HOUSTON – Texans tight end Cade Stover didn’t have as large a role as he did at the start of the season against the Los Angeles Rams while making a healthy return from a broken foot last Sunday.
Getting back on the football field after underdoing surgery and rehabbing diligently for the past three months was a victory in itself for Stover.
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To get to play again and pick up an important win over the Tennessee Titans in the process made it a significant day for the second-year player from Ohio State.
“Feels great, just happy to be back,” Stover told KPRC 2. “Just to get turned loose, happy to go.”
Stover, a former Big Ten Conference Tight End of the Year and fourth-round draft pick, played 14 snaps on offense for 20 percent of the playing time as starter Dalton Schultz played 69 percent of the snaps. Stover also played six snaps on special teams during a dramatic 16-13 comeback win in Nashville led by backup quarterback Davis Mills
“It’s good to be back and win again with everybody,” Stover said. “Davis is unbelievable. We’ve got a lot of really great players. Whether you’re a backup, whether you’re a starter, him, he’s just calm, he’s collected and it rubs off on everybody.”
The Texans are now 5-5 heading into a big game Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills. They’re the underdogs in this matchup at NRG Stadium.
“We’re ready to go,” Stover said. “We’re exactly where we want to be. Obviously, it’s a little harder than we wanted to make it, but everything we want is still there.”
Stover is a key player, catching a team-high four passes thrown to him against the Rams. He doubles as a hard-nosed blocker who was a big factor in the running game.
Carter is a former University of Houston who went undrafted and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
A Utah State transfer, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound former all-district wide receiver tied for third on the Coogs last year with three pass breakups and allowed one or no catches in six games. He played 453 snaps, 360 on defense and 92 on special teams.
At Utah State, he intercepted four passes overall.
He had 33 catches for 495 yards and seven touchdowns i n high school on a state championship squad, beating Duncanville as part of a 16-0 season. He also played baseball and ran track.
Stover overcame an emergency appendectomy last season in December and offseason shoulder surgery to get back on the field.
“He’s tough,” Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “You turn on the tape, you guys have all seen it. He plays with his hair on fire. There is no substitute for that. I appreciate the way he plays the game. I’ve had a lot of respect for him dating back to his days at Ohio State.”
The 6-foot-4, 251-pound former All-Big Ten Conference selection caught 15 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 15 games and nine starts. He was targeted 22 times overall and had five first downs and a long reception of 27 yards.
When the Texans drafted Stover last year, the enthusiasm from Caserio and coach Ryans was obvious.
The work ethic and passion for the game Stover possesses prompted the Texans to draft the Ohio native.
“Whatever it is, it’s elite,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said of Stover. “This guy is as tough, hard-nosed a player they had in the program. This is probably one of our favorite football players in the entire draft, regardless of position, because of his mentality, because of his mindset. And he still is developing as a player. Blue-collar as they come. Makeup, traits, toughness, mentality, this is an elite guy.”
Signed to a four-year, $4.758 million deal that includes a $1.189 million signing bonus, Stover was acquired after a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Texans traded their 127th overall pick of the fourth round and a 2025 fifth-round pick to select Stover 123rd overall.
He caught 41 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns in his final season for the Buckeyes. He was a finalist for the John Mackey award.
“I kind of still see the game through a defensive lens,” Stover said. “I was born with that, I keep that defensive mentality no matter where I’m at. I just try to play offense with that same mentality and recklessness. I love blocking. I’m going to throw my face in the fire every chance I get.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com