Texans rookie Kamari Lassiter relishes first NFL interception: ‘Show the guys I’m here to stay’

HOUSTON – Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter read the eyes and intentions of Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, retreating in coverage to cut off his passing lane.

Williams, nearly sacked by Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter, made an ill-advised decision to force a sideline throw toward tight end Cole Kmet. And Lassiter pounced on the mistake, swooping in for his first NFL interception in the fourth quarter to help seal a 19-13 Sunday night victory at NRG Stadium.

The Texans’ top draft pick hadn’t intercepted a pass since his freshman season at the University of Georgia when he picked off a pass against Vanderbilt.

“My first interception in a long time,” Lassiter said. “Just to be able to do it in a league, on a stage, I’ve dreamed of playing in my whole life, there’s no better feeling. And to do it in front of guys I’m playing with, just to be able to show the guys I’m here to stay, it was a great feeling.”

Lassiter displayed sharp instincts on the play, reacting fast to the action as Williams scrambled and went off-script to try to make a play.

Lassit4er had a 90.2 pass coverage grade on seven targets with two catches allowed, the one interception that counted and a 0.0 passer rating against him, according to Pro Football Focus analytics.

“Just rush and coverage working together when the quarterback escaped,” Lassiter said. “At that point, it turns into backyard football. There’s a guy underneath and I could just feel the guy over the top on me. So, I just kind of wanted to make the throw behind me, so just kind of slow play and being able to break underneath on the throw.”

An immediate starter for the defending AFC South champions, Lassiter has provided sound coverage through his first two NFL games. He intercepted a Williams pass meant for rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze in the third quarter, but it was nullified by a defensive holding penalty on linebacker Henry To’oTo’o.

“Man, everyone on the sideline just said, ‘Get another one, get another one,’” Lassiter said. “I said, ‘God, got me.’ I just kept playing my game and playing ball and kind of hoping for what happens. It can come back to me.”

There were a lot of tangible reasons why the Texans were so confident in their decision to immediately plug in and play Lassiter.

The second-round draft pick has excelled in man-to-man coverage, applying sticky skills in mirroring receivers’ routes. Lassiter is ultra-competitive for the football, intercepting passes and disrupting others. And Lassiter, true to his form in the Southeastern Conference for an elite college defense, is a willing and hard-nosed tackler.

Lassiter is emblematic of what Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio want from their entire rookie class.

Selected 42nd overall and signed to a four-year, $9.014 million contract that includes a $3.376 million signing bonus, Lassiter has lived up to high expectations.

“It was really cool to see Kamari, the work that he’s putting in, really cool to see him reap the benefits of that,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Getting a pick is a matter of not just him, but it’s the rush, speeding up the quarterback and it’s Kamari having really good hands. That was a difficult catch to make as well. So, it was a really nice play by him.

“Man, credit to him. The kid has been consistent. I talk about it all the time. He’s been consistent where he needs to be every single play and he doesn’t press to make plays. Some guys get in the spot and they try to press to make a play, make a play and then you end up putting yourself in a bad position. He’s in the right position all the time and he benefitted from being able to make a pick.”

The Texans sacked Williams seven times and hit him 11 times overall. He completed just 23 of 37 passes for 174 yards and no touchdowns. He was the Bears’ leading rusher with 44 yards on seven carries.

“He’s a great quarterback, a really good improviser, a really good thrower,” Lassiter said. “Just trying to make the picture hard for him.”

This was the first time the Texans’ defense really put it all together after allowing explosive plays in the season-opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

“I feel like if we continue to swarm and play together like we have been, the sky is the limit,” Lassiter said. “We can go toe to toe with anyone.”

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