Texans’ passing game reaping rewards of training camp

Last season, Houston struggled in the passing game, finishing the season with 353 receptions for 3,653 yards and 20 touchdowns, with former Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks amassing 699 yards and three touchdowns as the top receiver for quarterback Davis Mills.

Through Week 11, the Texan’s wide receivers are on pace to exceed those numbers by a wide margin, as they have 225 receptions for 2,970 yards and 18 touchdowns. Nico Collins, who finished an injury-riddled 2022 season with 481 yards and 37 receptions, is having a career year. With nine games played, he leads the 43 receptions and 696 yards.

Tank Dell is making a case for the NFL All-Rookie Team with 659 yards receiving on 42 catches. His six receiving touchdowns have him tied for eighth in the league and set the franchise record for touchdowns by a rookie, which was previously held by former tight end Owen Daniels with five. Dell also holds the franchise record for most receiving yards by a Texans player through their first nine games, surpassing WR Andre Johnson (589).

Explosive plays were also challenging to accomplish in 2022, as Houston had a measly 37 plays over 25 yards. Only two players had 100 yards receiving last season compared to eight (Dell-3, Brown-2, Collins-2, TE Dalton Shultz-1) thus far.

“You can point the finger at everybody, but me I point the thumb,” said Texans QB C.J. Stroud about his play in the loss on Sunday. “We have to take more shots and be more explosive and do some things down the field.” #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/DsMpTinDRc

— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 30, 2023

After a tough loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, where the Texans only completed one pass play for over 25 yards, Stroud came to the postgame press conference and took the blame for the loss and not getting the receivers the ball and in position to make the deep catches.

“You can point the finger at everybody, but me, I point the thumb,” Stroud said. “We have to take more shots and be more explosive and do some things down the field.”

In the following two games, Stroud completed over 12 plays over 25 yards as the Texans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals. Houston has almost exceeded last year’s total with 31 explosive plays this season.

Texans receivers coach Ben McDaniels credits the group’s success to the unselfish characteristics that each one of them possesses, and it started back in OTAs…