HOUSTON – Texans linebacker Christian Harris hasn’t lost a bit of speed, even while accumulating a bit of rust during a lengthy convalescence from a calf strain he aggravated during training camp.
Once Harris was finally back on the field Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, his trademark athleticism was on full display along with his aggressive presence in a scheme designed to get him to the football fast.
Recommended Videos
Harris made a productive, healthy return as he started and recorded eight tackles and four solos in his season debut after being activated from injured reserve-designated for return in a 20-12 victory. With Harris back in the lineup, the defense got a boost during the three-game suspension of veteran linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair.
“Christian was was flying around,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker and former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. “He’s playing fast. He’s sideline to sideline, made nice tackles, like he hadn’t missed a beat. He’ll have a few things to continue to clean up, but I was impressed with the amount of snaps he was able to play and the plays he was able to make with him coming back after being away for such a long time.
“So, I’m really, really impressed with his outing. It was cool to see. He’s missed a lot of time, worked hard to get back and he did not want to come off the field. Even when I tried to get him off the field, he did not want to come off the field.”
'Playing fast, he was sideline to sideline' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on productive return to play for linebacker Christian Harris @KPRC2 @AlabamaFTBL @KlutchSports @Martin_Fischman pic.twitter.com/Ik4ZsMat2f
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 17, 2024
With 4.44 speed in the 40-yard dash, Harris is faster than many of the running backs he competes with.
The former third-round draft pick from Alabama played defensive back in high school in Baton Rouge, La.
Although the injury took a long time to get back from, Harris’ return is timely. He recorded a career-high 101 tackles last season and returned an interception for a touchdown in a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns. He became the seventh player in NFL history to record a pick-six for a touchdown and record a sack in the same playoff game since retired Texans defensive end J.J. Watt did so against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012. Harris had eight tackles, two for losses against the Browns. He had seven more tackles one for a loss and repeatedly pressured Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson in an AFC divisional round playoff loss.
“Really proud of Christian Harris for stepping up,” Ryans said. “Long battle back from injury, but he stepped up and was able to go out and play quality football for us.”
One year after a breakthrough season, Harris made his long-awaited debut from a strained calf he first suffered in July then aggravated in August.
Harris is one of the fastest linebackers in the NFL.
He wound up playing 56 snaps on defense for 82 percent of the defensive playing time against Miami while fellow linebacker Henry To’oTo’o played every snap and had the green dot communication device in his helmet as the defensive signal caller in place of Al-Shaair.
To’o’To’o led the Texans with 11 tackles, forced a fumble and split one sack.
“I was pleased with Henry,” Ryans said. “I think one thing having the communication, when guys get that sometimes it throws you off of your game because you’re having to do a little bit more when it comes to getting everyone else the call, getting everyone else lined up. But I thought Henry was very calm in the moment and he handled himself really well.
“He played well, a ton of tackles, flying around, forced a fumble. But overall, he led the unit in a very, very nice manner. Productive outing by him and just the communication piece, it was off the charts. We had a lot going on with what Miami’s offense presents to us and Henry was steady throughout the entire game.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
