The Texans (1-5) head west to Arizona this weekend for a Sunday matchup with the Cardinals (6-0). The only team still undefeated in 2021, Arizona features a pair of former Texans greats on their roster, but beyond DE J.J. Watt and WR DeAndre Hopkins, there are still numerous connections that link the franchises.
Some of those common threads are listed below.
- Two of the greatest players in franchise history, Watt and Hopkins, both starred in Houston. Watt, from 2011 through 2020, and Hopkins from 2013 through 2019. Both were first-round picks by the club.
- Texans RB David Johnson was drafted by the Cardinals in 2015 and played in Arizona through 2019.
- Texans LS Jon Weeks attended Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Arizona. State Farm Stadium, where the Texans and Cardinals will play Sunday, is also located in Glendale.
- Texans DL Roy Lopez was born in Tempe, Arizona, which is just a few miles east of Phoenix. He attended Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Arizona.
- Cardinals Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph was the Defensive Backs Coach in Houston from 2011 through 2013.
- Cardinals DB Chris Banjo played his high school ball at Kempner in Sugar Land.
- Arizona OL Josh Jones was born in Houston and played his high school ball at Bush in Richmond, TX.
- Texans Assistant Offensive Line Coach Robert Kugler is the son of Cardinals Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Sean Kugler.
The Texans will practice Wednesday at the Houston Methodist Training Center. On Sunday in Arizona, they'll face the Cardinals at 3:25 p.m. CT.
The next time you can see the Texans at NRG Stadium will be on October 31 as they host the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. Kickoff is set for noon CT. Click here for tickets.
