HOUSTON – The upward trend for Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel came to a halt, and it wasn’t necessarily because of the Denver Broncos’ defense.
After weeks of increasing productivity for the third-round draft pick from Iowa State, he wasn’t involved on offense last Sunday upon the healthy return of veteran slot Christian Kirk from a hamstring injury.
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Noel had zero targets on four pass routes and 11 snaps on offense. He had one carry for minus-3 yards.
On special teams, he was dynamic with a 45-yard punt return.
What happened?
“I just continue to prepare the same way, no matter if it’s 11 snaps or 40 snaps, it doesn’t matter,” Noel told KPRC 2. “Just being ready and when my name is called, just go capitalize on those opportunities.”
The previous game before his lack of involvement against Denver, Noel caught a season-high five passes for 63 yards on six targets against the San Francisco 49ers. He had four catches for 77 yards on seven targets against the Seattle Seahawks. Three games ago, he caught his first touchdown.
For the season, he has 14 catches for 162 yards on 20 targets and is averaging 11.6 yards per punt return and 27 yards per kickoff return.
Both Noel and fellow rookie and Iowa State football alum Jayden Higgins haven’t been heavily utilized. Higgins has caught 14 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
“All our young guys have done a really nice job,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “They’re all growing and developing, doing the things that we ask them to do. I think J. Noel and Higgs have done a really good job of the things we’ve asked them to do.”
The lob from C.J. Stroud was on point, another perfectly-timed pass to Noel against the Seahawks.
Forty-four yards gained in a hurry. A season-long reception for Noel.
The chemistry is building between Stroud and Noel.
“I think it takes time,” Stroud said before the 49ers game. “I think failure is a good thing. It’s a chance to learn. Of course, you don’t want to do it on Sundays, but if it does happen you learn from it, you fix it. I think he’s super coachable. He wants to do what’s right.
“He’s in here working his tail off and at practice doing the same thing. So, I think he’s going to be a great player and he’s shown that week in and week out of getting better, learning the scheme, learning coverage and adapting to it. So, I think he’s going to be great.”
The offense was far from great, though, against the Broncos.
They were held to five field goals, went 0 for 3 in the red zone and 3 for 17 on third downs.
Perhaps more touches for Noel would have made a difference.
“I mean on the offensive side of the ball we’ve got to be able to sustain drives which I feel like we’ve done an OK job at,” Noel said. “But then just not hurting ourselves in critical situations and being able to capitalize in the red zone.”
From a return standpoint for special teams coordinator Frank Ross, Noel has been steadily building. Perhaps the offensive role will go with it, going forward.
“I feel like Coach Ross does a great job at scheming up returns,” Noel said. “And the guys that are on the punt return team do a great job at when in their leverages are blocking for me, so it makes it easy.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com