The Texans secondary has faced its share of adversity.
In Week 6, Kevin Johnson suffered a season-ending injury was placed on IR.
This season, starters Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson each missed two games, while Quintin Demps was inactive for three with injuries.
Still, the Texans defense has allowed a league-low 305.7 yards per game while the secondary has helped limit passing yards to just 206.2 per game, ranking second in the NFL (Denver, 187.2). Led by the cornerback tandem of Joseph and Jackson, Houston's backfield has stepped up this season.
In Saturday's 12-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Demps picked off his third quarterback in has many weeks and leads the team with a career-high five interceptions on the year.
"His interceptions – he's got good hands, he's very instinctive, he's a leader back there," head coach Bill O'Brien said Monday. "What I've been impressed with is his tackling. He's really been a guy that's kind of been an eraser back there when a play kind of has broken free. Run or pass, he's been able to tackle the guy and get the guy on the ground and I think that's been a big key that maybe goes unnoticed sometimes."
Bouye led the Texans with nine tackles (all solo) and three passes defensed in the win. He now has a career-high 15 passes defensed for the year.
"A.J., had some key pass break-ups, a couple on third down," O'Brien said. "Made a real nice play on third-and-1 when they tried to take a shot downfield and he was in good leverage on the receiver and stayed that way. He's doing a good job. He's a very focused guy and can't say enough about how he's played this year."
Robert Nelson, signed from the practice squad on Oct. 13, has also played well, according to O'Brien. The second-year cornerback intercepted Andrew Luck in his 2016 debut in Week 6.
Check out photos of your Houston Texans warming up for the Christmas Eve game against the Bengals.
