Houston Texans safety Justin Reid will be emerging as one of the most relied upon defenders in the secondary in 2019.
Safety Justin Reid is entering his second season in a bigger role with the Houston Texans. Reid is the only remaining starting safety returning to the secondary in 2019. Texans are looking to Reid to take over the responsibilities at safety with Kareem Jackson signing with the Denver Broncos to a three-year deal worth up to $33 million and Tyrann Mathieu signing with the Kansas City Chiefs to a three year $42 million deal.
Reid will be returning to the safety rotation that currently consists of Tashaun Gipson, Jahleel Addae, A.J. Moore, A.J. Hendy, Chris Johnson, and Austin Exford. Alongside Reid, Moore and Hendy will be the only safeties returning to the secondary. Moore played a role in special teams while Hendy was signed towards the end of the regular season after safety Michael Tyson was placed on the injured reserve.
After Jackson and Mathieu, Texans had Andre Hal as the only other defensive back with starting experience at the safety position, but he decided to call it a career after five seasons in the NFL. Entering his second season, Reid is the only safety left that has experience in Romeo Crennel’s defense. He started in 12 of the 16 games and had an impressive statistical season in his first year in the Texans defense.
Reid had 88 tackles, ten pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, three interceptions, and one of those interceptions returned for a 101-yard pick-six against the Washington Redskins.
He will be entering the 2019 season as the clear cut starter after joining the Texans’ secondary as the third safety in his rookie season. It took injuries for him to step on the field and solidify his starting job in the defense, but he has an entire offseason to focus on continuing to grow in his role as the starter.