Will Anderson Jr. received words of encouragement from Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett after Texans loss
Houston Texans rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr. revealed Monday he received some words of encouragement from a pair of Cleveland Browns pass rushers.
The pass rushers? Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett — two guys who know a thing or two about being a top NFL draft pick. When it comes to Clowney, being drafted to Houston as a premium pass rusher is something he can relate to. After all, Houston made him the No. 1 overall selection back in 2014.
Anderson didn’t quite go No. 1 — he went No. 3 — but the same remains true. In Anderson’s case, success was immediate, as the Texans finished the regular season 10-7 and knocked off the Browns in the AFC Wild Card Round. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Clowney and Garrett encouraged Anderson to keep building something special in Houston, a franchise still on the hunt for its first Super Bowl.
Will Anderson makes Texans history in rookie season
Not only did the upstart Texans have success in 2023, but Anderson completed one of the finest campaigns from a defensive rookie this season. In 15 games, he recorded 45 tackles (29 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and 22 quarterback hits. Anderson topped Whitney Mercilus (2012) and Brooks Reed (2011) in setting the franchise rookie record for sacks.
“Will has been very impactful for our defense,” head coach DeMeco Ryans said in November. “He’s an impact player. Will plays the game with a relentless mindset. I love the way he gets after each and every snap. You talk about effort, you talk about him disrupting the quarterback.”
While the Texans and Anderson’s season ended in disappointment, it’s clear that Houston has arrived. The 2023 season won’t be the final time you hear from the Texans. Fellow rookie, quarterback CJ Stroud, made sure to get that message across to Anderson after the Divisional Round defeat to the Baltimore Ravens Saturday.
“He was really feeling that,” Stroud said. “I told Will he’s one of the most talented players I’ve been around in my life. l told him, ‘We’re going to be back in this moment.’ I wanted to see him encouraged and positive.”