How Texans’ Brevin Jordan went from torn ACL to new contract and got faster in process: ‘The journey is the reward’

HOUSTON – Brevin Jordan had zero clue initially that something was wrong. Standing at his locker, Jordan held court as he celebrated a victory last September over the Chicago Bears.

Jordan was in his usual good mood while detailing some of the nuances of the game he impacted.

What the Texans’ athletic tight end would learn later surprised many, most notably himself.

Jordan had torn his anterior cruciate ligament despite finishing the game without incident. It was an unanticipated plot twist. His season was over just as it was getting started after the second game of the year. Surgery awaited.

“I honestly have no clue what play, when or how I did it,” Jordan said. “It was just one of those things that your adrenaline is running so hard and you just find out the next day that your ACL is torn. Honestly, I’m still shocked about it. Still to this day, dang, I tore my ACL and had no clue. So, it was pretty crazy.”

Now, a lengthy rehabilitation process and surgery was next He had reached a crossroads in his career.

Instead of dwelling on the misfortune, Jordan, a deeply spiritual person, leaned heavily on his faith and family.

He knew he was back for sure when he hit 21.7 miles per hour in training. That was a bit faster than the 20.03 miles per hour he reached during a 76-yard touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns that set the tone for a 45-14 AFC wild-card playoff win during coach DeMeco Ryans’ first season in Houston.

Jordan is soaking up every moment at training camp. It’s been a tough, but fun ride back.

“It feels unbelievable,” Jordan said. “Ten months of isolation, just being in the house and being here was tough. Being back out here on the field, it’s hot, it’s competitive, but I don’t take it for granted. It just feels so good to be back with my teammates.”

During the first practice of training camp, Jordan caught the football in stride and he took off as he accelerated away from pursuit.

Jordan served notice he was back and even faster than before. Modern technology and surgery techniques and the work ethic and athleticism of the former University of Miami player all came together in this moment.

“You see how he attacks today,” Ryans said. “I think one of his first plays out, he caught a short pass and it reminded me of the play he had versus the Browns where he took one the distance. That’s what Brev can do. He’s an explosive playmaker and I’m excited to see him back out here working with a smile on his face.”

Jordan represents an X-factor within the Texans’ tight end group. His presence, including his enthusiasm, was missed when he got hurt last season. Starting tight end Dalton Schultz had a down year last season, too.

The Texans, instead of moving on from Jordan and taking a wait-and-see approach to his rehab, decided to commit to him. He signed a one-year, $2.1 million contract in December. That’s how confident they were in his comeback he’s putting together.

The deal includes a $1.2 million base salary with $550,000 of it guaranteed, a $300,000 signing bonus, $26,570 per game active roster bonuses up to $450,000 and a $150,000 workout bonus for $850,000 total guaranteed, per a source.

“I think it was important to bring Brevin back on an extension because I see a very talented young player who really loves football,” Ryans said. “I know he can help us, whether it’s in passing game or running game. He’s doing a really great job of working at the line of scrimmage, working on the blocking as well.

“So, I see really an ascending young player. When you’ve got an ascending young player in your building, we want to keep as many of those guys here as we can. So, I’m happy to lock Brevin up for a few more years.”

For the Texans to show that faith in him truly resonated with the Las Vegas native.

“It was unbelievable,” Jordan said. “I love the city of Houston. I love this coaching staff. I love my teammates. For them to re-sign me and have faith in me that I could be somebody that they can rely on to make plays on Sundays, that they can look to their left or to their right and know that I’m going to do my job. I love this coaching staff. I never take it for granted just being here.”

Jordan, 25, has overcome obstacles before to get to this point in his career. Throughout it all, he has embraced the path and not gotten frustrated.

“My whole life has been the journey is the reward,” Jordan said. “There’s no such thing as an end goal. The journey itself, being able to go through this — whether you have a breakout year or not, you have to keep going. You have a bad injury, you have to keep going. The journey is the reward/

“I think I relied a lot on God. But, for me, it was just staying grounded, staying true to my foundation, my faith, my teammates, my family. It was a hard process, but as crazy as it might sound, it wasn’t that hard. It wasn’t that hard, to be honest with you.”

It’s evident that Jordan has made progress in every facet of his game, including his blocking. He’s been one of the early standouts at training camp.

“I’ve been feeling like I’m me from the jump,” Jordan said. “From the first practice, I was ready to go. I’m stronger, I’m faster, I’ve been able to sit back and watch the game from a different point of view. So, I’m ready to go, I’m ready to just play on Sundays.”

Jordan had been operating as the primary backup behind Schultz and also as a lead blocking fullback before the injury.

Jordan had two catches for seven yards last season and has recorded 53 career catches for 532 yards and five touchdowns.

Now, he’s looking for more as he gets ready for this season. Yes, he’s noticed how people are sleeping on the Texans’ tight end group.

“We have an unbelievable group.,” Jordan said. “I think people aren’t giving the tight end group enough credit for whatever reason, but I think this year we’re going to be able to show everybody that this is a group that we can rely on, on special teams, on offense, that we’re going to go out there and we’re going to be able to block a defensive end one-on-one and then go catch a 50-yard touchdown. So, that’s the expectations from everybody in our room.”

Pitre is back

Hard-hitting Texans nickel Jalen Pitre returned to practice from a relatively minor ankle injury.

“Pitre is good,” Ryans said. “He’s back out at practice. He’s good. Same guy he’s been. So, nothing to report there.”

Pitre delivered a big hit on rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins to knock the football out of his hands.

While Pitre is back, linebacker Chrisitan Harris remains out with a lingering calf injury that derailed his season last year and kept him sidelined during the spring. It’s unclear when he’ll begin practicing, but he’s not on the physically umable to perform list.

Backup corner Arthur Maulet returned to practice from a head injury. He was in a red jersey signifying he’s off-limits to contact.

Defensive end Darrell Taylor practiced one day after getting shake up in a drill, but emerging unscathed.

Offensive line improves

Being in full pads is an equalizer for the much-scrutinized offensive line.

They have performed better than early in training camp when star defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter ran free into the backfield.

“When we put the pads on, the defense kind of had the advantage early on,” Ryans said. “Now, we’re seeing things balancing themselves out. The offense was making plays. Our quarterbacks are doing a nice job of placing the football in the right spot. And our receivers are making some really tough catches. And that’s what we want to be: a tough, physical football team. We got a lot of guys on the offensive side who are getting really better and it really jumps out in that receiver room to me.”

The Texans’ starting offensive line Tuesday: left tackle Cam Robinson, left guard Laken Tomlinson, center Jake Andrews, right guard Tytus Howard and right tackle Aireontae Ersery, a rookie from the University of Minnesota.

Ersery is battling returning tackle Blake Fisher for the starting job and is building momentum in his push for immediate playing time.

Fisher has had an issue with false starts, too.

“The offensive line, again, there’s different guys that have been in there,” Ryans said. “I think those guys are continuing to get better, and you see it’s real football. You get to block guys with pads on. I think that’s just real, and that’s what you see. Our guys are doing a solid job, and they’re continuing to get better.”

Tomlinson is with the Texans to provide leadership and blocking skill. He’s the only former Pro Bowl selection among the group and is known for his durability and reliability. The Texans offensive line allowed C.J. Stroud to be sacked 52 times last season, triggering an overhaul of the group as five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil was traded to the Washington Commanders.

“Guys are coming in competing,” Tomlinson said. “We got new guys, new faces, but guys are coming in here competing. We’re building chemistry. We know what it takes to be a great offensive line.

“We’re going to come out here, we’re going to compete every day and we’re going to build that cohesiveness, that chemistry. We’re just going to keep working. We’re going to keep working all the way through training camp.”

Second chance

After years of legal and personal issues, cornerback Damon Arnette Jr. is embracing this opportunity with the Texans on a one-year, $1.03 million prove-it deal.

Arnette is a former Las Vegas Raiders first-round draft pick from Ohio State.

Ryans sees progress from Arnette, who played last season for the Houston Roughnecks and had an interception return for a touchdown.

“Arnette is taking his second chance and he’s running with it,” Ryans said. “He’s been dialed in since day one, very grateful for the opportunity to be back in the NFL and I’m happy to be in a position to give a guy a second chance.

“I think in life we all need more than second chances. It’s just having another chance. If we all think back on our lives and things that have happened, you want the opportunity to have another chance at things and he’s doing a great job with it so far.”

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