HOUSTON – When Texans linebacker Christian Harris first injured his calf in July at training camp, there wasn’t even an inkling that a soft-tissue injury would sideline him the entire preseason as well as the first three months of the regular season.
Unfortunately, Harris had a setback as he aggravated his strained calf in August and was placed on injured reserve.
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Now that he’s back, the speedy former third-round draft pick from Alabama is making up for lost time and displaying his high-energy, aggressive style. In his first two games back, he has recorded 15 tackles and one sack as he sheds the rust accumulating during a lengthy convalescence.
“It was definitely tough,” Harris said. “It sucks for anybody. You never want to miss anytime. You put all that time in the offseason. It’s great to be back. I just kind of rolled with it. We’re on the other side of it now. That’s all that matters.”
During the time spent rehabbing his injury, Harris had to be patient and he leaned on his faith and family for strength as well as his teammates.
“Faith, for sure, family, my teammates supporting me,” Harris said. “All the time I was still in here working hard every day. They had a great plan of rehab for me.”
Harris hasn’t lost a bit of speed.
Once Harris was finally back on the field Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, his trademark athleticism was on full display along with his aggressive presence in a scheme designed to get him to the football fast.
On a blitz, he sacked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
“Christian was was flying around,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker and former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. “He’s playing fast. He’s sideline to sideline, made nice tackles, like he hadn’t missed a beat.”
Harris’ reactions and production are on the uptick.
“I feel pretty good after a couple of games and practices,” Harris said. “You’re back in the flow and routine.”
The AFC South division winners face a great challenge on Christmas against a talented Baltimore Ravens backfield.
They lost to the Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs last year.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson is an MVP frontrunner. He has passed for 3,787 yards, 37 touchdowns and just four interceptions. And the elusive playmaker has rushed for 765 yards and three touchdowns.
“Discipline, do your job,” Harris said of defending Jackson. “He scrambles. He makes plays. He’s having a great year, one of his best years all-around. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
And powerhouse running back Derrick Henry, previously with the Tennessee Titans, has rushed for 1,636 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 248-pound former Alabama star and Heisman Trophy winner is averaging 5.9 yards per carry, has 78 first downs and is averaging 109.1 rushing yards per game.
“You’ve got to hit him,” Harris said. “He’s a great running back. That’s goingi to be a great challenge for us.”
In one week, Texans linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair’s three-game suspension for a concussion-causing, controversial tackle on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is over. He’ll be back for a regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
“We’re all excited,” Harris said. “It’s great to have our leader back, our captain. He brings crazy energy. He inspires a lot of us in many different ways. We’re excited.”
Harris made a productive, healthy return as he started and recorded eight tackles and four solos in his season debut after being activated from injured reserve-designated for return in a 20-12 victory.
With 4.44 speed in the 40-yard dash, Harris is faster than many of the running backs he competes with.
Harris played defensive back in high school in Baton Rouge, La.
Although the injury took a long time to get back from, Harris’ return is timely. He recorded a career-high 101 tackles last season and returned an interception for a touchdown in a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns. He became the seventh player in NFL history to record a pick-six for a touchdown and record a sack in the same playoff game since retired Texans defensive end J.J. Watt did so against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012. Harris had eight tackles, two for losses against the Browns. He had seven more tackles one for a loss and repeatedly pressured Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson in an AFC divisional round playoff loss.
“Really proud of Christian Harris for stepping up,” Ryans said. “Long battle back from injury, but he stepped up and was able to go out and play quality football for us.”
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
