Jerry Hughes is one of the most established players on the Houston Texans’ defense and put together a whale of an effort against the Philadelphia Eagles last week with a two-sack performance. While the Texans fell short of securing their second win of the 2022 season in the game, Hughes’ resurgence in the pass rush was a welcome sign of improved productivity for the defense and should bode well for the team’s hopes of eking out another victory before the season ends.
For Hughes, this big-time showing was just one of many in his impressive career, where he has amassed 65 total sacks with the two he added against the Eagles. While he isn’t yet in the running to break any all-time records with that total, he joined rare company by hitting the 65 mark, becoming just the 16th active player in the NFL to accomplish the feat.
A former first-round pick in the 2010 draft, Hughes’ pass-rushing pedigree is well-established and has made for some exciting plays over the course of his 13-year tenure in the league. After starting his professional football journey with the Indianapolis Colts, he eventually found his way to Buffalo for a nine-year stint with the Bills that will likely define his career. He signed with the Texans this year as part of the team’s initial attempt at a rebuild and has been one of the more consistent contributors on the defense since he first stepped foot on the field in Houston.
The team will need him to double down on his strong outing in Week 9 and could have a legitimate chance to make some noise against the New York Giants if the veteran lineman can disrupt the G-Men’s resurgent offense. While the odds will be stacked against them in their Week 10 tilt, with playmakers like Hughes on their side, Houston will have their shot at proving that they can win against a big-time opponent despite their struggles this season.
