With his two receptions for eight yards against the Washington Commanders in Week 11 Houston Texans tight end, Jordan Akins moved to second all-time on a key leaderboard in the team’s franchise history. Akins has been a key piece of the Texans’ offense in 2022 and has seen his usage gradually rise over the course of the season while he has been competing for more reps against former first-round pick O.J. Howard.
Though his raw numbers from Week 11 aren’t overly impressive, his 1499 yards receiving over the course of his career with the Texans have him positioned behind Owen Daniels at second place on the team’s all-time leaderboard for yardage by a tight end. The gap between him and Daniels is likely to be insurmountable at this point in Akins’ career, though it wouldn’t be out of the question to see the difference narrow in the coming weeks.
Hamstrung by inconsistent quarterback play, Akins has had a hard time breaking out in the Texans’ offense, but his explosive potential is evident on nearly every down he plays. His lanky frame and smooth stride are perfectly suited for jump-ball duties or routes run along the sidelines with space to work after the catch.
If he weren’t playing second-fiddle to Howard at this point in the season, Akins could be one of Houston’s leading receivers, and as the offense begins to experiment with new strategies, he may see his role expand over the Texans’ last seven games. The only uncertainty for Akins at this juncture of the season is whether he will be re-signed by Houston as part of their 2023 rebuild, or if he will need to pursue a contract elsewhere for next season.
Given the potential, he has shown and his accomplishments in a Texans uniform, the team’s front office should be expected to make every effort to keep Akins as a part of their plans moving forward.
