(SportsRadio 610) - For all of the attention to the Texans’ new faces, it’s one of the more tenured players on the team who is quietly putting in a Pro Bowl worthy season.
Fourth-year defensive end Jonathan Greenard recorded 2.5 sacks in the Texans’ 19-16 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Greenard, who now has 12.5 sacks on the season, also had three quarterback hits, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble against Tennessee.
This was his fourth game this season with at least two sacks. Only Mario Williams and J.J. Watt ever accomplished the same for the Texans.
It gives Greenard 5.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits just over the last three weeks.
The Texans are in the thick of the AFC playoff race, so that’s their main priority. But Greenard is a free agent after this season, so you have to think he’s someone the Texans want to lock in.
“Listen, we will revisit this at end of the season when we tally them all up,” Greenard said when asked about his season sack total. “But, at the end of the day, I mean, I'm just continuously going to continue to work, get the opps, and continue to work on my craft, so that way I can just continue to work on myself and be whatever, no matter who you put in front of me. I’m going to continue to do what I do. So, I’m going to continue to work and obviously we’re going to continue to strive for them dubs and the sacks, and the stats and numbers will come.”
Overall, the Texans recorded seven sacks against the Titans on Sunday. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins had 1.5 sacks, including one he team up with Greenard. Derek Barnett, who had an increased role with Will Anderson Jr. out due to an ankle injury, had a sack and two tackles for loss.
Khalil Davis, a defensive tackle who started the season on the practice squad, also had a sack and two tackles for loss.
“We knew that they couldn’t block us,” Greenard said. “Specifically, obviously inside for sure. But on the edges, we definitely had to take care of some opportunities.”