Safety Justin Reid is exactly who the Houston Texans thought he was when they took him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
A rangy Stanford product with a penchant of making big hits, Reid found himself suddenly slipping to the third round of the draft despite earning hype pre-draft as a first-round caliber player.
Now, “Justin’s one of our best players,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien explained on Monday.
Despite dealing with shoulder injuries throughout the season and a concussion (he missed a game for), the 22-year-old Reid is a leader and building block in the Texans’ secondary. On the season, he has 76 combined tackles, five pass deflections and a pair of interceptions.
“Justin is a leader, very smart player and he’s got good ball skills,” O’Brien said. “He’s a good tackler, he’s tough. I mean, he is tough. He is a tough guy that wants to be out there every snap for his teammates. He is a very important part of our team.”
The Texans named Reid their Ed Block Courage Award winner before their Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game that he got an interception and fumble recovery in. The award is given to the player that best epitomizes toughness and bravery both on-and-off the field.
Reid’s ability to play through injuries and stand out while doing so earned him the award.
“Everybody play a little bit banged up,” Reid said on Dec. 17. “Shoot, if your team is healthy all the way though you’re having one hell of a lucky year. So, it’s just all about being tough and dependable. Sometimes you’ve got to play through stuff and that’s just what I’ve been doing.”
If Reid’s first two years in the NFL indicate anything, it’s that he is a leader in play and mindset in a young defense.
