Nine games into the season, with Houston on a Bye Week, Jonathan Greenard ranks near the top of the NFL in both sacks and tackles for loss.
The second-year defensive lineman missed the first two contests of 2021 but has been impactful since his return to the lineup, as he's rung up seven sacks and nine tackles for loss this year. He's tied for ninth with the 49ers' Nick Bosa in sacks and tied for seventh with four others in the TFL stat. Both those numbers lead the Texans defense, and Greenard's play thus far has been noticed by veteran defensive back Justin Reid.
"J.G. has been special," Reid said on Monday. "This has been a coming-out season for him. It's been fun to watch."
In every game but the loss at Buffalo, Greenard's notched a tackle for loss. He's also hit the quarterback at least once in each of those contests. On Sunday at Miami, although he wasn't able to tally a sack, he still finished with three tackles, a quarterback hit and a pass defensed.
His first stop of the game was for no gain, and he picked up the tackle for loss later on in the contest.
Reid gets in Greenard's ear before they take the field on Sundays.
"I go and tell him every day before the game starts, 'Go be special today,' because he has that inside of him," Reid said. "It's been good for him, it's been good for the whole team because when he creates that pressure, it gives us opportunities on the back end."
Greenard's indeed been special through the first half of 2021 and with eight games remaining this year, the Texans will lean on the young pass-rusher as the season continues.
The next time you can see the Texans at NRG Stadium will be on November 28 as they host the New York Jets in Week 12. Kickoff is set for noon CT. Click here for tickets.
