Lamar Jackson was on the move, scrambling Sunday as one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the NFL.
The Baltimore Ravens’ star and former NFL MVP had designs on a big play. Texans nickel back Tavierre Thomas had other ideas.
Thomas swiped the football out of Jackson’s hands for a forced fumble during the Texans’ 25-9 loss at M&T Bank Stadium.
During another play, Thomas popped rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers for a tackle for a loss. He finished his first game as the replacement for his friend, Desmond King, who was a surprise cut during the roster cutdown, with eight tackles. He had a 90.5 Pro Football Focus analytics grade.
“Tavierre did a good job for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He plays the style of football I love to see. He plays with his hair on fire. He’s fast, he’s physical out there. He did a really good job of forcing fumbles, so that’s what we want to see. T.T. plays the style of ball that I like to see.”
Thomas allowed three receptions on three targets for nine yards. He had no missed tackles. He played 25 snaps in coverage, 14 snaps in run defense and one pass rush snap.
A former undrafted free agent from Ferris State who previously played for the Cleveland Browns, Thomas was re-signed this offseason to a one-year, $3 million deal that included $500,000 signing bonus and a $1.5 million base salary that’s fully guaranteed, a $250,000 per game active roster bonus and a $750,000 playtime incentive for defensive snaps.
Two seasons ago for the Texans playing for former coach Lovie Smith, Thomas recorded a career-high 86 tackles and had two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I’m going to go out there to make plays and show I’m one of the best nickels in the NFL in the NFL,” Thomas said before the Ravens game. “I feel like we’re going to be real good. The secondary as a whole, I think we’re going to shock a lot of people.”
Thomas has 182 career tackles, two interceptions, one sack, two fumble recoveries and five tackles for losses.
Due to a quadriceps injury, Thomas was limited to 10 games and six starts last season. He still had 41 tackles, one for a loss and one pass defensed.
Thomas is confident in himself, and his teammates.
“Two years straight. I’ve checked a lot of great players,” Thomas said. “I just got to do my job.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790
Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Texans re-signing Jared Wayne, work out punters
The Texans are considering their options at punter.
They worked out veteran punters Matt Haack and Pat O’Donnell along with long snappers Jake McQuaide and Matt Overton on Monday morning, according to league sources.
Ty Zentner, an undrafted player from Kansas State who was previously with the Philadelphia Eagles, was elevated from the practice squad and punted against the Baltimore Ravens. He averaged 44 yards per punt with one touchback.
Regular punter Cameron Johnston is on injured reserve with a calf injury that is not regarded as a long-term issue.
Haack, previously with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts, averaged 44.8 yards per punt last year for the Colts. He had 28 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
O’Donnell is a former Chicago Bears sixth-round draft pick who has also punted for the Green Bay Packers. He averaged 44.5 yards per punt last season with 24 downed inside the 20-yard line.
The Texans hosted running back Gerrid Doaks and wide receiver Jared Wayne for visits, according to league sources.
The Texans are signing Wayne to the practice squad, per a source.
Wayne was released after the preseason after being sidelined with a Grade 2 strained hamstring in camp.
A former Pitt standout, Wayne is an Ontario, Canada native who was previously drafted in the second round by the Toronto Argonauts. Wayne is 6-foot-3, 210 lbs, has posted a 42-inch vertical leap and has run the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds.
Signed by the Texans to an undrafted deal that includes $210,000 guaranteed with a $10,000 signing bonus and $200,000 of his base salary guaranteed, Wayne caught 60 passes for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns last season as a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.
He caught 11 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns against Miami last season, finishing his career with 146 career receptions for 2,308 yards.
Doaks was with the Texans last season on the practice squad and during training camp before being released during the final roster cutdown to 53 players. He’s a 5-foot-11, 228-pound former Miami Dolphins seventh-round draft pick from Cincinnati. He rushed for 1,712 yards and seven touchdowns in college.
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.