HOUSTON – Shadowing wide receivers, delivering jolting tackles and playing with instincts and toughness that bely his rookie status, cornerback Kamari Lassiter has made an immediate impact on the Texans’ defense.
He has recorded three interceptions, two less than All-Pro candidate Derek Stingley Jr. And the second-round draft pick from Georgia has allowed the second-lowest completion percentage in the NFL.
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Now, the Texans will be deploying Lassiter from a different position.
He’s shifting inside to nickel with veteran Jimmie Ward out for the season and undergoing foot surgery. Lassiter shifted to the position last Saturday during a road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, he’ll move to nickel as a starter on Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens and MVP candidate quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“Getting ready throughout the week, I’m just really trying to do whatever the team needs me to do,” Lassiter told KPRC 2. “Short notice, but it doesn’t matter. You go out there and put your best foot forward for my brothers. I’m just looking forward to playing ball on Christmas for the guys, for the fans, for family, and I’m excited.”
Ward was declared out for the season with a midfoot sprain that will require surgery as he was placed on injured reserve.
It’s another setback for the AFC South champions as they also lost wide receiver Tank Dell for the season and likely much, much longer with a dislocated knee and a torn anterior cruciate ligament, among other ligament damage.
A second-round draft pick from Georgia, Lassiter has excelled as an outside cornerback presence with three interceptions despite missing time earlier this season with a fractured scapula. In a dozen starts, Lassiter has 10 passes defensed, 51 tackles, three tackles for losses. He has allowed 25 completions on 59 targets for a 42.4 completion percentage, 14.3 yards per completion and three touchdowns.
Drafted in the second round out of Georgia, Lassiter has been a strong fit in coach DeMeco Ryans’ defense that relies heavily on having shutdown corners.
“Kamari, we didn’t know he would be there at that time,” Ryans said. “What allowed me to know Kamari would fit was just watching his tape, seeing how physical of a player he was, talking to his teammates and how every teammate raved about Kamari and how locked in he was. Practice, games, walkthroughs, he is one of the most locked in, intense players. Talking to Kamari, it was just an easy fit.”
#Texans rookie Kamari Lassiter on shift to nickel on short notice with Jimmie Ward out for season @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/c2AFbRutjb
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 23, 2024
Ward was a key piece of the defense as the replacement for standout nickel Jalen Pitre.
Since replacing Pitre in the lineup, Ward has returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded 24 tackles with four for losses and two passes defensed over the past month. He finished the season with 48 tackles, two interceptions, five tackles for losses and four passes defensed.
The Texans’ defense faces a big challenge against Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, a 6-foot-3, 248-pound power back who also has the speed to go the distance.
“Those are two really good guy,” Lassiter said. “Lamar is playing unbelievable football. Derrick Henry is Derrick Henry. Just going out there playing fast, playing physical, playing our brand of football.”
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
