CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Danielle Hunter delivered a burst that couldn't be kept up with, unleashing a series of speed to power displays to thoroughly trounce the Carolina Panthers' overmatched offensive line.
The Texans' chiseled, five-time Pro Bowl defensive end put on a textbook clinic on how to rush the passer Wednesday during a joint practice session.
Hunter notched at least four sacks as the Texans defensive front overwhelmed the Panthers and prevented quarterback Bryce Young from having time to throw.
The Morton Ranch graduate from Katy, signed to a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension that includes a $30.7 million signing bonus this spring, set the tone for the Texans as they won the battle at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football.
Between Hunter and All-Pro Will Anderson Jr., the Texans have the top pass rushing tandem in the NFL as they combined for 27 sacks last season.
"Danielle is a problem," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said while smiling after practice. "He continues to be a problem and that's why I love having him and Will. When you have two guys off of the edge who can be as disruptive as they are, it makes it hard on offenses. It makes it hard for them to operate on the timing that they want to operate on. So with Danielle, I saw a few plays he was in the backfield a lot, so it was great to see that."
Hunter looks like he’s built out of granite. His muscles pop out of his uniform Hunter finished third in the NFL as he recorded 15 sacks last season at the primary measuring stick statistical category for defensive ends. He tends to be quiet and understated most of the time.
Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Hunter chooses his words carefully and is the opposite of a self-promoter. He doesn’t talk himself up at all and consistently deflects praise to his teammates and coaches and discusses team goals and accomplishments. He’s a Quiet Storm type. They call him Cyborg.
Hunter’s skills leave teammates wowed.
With a low-key personality and a humble approach to football and life, Hunter doesn’t beat his chest with pride.
Hunter has run the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds with a 36 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-10 broad jump and has bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times. He has every physical trait an NFL team could cover in a pass rusher.
Whether it’s the Euro step, spin move, cross-chop, bull-rush, swim move or just a pure speed rush, Hunter, 30, is a dominant force whatever move he chooses to employ on any given snap or Sunday. He’s at the peak of his game and physical ability.
One of the smartest investments that Texans general manager Nick Caserio has made was signing Hunter and extending him.
Lots of pass rushers are long-armed, tall and fast like Hunter.
Few can match his imagination and intellect. His vision for creative moves and his passion for the game, relentlessly chasing down quarterbacks are rare traits.
Figuring out how to generate explosiveness off the football and time up the snap count without jumping offsides is another plus for Hunter.
“The biggest thing is I just go by getting off the ball,” Hunter said. “Me being a vet, I know how to dissect my guy. The biggest thing I do out there is dissect my guy.
Spoken like a true surgeon at his craft.
Does he have a favorite move? Not really. Whatever gets him into the backfield and reaching his destination, zeroing in to apply heat on the quarterback, at the top of his rush.
Hunter has posted 14 or more sacks four times in his career, becoming the 13th player in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
“Not really,” Hunter said. “My best thing is to just go. Find a way. Whatever your God gives you, adapt and find a way to the quarterback. Just doing what I can do to get better.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL insider for KPRC 2 and Sports Talk 790. His YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AaronWilsonSport
Photo: Matt Kelley / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Sharp day for Texans QB1 C.J. Stroud as linemen did their job
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud delivered a crisp performance, throwing touchdown passes and zero interceptions.
His accuracy was on point, especially on his throws to wide receivers Nico Collins and Xavier Hutchinson, in a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers.
Collins caught several passes from Stroud, who threw touchdowns to wide receivers Jaylin Noel and Lewis Bond.
There was plenty of time for Stroud and backup quarterback Davis Mills to find their targets down Field.
This was arguably Stroud's best practice of training camp.
And the offensive line did their job extremely well protecting him.
The box was checked.
Now, the starters are done for the preseason. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said no starters will play Friday night in the final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
"From my vantage point, the offensive line was really the bright spot for me watching the offense," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Seeing how much time C.J. and Davis had to operate. Seeing the guys pass off games and stunts. Hearing them actually communicate loud and everybody being on the same page, it's what we want from our guys.
"That's how we look when we execute. C.J. and Davis made some outstanding throws today. Our receivers caught the ball really well. The backs ran well, they blocked it well. Overall, offensively, we definitely took a jump from where we were in our last practice."
Back from a broken right pinkie finger and a strained hamstring, Noel made his presence felt out of the slot.
His quickness on routes and sudden cuts got him open. He caught one touchdown.
"Jaylin does a great job," Ryans said. "He's moving around a lot in the slot. He gives us the option to move guys around and make defenses have to communicate. That's where Jaylin provides that for us and he's done a great of punt returning. Last year was his first time doing it for us. He got better and he grew as the year went along, so I'm expecting him to pick up where he left off and continue to improve as our punt returner as well."
This looked like one of the best practices for wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson after he missed a block in a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Starting with Hutch, it's his attitude," Ryans said. "I love it. He has an infectious energy every time he steps on the field. He has this joy about him, he plays hard every single snap and he makes plays. The ball comes his way and he finds a way to make plays.
"That's what's exciting about Hutch. Never have a bad day, always a great attitude, works the right way, works hard at his craft and he has a confidence in himself which you have to have at the wide receiver position. 'Hutch' has that confidence and he's playing confident and showing up every day."
Texans' trade for Kayshon Boutte: 'A big get'
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When the Texans lost wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament, they didn't hesitate to try to fill the void.
They traded a 2028 seventh-round draft pick and hard-hitting backup safety Jaylen Reed to the New England Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.
Boutte has a knack for acrobatic, contested catches and has twice beaten Texans All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. for touchdowns, including a one-handed grab in an AFC divisional round playoff victory in January against his former LSU teammate.
"Adding Kayshon was a big get for us," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "We know we lost a significant player for us in Jayden Higgins. It's hard to replace him. When you try to go out and find a guy with the caliber of Kayshon, we've played against Kayshon multiple times over the past couple of years.
"He's continued to make plays time and time again. He's shown up. He's a young player, still an ascending player, with a lot to improve upon and a lot to grow, so I'm excited to work with a young player who still has a bright and promising future. He has that big playmaking ability already. It's been great to have him so far. We'll get him up and rolling here as the week continues."
Boutte caught six touchdown passes last season, the same amount as Higgins during his rookie year.
The big plays Boutte has delivered was just part of the equation.
Boutte is a polished all-around runner, but he's a deep threat.
"Adding Kayshon is not about the one play," Ryans said. "We know it was a spectacular play that he made. But just watching him throughout his career and seeing what he's done. He's one of the better contested catch players that I've seen. If the ball is close, he has a knack for going up and playing physical and coming down with the football.
"That's what intrigued me when I continued to watch his tape from last year and previous years. He continued to make those tough catches and that's what you want. I want everybody on our team to be tough mentally and physically and he has shown that on his tape."
Boutte did individual drills. The Texans have a plan for getting him up to speed and acclimated to their playbook.
"For us to ramp him up, we'll start with our strength and conditioning group," Ryans said. "They'll start him on the side just ramping him up. We like to understand our player's body and understanding where they are. We'll go through some preliminary testing to make sure he's ready to go when it's time to get in. He got in today in individual drills and did some routes on air and we'll continue to build him and progress him as the week goes on."
NOTES: The Texans practiced without several players Wednesday, including three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (ankle), defensive end Domonique Robinson (calf), running backs Jawhar Jordan (strained hip flexor) and Noah Whittington (ankle), linebacker Wade Woodaz (surgery Monday for broken thumb), linebacker Jake Hansen (ankle), tight end Brevin Jordan (knee), wide receiver Tank Dell (knee), cornerback Collin Wright (groin), safety Kamari Ramsey cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram (shoulder dislocation) and defensive lineman Logan Hall. ... Texans safety Calen Bullock, a Pro Bowl alternate last season, intercepted Bryce Young twice. He did a good job of reading his eyes.... Defensive end Solomon Byrd, competing for the fourth edge spot, had two sacks in the two-minute drill.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL insider for KPRC 2 and Sports Talk 790. His YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AaronWilsonSport