practiced all week.

And Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil is available after practicing all week after undergoing offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.

“For all of our guys, whenever they get back, it’s just about guys getting in and getting valuable work,” Ryans said. “We’re excited any time we get guys back who have been away for a while, so it’s the same with those two guys and I’m excited to see them back out working. I think it’s more important for their teammates to see them and everyone working together and getting on the same page. Excited to see all of our guys back who have been missing for a few weeks here.”

Akers has delivered some impressive moments in practice and games, including a spin move in the open field against the Chicago Bears and catching a touchdown pass from Case Keenum. He has made a full recovery from two torn Achilles tendons.

“From, Cam, first off, we know he’s done it,” Ryans said. “I’ve gone against Cam a lot and I’ve seen the plays that he’s been able to make, so is he surprising me? No, he’s not surprising me but it seems like he is getting back into shape and getting back into football shape, and he’s making plays that he’s made prior in his career. It’s exciting to see him and it just shows when guys maximize their opportunity and I think he’s a guy whose taken advantage of that.

“Coming into camp late, but he’s picked up on things very quickly, he’s very sharp mentally and that’s allowed him to step in and really showcase his talents of what he’s been able to do. The biggest thing with him is making guys miss. When you’re playing the running back position, you can make defenders miss and like Cam has a savvy way of doing that and that allows him to press forward and gain yards for us.”

BIG GAME FOR METCHIE

After a fast start to camp for third-year wide receiver John Metchie III, he has cooled off considerably with too many dropped passes.

That included a drop against the Steelers.

He has two catches for 11 yards on four targets in two preseason games as he makes his bid for a roster spot at a crowded wide receive rposition.

“We want people that play aggressive, confident, fast and physical,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “The more we are on the field and we go play in preseason games I think it will show as we go through this, it definitely has started to show in camp.

“The guys that wind up over the course of camp making a lot of plays are the guys that play with that mindset. The guys that just relentlessly compete and they are going to do anything they can to make sure they win that rep so that they can get the ball. Then when they get the ball they finish with the ball in their hands. That is really what it comes down to.”

MORE FROM BULLOCK

Calen Bullock reacted fast, driving his legs and timing the force of his hit for maximum impact.

As the Texans’ rookie safety delivered the blow to Chicago Bears tight end Tommy Sweeney, he stuck his shoulder for a big pop to dislodge the football. The forced fumble in his first NFL game Thursday night represented more than one tackle. It showed that Bullock has been working hard on his tackling form after acknowledging that he needed to improve in that area.

Bullock was determined to prove the scouting reports knocking him for his tackling were wrong and answer any naysayers. Making his debut in the Hall of Fame game, Bullock led the team with five tackles and showed his penchant for hard hits.

“Yes sir, going into that game, I knew everybody wanted to see me tackle,” Bullock told KPRC 2. “I knew everybody was questioning me coming into this draft, me tackling. I just wanted to show I’m capable of tackling. I’m not afraid to tackle. I don’t shy away from anything.

“I felt good about it. I went out there and played fast, like I said I was going to. I was very prepared. Coach let me loose. He let me go out there and play my game.”

Bullock celebrated the big hit a bit too much as the football skipped near him. Potentially, he could have recovered the fumble instead of the Bears’ offense if he had maintained his concentration through the echo of the whistle.

“I saw the tight end wide open, I knew I had to get him on the ground,” Bullock said. “I didn’t know I forced a fumble. I thought it was an incomplete pass.”

Nonetheless, it was an outstanding debut for the third-round draft pick from USC in the Hall of Fame game.

And the Texans’ coaching staff is encouraged by his performance. It’s a good baseline for Bullock as he competes for immediate playing time with veteran safety Eric Murray.

Bullock showed a lot of range as he dove to intercept a pass out of bounds against the Steelers.

“That was part of his profile coming out of college,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “That’s how they played him a little bit at SC, so I think the sort of anticipation and the timing and stuff that he’s banked some of those reps and playing a deeper zone, deeper post, playing off the corner those sort of things. So, obviously, the length and the speed play into that when he does get going. But he does have a lot of work back there. He’s just real natural at reading quarterbacks, feeling routes, coming up and trying to anticipate breaks, so that kind of helps him get a jump on some things.

“I hate to say it this way, just the physical nature of him. Because in college he did so much of the ranging and the deep zone stuff. We’ve asked him to sort of play down, to be physical in tackling and he’s shown that. We kind of felt pretty good about some of the stuff he was doing in the deeper part of the field. But to bring him down and for him to showcase his ability to tackle and hit and strike some guys, as much as we talk about range in the back end, for him to be able to go sideline to sideline and make some of those plays and hits on the sideline, he had some cleanup tackles, that was really good to see for us in game mode.”

Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills is recovering from bruised ribs after getting banged up during a road preseason game last Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It is not regarded as a long-term issue.

Mills didn’t practice Thursday after being on the field initially at the start of practice inside NRG Stadium, and has been limited throughout the week.

He is not expected to play against the Steelers and C.J. Stroud and Tim Boyle are expected to see the bulk of the playing time.

Mills has had a strong preseason, completing 18 of 26 passes (69.2 completion percentage) for 191 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a 103.2 passer rating in two games. He has displayed an improved ability to improvise and shrug off pass rushers to hang in the pocket and hit the open target.

“Everything is good with Davis,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Feel good about Davis. He’s done a really good job for us all throughout training camp and the preseason, so feel really good about Davis.”

The Texans’ starters are set to play against the Giants on Saturday in a noon kickoff at NRG Stadium. Ryans didn’t indicate how long they will play. It’s regarded as likely they’ll play at least the first quarter, if not a bit longer.

Overall, the Texans are getting healthier and have had a productive preseason as far as managing players returning from injuries.

Texans Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil returned to practice this week after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery this offseason and was joined on the practice field by right tackle Tytus Howard and right guard Shaq Mason, who missed a few practices with knee and arm injuries, respectively, along with Lassiter from an ankle injury. Lassiter missed the first two preseason games, but is regarded as likely to make his NFL debut against the Giants. Tunsil, Howard and Mason all didn’t play against the Steelers.

Several players didn’t practice and aren’t expected to play against the Giants, including cornerback Jeff Okudah, who has nearly recovered from a hip injury, Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who’s making progress with his ankle injury, wide receiver Noah Brown (shoulder), tight end Teagan Quitoriano (strained calf), offensive tackle Charlie Heck (plantar fasciitis flareup in foot), offensive tackle David Sharpe (leg), linebacker Christian Harris (strained calf), wide receiver Ben Skowronek (lower leg), defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. (calf), suspended defensive lineman Denico Autry, fullback Andrew Beck (calf) and safety M.J. Stewart.

This marks the Texans’ first home game of the season, and they’ll be wearing their new home uniforms.

“Having a chance to open up our preseason here at home, it will be exciting to get our fans in our building,” Ryans said. “We were on the road long enough. We’re excited of course to be back home in front of our home fans and all of our guys that it’s their first year in Houston, I want them to witness and see what a H-Town atmosphere is like. I’m excited to get back into our stadium. It will be fun.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.