Texans QB Deshaun Watson on off-field behavior amid COVID-19: ‘We’ve got to be responsible’
Since training camp started, the last time the Houston Texans had a player, coach, or staff member test positive for COVID-19 was never.
The Texans are a veteran team and have easily comprehended that the COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges to on-field availability. In a way, the availability, similar to injury risk, is greater than it ever has been.
However, the flip side is COVID-19 has an element of control to it, unlike an untimely ACL tear or unpredictable hamstring strain.
The Texans know that if they can practice effective social distancing outside the facility and keep COVID-19 out, they can stay on the field.
“We’ve got to be responsible,” quarterback Deshaun Watson said. “We’ve got to be professionals. We’ve got to do it the right way. For us to be able to do what we want to do, and that’s play and have a season and stay on a team, you have to be able to give that advice, give those leadership talks.”
Watson, who enters his fourth season with Houston, isn’t the only leader having talks with the rest of the team about being responsible off the field, or at least elucidating the effects of off-field behavior as it relates to spreading COVID-19 and obliterating playing time. Coach and and general manager Bill O’Brien is constantly talking to the team about off-field responsibility.
“He talks about it all the time,” said Watson. “He makes sure that he uses other people’s mistakes and brings it to us so we see it, so we don’t have those same mistakes. We’ve been doing a good job of handling that, especially in a city like Houston.
“I think guys are focused and being able to take responsibility of what you’re doing. We’re doing a good job of that, but I can’t speak on anybody else.”
The results speak for themselves. The Texans do not have a single player on the COVID-19 reserve list, and only had one opt-out in defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes.
