Texans looking for more from impressive Akins

The fifth-year tight end has impressed coaches both on and off the field since his return to the organization on August 31.

Thursday, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton discussed his tight end group, specifically Jordan Akins’s contributions.

The Texans originally drafted Akins in the 3rd round of the 2018 draft out of UCF. Akins was the highest-drafted tight end in school history. After four seasons in Houston, Akins was allowed to become a free agent and chose to sign with the New York Giants. However, the Giants released him on August 24, and he was signed to the Texans practice squad on August 31.

Akins would be the injury replacement for Brevin Jordan and earned an active roster contract last week.

Hamilton has been impressed with Akins ability to win one-on-one matchups:

“That process of understanding what he offers started last year for me when he was part of last year’s football team. It’s been good to see in certain situations when’s he asked to win a one-on-one matchup, he’s been able to do just that.”

Hamilton expressed what he likes most about Akins skills:

“Just a guy that can play without the ball first and foremost, but at the same time, he poses a threat in the vertical passing game at tight end as a guy that’s coming out of a three-point stance.”

The coach also addressed how being able to use Akins and Jordan in similar packages helps the offense:

“The hope is that we can continue to mix personnel groupings, and however we do it, we want to make everything look the same. Running the football, throwing the football, the play action pass, the double-triple reverse around the back pass. All the same. We want it all to really be presented to the defense the same way and then ultimately be able to execute all of the above at a high level.”