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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mark Lane

LB Denzel Perryman was Texans’ most impactful free agent in Week 1

Prior to the Houston Texans’ investments in the 2023 NFL draft, the club spent salary cap space to acquire key veterans to add credibility to their rebuild.

Khaled Elsayed from Pro Football Focus took a look at the Texans’ free agent acquisitions who played in the 25-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. While receiver Robert Woods may have impressed with six catches for 57 yards, one of the new faces on defense actually had the highest PFF grade among the new free agents.

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Dalton Schultz (46.7) ended up with just four yards on his four targets in a quiet start, but Robert Woods (64.1) was more productive with 57 yards (although his two drops were uncharacteristic of a receiver who has never dropped more than eight in a single season). At running back, Devin Singletary (44.3) is very much a secondary option after being outsnapped 36-16 by Dameon Pierce. Denzel Perryman (69.7) is still dangerous against the run, as evidenced by his five defensive stops, but it was a quiet start for Sheldon Rankins (38.5). His only mention on the stats sheet was a quarterback hurry.

The former Pro Bowler collected a game-high 11 combined tackles and a tackle for loss as the Texans held the Ravens to 263 yards total offense, the fifth-fewest for Baltimore in a season opener since 1999.

Houston hosts the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium. If the Texans are able to get higher-graded performances out of their free agents in Week 2, it could give coach DeMeco Ryans his first career win.

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