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Report: DeMeco Ryans has made a decision on Houston Texans defensive coordinator position
Feb 10, 2023, 11:34 am
It's a done deal. Photo by Getty Images.
Now that the Houston Texans have their head coach DeMeco Ryans secured, it's time for his staff to start taking shape. According to multiple reports, the team is hiring Matt Burke as defensive coordinator.
Once dubbed the most interesting man in the NFL, Burke spends his offseason climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, hanging out in Rwanda with gorillas or skydiving. Now, he’ll call Houston his home. https://t.co/QH3fyFVhgi
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 10, 2023
In 2022, Burke was the defensive line coach for JJ Watt and the Arizona Cardinals. In 2021, he was the game management coach for the Jets under head coach Robert Saleh. Saleh was the 49ers DC before DeMeco Ryans was promoted to the position in 2021.
Burke has previous experience as a defensive coordinator, as he was the Dolphins DC in 2017 and 2018. His team finished 16th and 29th in total defense those years respectively.
The Texans are also hiring Nick Kray as chief of staff, according to Aaron Wilson. Kray held the same position with San Francisco and was an administrative assistant to Kyle Shanahan.
#Texans new chief of staff is Nick Kray, per league sources. Previously 49ers' chief of staff for Kyle Shanahan and administrative assistant to the head coach, with prior stints at North Carolina State, Yale. Played defensive end at Eastern Illinois
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 10, 2023
Now the big question needs to be answered. Who's going to run this offense?
Houston has interviewed 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik, Bengals WRs coach Troy Walters, and Vikings assistant QBs coach Jerrod Johnson.
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Houston Astros right-hander Cristian Javier was scratched from Sunday’s start at the Washington Nationals because of neck discomfort.
He will be placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to April 14.
Right-hander Hunter Brown (0-3, 10.54 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season in the series finale at Washington. Brown suffered a 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on April 16 despite allowing only two runs in six innings.
“Neck discomfort, started a few days ago,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He tried to work through it but just couldn’t happen. This kind of just came out of nowhere. So, we are going to see what happens here.”
The Astros called up right-hander Spencer Arrighetti from the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Arrighetti struggled in his first two starts this season, going 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA.
Espada said JP France and Justin Verlander will start in Chicago for the next series against the Cubs, but the order was not announced. Arrighetti could also get one of those spots, as could veteran left-hander Framber Valdez (left elbow inflammation), who has been throwing during the road trip.
“He just played catch right now,” Espada said of Valdez on Sunday. “We will see how he feels. Once we see how he feels we will start talking about the possibilities if he can pitch in Chicago or not.”