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Houston Texans get a boost to DeMeco's defense by signing former first-round pick
Mar 15, 2023, 3:20 pm
Texans add a key piece to the defensive line. Photo via Getty Images, composite by Brandon Strange.
It's no secret, the Texans have struggled mightily to stop the run over the last several seasons. And it looks like they are trying hard to get that corrected in 2023. Head coach DeMeco Ryans was able to convince former 49ers DT Hassan Ridgeway to come to Houston with him and sign a one-year deal this week. A good first step.
But clearly, the Texans feel like they have more work to do on the defensive line.
The #Texans have signed DT Sheldon Rankins to a one-year, $10.5 million deal, source says. DeMeco Ryans gets a big piece for his defensive front. After two years with the #Jets, Rankins heads to Houston. pic.twitter.com/vYA93fN4u4
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 15, 2023
Mike Garafolo is reporting that the Texans and former Saints first-round pick Sheldon Rankins have agreed on a 1-year deal for $10.5 million.
Rankins spent his first five years in New Orleans, and played the last two seasons with the New York Jets.
His best statistical season was with the Saints in 2018 when he had 8 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, and 15 QB hits. Hopefully, Rankins can recapture some of that magic he had with the Saints early in his career.
Even if he maintains his current level of play, this should be a nice upgrade to the Texans defensive front.
In 2022, Rankins recorded 43 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 15 games with the Jets.
He will be 29 years old when the season begins.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.