Veteran’s lead the way in minicamp

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 6/28/22

“There’s a reason these two have had the longevity they’ve had and have had the success they’ve had,” Caserio said. “You can see it everyday with Hughes. The overall day to day with him, how he prepares and his thought process."

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Veteran’s lead the way in minicamp

Posted

Lots has been made of the new, young talent the Texans have brought in for the upcoming season.

With players coming in from the draft like Derek Stingley Jr., Kenyon Gree, and John Metchine III, it’s hard not to talk about the young core, and how it may grow together in the future.

But quietly, the Texans have been reinforcing the team with respected veterans, and they are making their presence felt, leading the way and showing the rookies what it takes to last at the NFL level.

Among those players are Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes. Both come to the organization with over 10 years of NFL experience and both bring skill and know-how to the defensive side of the ball.

“It’s been really impressive what those two guys have already brought to the organization,” said Texans General Manager Nick Caserio. “Mario hasn’t necessarily been practicing, but he’s been involved, and when you play against players you can see what they do on the field. You can see how they play and the level of productivity they have. Both of those guys, it was a really easy decision to bring them into the organization.”

Both players com from a highly successful organization with the Buffalo Bills and have been very productive throughout their NFL careers. Now they both hope to bring their success, leadership and experience to a young team and help take a defense which struggled last year to the next level.

“There’s a reason these two have had the longevity they’ve had and have had the success they’ve had,” Caserio said. “You can see it everyday with Hughes. The overall day to day with him, how he prepares and his thought process. We’ve talked at different points about leadership and what it’s about, how it manifests itself and in both of those players case they aren’t necessarily the loudest, but they make a huge impact. They way both of them interact and communicate, how they are with the team, it’s just been really fun to watch.”

That impact has been felt not only with rookies, but also with the second year players. Every player entering their second NFL season is looking to make a jump, and with those two veterans under their wing, it has made that process a lot easier for all of the younger players within the Texans organization.

“Overall, those guys in their second year are much more comfortable now with everything that comes with being an NFL player,” Caserio said. “They’ve been able to go through the full year and find what works and doesn’t work for them. Figuring out what’s important for the team and for them at this point in the year and figuring out what they can work on every day to get better. There’s just an overall familiarity with the program, with the staff and everything they’re going through that makes things easier and allows them to take that jump.”

The Texans completed mandatory mini camp last week and now will take a month long break before joining up again for the beginning of training camp on July 29. Things will then kick into high gear as they prepare for the fist week for the preseason when they take on the Saints on August 13.

NFL, Texans, Houston, football, sports