Houston Texans: Does Alex Carrington signing signal frustration with defensive line?

Could the Houston Texans signing of veteran defensive lineman Alex Carrington be a sign of frustration with their defensive line play vs the 49ers

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After the preseason Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers there seemed to be more questions than answers for the Houston Texans. They won, but something felt off with the team, especially the defensive line.

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With three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt sidelined following offseason surgery, this was to be expected. Still, the guys who did suit up failed to make much of a mark at all.

That’s upsetting because the spot opposite Watt is wide open for the group of young defensive linemen to fight for. Christian Covington, Brandon Dunn and Devon Still all got a chance to shine and only Covington made a positive mark as he forced a fumble in the game.

Outside of that one play Covington and the rest of the crew did next to nothing. Following the game the team reached an agreement with former Buffalo Bills third round pick Alex Carrington. The signing could simply be a move to get some more depth, but the timing suggests something more.

The Texans have shown little patience with players who don’t perform as expected since Bill O’Brien took over as head coach. Perhaps grabbing a player with six years of NFL experience is aimed at lighting a fire under the guys who didn’t flash enough in Week 1.

In his career, Carrington has 62 tackles, four sacks and six pass deflections. His numbers don’t jump off the charts, but he has some experience as a starter. Also being 6-foot-5 and 301 pounds gives him excellent size for the team’s 3-4 defensive front.

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While no one should panic after just one preseason game, it is telling that Houston went out and added to the D-line after a sluggish performance. It should be fun to see how the players respond this week against New Orleans.