O'BRIEN AT THE COMBINE ON KEY DEFENSIVE FREE AGENTS

O'Brien desires Mathieu reunion, mum on Clowney and Jackson

Tyrann Mathieu and Kareem Jackson
Tyrann Mathieu and Kareem Jackson. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

After five years with the Texans Jadeveon Clowney is headed to free agency barring a new contract or franchise tag. Texans head coach Bill O'Brien was tight-lipped at the NFL Scouting Combine about the defensive star's future passing the burden of answering those questions to the front office.

"We're in that time period now where there's a lot of different things going on relative to our team relative to our roster and I would just tell you I'd leave anything that has to do with free agency or things like that to [general manager] Brian [Gaine]."

Clowney was in the news last week when NBC's Peter King said he didn't believe Clowney worked as hard as his teammates on the Texans.

O'Brien passed on the opportunity to address those comments directly.

"I don't comment on what other people say," he said. "I've had a really good experience with JD [Jadeveon Clowney]. He's played good football for us. He's a good person. Enjoyed coaching him. Again, it's the business side of things. I have nothing but good things to say about [Clowney]."

As for Tyrann Mathieu, O'Brien heaped praise on the safety who is set to be a free agent.

"He's a guy that really meant a lot to our locker room," O'Brien said touting that Mathieu was named a team captain after being with the Texans just a few months. "I think that says a lot about the impact he had not just as a player, he's a good football player he's a smart football player a versatile player, but also what he meant leadership-wise in the locker room."

He ended his comments on Mathieu with a desire to be reunited with the safety.

"There's no doubt that we would love to have Tyrann back."

O'Brien also weighed in on fellow Texans safety and free agent to be Kareem Jackson. He praised Jackson's versatility and leadership qualities. He went on to say "Kareem's been a good player" for the Texans.

O'Brien said free agency and the offseason is a process and a business while using the cliche it takes two to tango. He directed most of those questions to general manager Brian Gaine who speaks on Thursday.

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The Texans will look to get back on track this Sunday against the Colts. Composite Getty Image.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.

Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”

The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.

They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.

Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.

Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.

“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.

What's working

The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.

Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.

What needs help

The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.

Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.

Stock up

RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.

Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.

“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”

Stock down

Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.

Injuries

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.

Key number

3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.

Next steps

The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.

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