A heated incident erupted at the Houston Texans' training camp on Wednesday when star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. aggressively collided with starting tight end Dalton Schultz. The confrontation was recorded on video, capturing the moment Stingley charged towards the Texans' offensive unit post-play.
Stingley's forceful impact sent Schultz sprawling to the ground, triggering a large-scale brawl. Teammates quickly surrounded Stingley, and players from the sidelines rushed in to join the fray. Despite the chaos, no punches were thrown after Stingley's initial hit, but it took some time for the situation to deescalate and for practice to resume.
The tension started earlier when newly acquired wide receiver Stefon Diggs took a hard hit from safety Jimmie Ward during team drills. Schultz's subsequent involvement seemed to provoke Stingley, leading to the explosive encounter. Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso spoke to reporters post-practice about Stingley's fierce nature.
"He’s a competitive kid," Vasso commented, according to the Houston Chronicle. "He relishes the one-on-one moments, and that’s crucial for a cornerback. You can't teach that level of competitiveness; it’s innate, and it's a valuable trait."
Stingley, the third overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft from LSU, established himself as the Texans’ top cornerback last season, boasting 13 passes defended, 39 tackles, and five interceptions in 11 games. The Texans are optimistic that Stingley can stay healthy and play all 17 games this season, improving on his previous two injury-shortened campaigns.
Schultz, entering his seventh NFL season, has quickly become a key player for Houston after five successful years with the Dallas Cowboys. Last season, he accumulated 635 yards on 59 catches with five touchdowns, significantly aiding rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud during his standout debut year.
Both Schultz and Stingley are integral to head coach DeMeco Ryans' strategy as he aims to defend their AFC South title and prove that last season's success was no fluke.
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