HOUSTON – Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. has been a dominant force all season, harassing quarterbacks relentlessly and setting the edge as an aggressive, stout run-stopper.
Now, the former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and consensus All-American and third overall pick from Alabama is back practicing after missing games against the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys with an ankle injury. There’s hope that he can play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Anderson was moving well at practice in a limited workout.
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“It’s really good to get Will back,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after practice Wednesday. “We’ve been missing him the past couple weeks. Just his leadership style, his play styles, his demeanor all-around, just miss his leadership. So, it’s good to have him back out at practice.”
Anderson caught some friendly fire when linebacker Neville Hewitt landed on his foot during a road loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter practiced for the second week in a row after missing a win over the Cowboys with a concussion. He is expected to play this week against the Titans.
Defensive end Denico Autry (knee, oblique), ‚defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (foot) and offensive tackle Blake Fisher (concussion) didn’t practice.
Starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) was limited along with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (hip).
Anderson was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month in October. He had a career-high three sacks against the New England Patriots, chasing down rookie quarterback Drake Maye relentlessly.
#Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr., back from ankle injury suffered against #Jets @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/pph4lWcLSu
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 20, 2024
He had 17 tackles, an NFL-high seven for losses, five sacks, one pass defensed that was intercepted, a fumble recovery that sealed a victory in October. He led the AFC in sacks and ranked second in the NFL in October. He had 12 stops at or behind the line of scrimmage, second-most in the NFL.
Anderson has 7 1/2 sacks, a career-high, and 11 tackles for losses. He has 39 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats.
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A former Bronko Nagurski award winner, Lombardi award winner and consensus All-American for the Crimson Tide, Anderson recorded seven sacks and had 22 quarterback hits and 64 pressures as a rookie as he became the third player in franchise history to be named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year as he joined the fraternity of Brian Cushing and Ryans.
Between Anderson and Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, the formidable pass rushing tandem has combined for 14 sacks for the 7-4 Texans.
“Man, he’s taught me so much,” Anderson said. “Every time I see him, I give him a big hug. I don’t have any brothers, so all of these guys have been in this group. I look at them as my big brothers. He just kept me composed and kept me grounded these last two weeks. I keep getting better. He kept me on edge: ‘Hey, don’t get lax. When you get lax, your body starts to wind down a little bit. Keep going, keep going.’ And he’s helping me out a lot.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
