A recipe for success
Former Texans safety Jonathan Owens proud of wife Simone Biles' performance at Olympics
Aug 7, 2024, 4:28 pm
A recipe for success
Chicago Bears safety and former Houston Texan Jonathan Owens returned from Paris full of pride in what his wife, Simone Biles, accomplished and showing off her Olympic pin.
Owens is back practicing at Bears training camp this week after getting time away to go to Paris and watch Biles win three gold medals and one silver.
“It was amazing to watch,” Owens said after Tuesday’s practice. “My wife is a warrior. That’s the one thing I tell people because I equate it to how we are in football.
“You limp around and it will hurt a little bit right before. But as soon as you go, it’s like you forget about it. Just pain tolerance and the way she was able to go out there and, like I said, look graceful with everything. People really didn’t have a clue what was going on. I’m just so happy and proud for her.”
A calf injury didn’t seem to stop Biles.
“Her resilience, and when she did decide to come back she accomplished everything that she set her mind to,” Owens said. “Just being able to witness every day, the training you go through.
“Obviously, the first day when she had the injury to her calf and just her ability to persevere through that and go out there and still dominate.”
Owens has the customary Olympic pins, including one of his wife.
“My favorite pin would be the one I went there with and that’s the Simone Biles pin right here,” he said. “Yeah, that’s my wife. It was especially made with her autograph on there so you can only get it from her or a family member."
It was a much sought-after pin.
“I had to make sure I kept a few of those on here to tease people," he said. "Like ‘No you can’t get it, I’m sorry.’ “They’re in high demand. Everyone, they would come up to you and be like ’Do you have a Simone Biles pin? Do you?
"So I would only trade some if it were like a super, super cool pin but most of the time people would see you and just want to give you one. It was a cool experience.”
While away, Owens watched the Bears win 21-17 over the Houston Texans in a Hall of Fame game shortened to less than three quarters by a storm.
“I just feel like it was one of those things where the stars just aligned,” Owens said. “I still have a job here at the end of the day, my coaches were calling me to see how I was doing, making sure I was getting rest. Obviously, they want to congratulate Simone and everything but they were also just keeping me up to date on what’s going on.
“I had my iPad so I was able to watch film of any practices that I missed and when they did play, I think it was 2 a.m. in the morning Paris time, so I stayed up and watched the game until the rain delay just to support the guys. Like I said, I was happy they allowed me to go.”
Coming out of Tuesday's Texans press conference, it feels like we may have been left with more questions than answers.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans continued to downplay CJ Stroud's “soreness” that has kept him from throwing at OTAs.
I noted in my article on Tuesday, that it I found it interesting that Ryans dodged a question from ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime about Stroud's availability for next week's mandatory minicamp.
However, Mike Florio of NBC Sports' biggest takeaway from the press conference really raised some red flags. When Ryans was asked if Stroud had any work performed on him in the offseason, his body language shifted dramatically. He started aggressively adjusting the sleeves on his shirt and looking quite uncomfortable. Seth Payne shared some similar thoughts on his YouTube channel, too.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans on CJ Stroud not throwing today:
“There are no concerns with CJ. Just general soreness. Taking extra precautions.”
DeMeco Ryans declines to answer if C.J. had any work on his shoulder in the offseason.
He reiterates CJ has “GENERAL SORENESS.” pic.twitter.com/9jy9iGlptv
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) June 3, 2025
Florio makes a point in the video below that coaches have to be careful with their movements during these press conferences when asked tough questions. Or people will start reading into body language and wonder why the coach is refusing to answer further questions on the subject.
Something DeMeco did Tuesday after the “work” question. Media members suddenly become professional poker players looking for any tell.
That's a “no” from me dawg
Florio's co-host Chris Simms on the other hand wasn't buying it. He believes if there was any kind of procedure in the offseason, somebody would have heard about it.
He chalks up Stroud's absence to something much more minor, like tendonitis in the shoulder or elbow. KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson is reporting that his sources are telling him Stroud is dealing with tightness in his shoulder muscle. So it could be something as simple as that.
It's shoulder muscle tightness that C.J. Stroud is dealing with, per league sources @KPRC2 https://t.co/2PWQJQ3qZR
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 3, 2025
At the end of the day, let's hope Simms and Wilson are correct, and this isn't something we should worry about with the season still several months away.
But it is worth mentioning, CJ is learning a new offense and working with many new receivers that are expected to make an impact this year (Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel). A lot could be achieved by throwing to his new weapons and gaining experience in an unfamiliar system.
Something has to be bothering him enough to miss these valuable reps.
Be sure to check out the video below for the full conversation and see where you come out on the debate.
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