Deepi Sidhu interviewed Jordan Akins on the Deep Slant podcast presented by Xfinity. Listen here.
Jordan Akins headed into the 2020 offseason with a few goals in mind. After missing the 2019 postseason with a hamstring injury, the Texans tight end focused on getting healthy and improving his mental game.
"I was really wearing my body down the previous years trying to do what I can to be on the field, but this year I got my mental ready and worked on my body, had a little extra time to recover," Akins said. "Came in feeling good and playing good."
Now in this third season, Akins is off to a pretty good start. In Week 1 at Kansas City, he scored his third career touchdown on a 19-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, he caught a career-high seven catches for 55 yards, averaging 7.9 yards per reception.
"He's a good player and he plays a lot for us," head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien said. "He'll always be in the lineup as long as he's healthy. He works hard. He's gotten better as a football player in all areas, special teams included, since he's been here. Good route runner. Strong player. Strong runner with the ball in his hands so, yeah he's always a factor in our offense."
Akins changed up his diet and his workouts this past offseason. He cut back on excessive running and heavy lower body work that didn't match up with his treatments. Akins also added more massages and says he learned to take better care of his body, instead of overworking it in the offseason.
Instead, he focused harder on his mental game. Akins picked the brains of veterans for football-related questions. He doesn't divulge all the secrets he learned, but he gained a lot of knowledge on how to take care of his body better to withstand the demands of a full NFL season. He also changed his own approach to the game.
"They taught me a lot, and I always play on edge," Akins said. "Previous years, I was overthinking. I was trying to do too much instead of just letting the game come to me. This year they told me a lot. I'm maturing mentally on the field. And like I said let my talent speak for itself and two and two is coming together and it's starting to show."
Akins and the Texans will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Week 3. Sunday's kickoff is set for 12 noon CT on CBS and SportsRadio 610.
