HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans still doesn’t know how Azeez Al-Shaair did on Sunday.
Texans coaches weren’t even sure if their veteran linebacker would be able to play against Buffalo after falling ill over the weekend.
“For him to be as tired as he was and to let off some steam and play every snap, it was an outstanding performance from him,” Ryans said after the Texans beat the Bills 23-20.
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Al-Shaair did more than play every snap. He led the Texans defense with eight tackles and added two hits on Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen. He also broke up two passes and made a tackle for lost yards.
Ryans explained that what we all saw on Sunday is exactly what he expects from his veteran leaders.
“It’s a team-first mentality. It wasn’t about him,” Ryans said. “He didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. He just wanted to go out and help the team.”
Texans fans understand why Ryans targeted Al-Shaair in free agency after working together to build a dominant 49ers defense in San Francisco. It’s about more than Al-Shaair’s ability to make plays all over the field.
The six-year veteran is entering the best years of his career after collecting 163 tackles last season for the Titans. He is also the leader of the defense Ryans built in Houston and a respected voice in the Texans locker room. Al-Shaair’s $34 million deal over the next three years is a steep price to pay for a linebacker. The Texans believe they will get more than their money’s worth.
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