Texans' like Pro Bowl returner Andre Roberts' aggressive style

Andre Roberts is arguably the Texans' most accomplished free agent acquisition this offseason.

The veteran return specialist has been named to three consecutive Pro Bowls, including one All-Pro selection in 2018 with the New York Jets.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio signed Roberts to a two-year contract with a maximum value of $6.7 million that included a $1 million signing bonus, $2.5 million guaranteed and an annual $100,000 Pro Bowl incentive.

Roberts, 33, is getting better with time as the former Arizona Cardinals third-round draft pick from The Citadel enters his 12th NFL season. Roberts has averaged 9.0 yards per punt return for his career with three touchdowns and 25.8 yards per kickoff return with two scores.

He averaged 30 yards per kickoff return and 9.9 yards per punt return last season for the Buffalo Bills. Roberts has caught 261 career passes for 3,044 yards and 15 touchdowns in 163 games with the Cardinals, Washington, DetroitLions, Atlanta Falcons, Jets and Bills.

"Any player that's in the return game, you want to be able to attack aggressively," Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross said. "I think just watching the course of his career, especially in the kickoff and punt return game that he's had and even as a ball carrier on offense, he runs aggressively, attacks downhill, finishes runs as a returner and you just love to see that. Playing against him multiple times in our past, he's been a spot that, 'Hey this is an emphasis we've got to cover this guy.'"

Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 years and has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128


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