The Texans’ improved defense faces a “dynamic playmaker” in Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson and downhill running back Jonathan Taylor

HOUSTON – Strengthening the defense was one of the Texans’ top priorities during the offseason.

That’s why general manager Nick Caserio arranged a two-year, $51 million contract for Pro Bowl quarterback Danielle Hunter, a three-year, $34 million contract for veteran middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and drafted Georgia quarterback Kamari Lassiter in the second round.

Now the improved defense will be tested in the season opener against a talented Indianapolis Colts defense that includes quarterback Anthony Richardson and power forward Jonathan Taylor.

Richardson suffered a concussion after scoring two touchdowns in the Texans’ season-opening loss to the Colts last season before the impressive former University of Florida star was placed on the injured reserve list with a shoulder injury. Richardson, one of the league’s biggest and most athletic quarterbacks at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds with a 4.43 40-yard dash and a 40 1/2-inch vertical jump, finished his abbreviated rookie season with a 2-2 record as a starter and completed 50 of 84 passes (59.5 percent) for 577 yards and ran for 136 yards on 25 attempts for four touchdowns.

“Anthony Richardson, as he’s shown in limited play, has shown that he can be a dynamic quarterback and run the ball and throw the ball,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “So he’s a quarterback. You have to be counted on every play. That’s because of his dynamic ability to run the ball. So he’s a really good challenge for us, defensively. And we definitely have our hands full.”

Richardson had a touchdown pass in the Colts’ preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he also threw a pick-six. The Texans lost the first game to the Colts when Gardner Minshew, now quarterback of the Las Vegas Raiders, replaced Richardson. The Texans won a key game late in the season to clinch the AFC South Division title at Lucas Oil Stadium, beating the Colts thanks to a blistering performance by Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud, last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“He’s going to play,” Texans linebacker Jimmie Ward said of Richardson. “Just because some of the things he does aren’t really coached, he’s a raw talent where he can use his legs a lot. He’s a pretty big guy. I’m curious to see how he attacks us. Is he going to slide in or not? I guess we’ll see. I think our whole defense is going to see it. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I feel like he’s a really good player and he’s got a great team behind him.”

Taylor has a lethal running style and is also a threat against the run. The former Wisconsin standout and All-Pro selection has a 4.39 40-yard dash speed at 5-foot-10, 226 pounds. Signed to a three-year, $42 million contract last season, Taylor rushed for a season-high 188 yards on 30 carries with one touchdown in the regular-season finale loss to the Texans. He finished the season with 741 rushing yards and seven touchdowns after settling a contract dispute in October. He led the NFL with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.

“Jonathan, I think he’s a good running back because he runs with such great contact balance,” Ryans said. “It takes more than one guy to bring him down. He’s really good at breaking tackles, he’s physical, he’s uphill. He runs the ball, he plays the right way. I think that’s what makes him a really good running back.”

Taylor’s 100-yard performance was the first time last season that the Texans allowed an opposing quarterback to pass the 100-yard mark.

“The key is consistency, and that’s always important,” Ryans said. “The first game is going to be about offense. You’ve got to attack as a team, right? So, you talk about our defense last year, we had too many missed tackles. So for us to improve our running game and our passing game, we’ve got to be a better team on offense, and that’s just going to take more hands on the ball, more guys securing and wrapping up.”

ANDERSON UPDATE

Texans defensive quarterback Will Anderson Jr., named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, is set to play against the Colts, according to league sources.

Anderson has been out for most of the preseason with an ankle injury. He made steady progress and ran in practice last week but did not participate in drills. He is expected to test that at practice on Wednesday.

“We’ll see where we go in the week,” Ryans said when asked about Anderson. “I feel good about all our guys. Ready to go this year.”

Behind Anderson, the Texans are primarily comprised of Derek Barnett and Jerry Hughes.

Texans Pro Bowl center Joe Mixon missed most of the preseason with a quadriceps injury and missed all games.

Mixon is now fully healthy and showed explosiveness during a joint workout with the Los Angeles Rams.

After signing a three-year, $27 million contract extension following an offseason trade with the Cincinnati Bengals, Mixon will likely see plenty of work as a running back and playmaker in the defensive backfield.

“Joe is going to be Joe,” Ryans said. “Joe is going to do what he’s done his whole career. I don’t think you’re going to see anything different. He’s a big, physical back. He’s going to get yards. So I’m looking forward to seeing Joe run the ball behind our offensive line.”

A former second-round draft pick out of Oklahoma, Mixon signed a deal that includes $13 million guaranteed with $10 million in the first year of his new contract. Mixon has thrown for 29 total touchdowns over the past three seasons.

“Man, I feel good,” Mixon said in the preseason. “Just got to get used to this heat. It’s tough to get used to. But other than that, man, I’m getting my legs up and being able to build that chemistry with the offensive line and the receivers, and obviously C.J., man, I feel great.”

Mixon is expected to be a key part of the Texans offense in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s playbook.

And the Texans will try to gain an advantage against a strong front seven that includes defensive quarterbacks DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart.

“It’s a really great front seven, let’s start with the two guys on the inside, Buckner and Stewart. Those guys are the force on the inside,” Ryans said. “But it’s not about whether we have to run, whatever we have to do to move the ball up and down the field. That really doesn’t matter. It’s about running the ball, throwing the ball, whatever we need to do to be successful, moving the ball, that’s what we’re going to do.”

COMMENTS: Ryans said the Texans will announce team captains later this week. … The Colts linebacker duo of EJ Speed ​​and Zaire Franklin is one of the fastest and best in the NFL. Both players are extremely active and instinctive. “Yeah, EJ and Zaire, they’ve been doing it together for a while,” Ryans said. “They’re big, athletic, quick guys who can make plays from sideline to sideline. And we’ve got to be able to give them a hat tip because they make most of their plays when the ball gets past the defense. Those are the guys you have to stop because of their speed, their length and their athleticism.”

THE LAST WORD

Ryans, who was named the Pro Football Writers of America NFL Coach of the Year in his first season as a head coach and finished second to Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski in the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year poll, is determined to continue to improve.

“As a head coach, I’ve just learned to spend more time with my assistant coaches,” Ryans said. “Being more dedicated to the assistant coaches, spending more time developing and helping the other coaches that I work with. I really appreciate all the work that these guys do. All the sacrifices that they make to be here and the time that they make to be with their families. For me, it’s just being dedicated to these guys and being more of a creator, talking about it with the players on the field, but also with our coaches.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com