On the field, Deshaun Watson is dynamic and a risk taker.
Off the field, he’s quite the opposite: calm and consistent.
"I get the sense that Deshaun Watson is the same guy every day,” head coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think he's got a really good demeanor, I think that he's a calm guy, I think he's a smart guy, I think he's a very hard worker and he loves the team.”
Watson is so consistent, his approach to football is the same as it was in high school. Preparation has been his not-so-secret weapon to ward off nerves. He studies and prepares diligently for each game and lets instincts take over when he takes the field.
“I never put pressure on myself,” Watson said. “This is football. Football is what I've been doing my whole life. The only difference is, of course, it’s the best athletes and I'm getting paid for it. But if I treat just like I was in high school where I'm just having fun, doing what I'm doing, preparing like I'm preparing and go out there and perform like I've been performing, then everything else is going to work out on its own.”
This year, Watson has an expanded arsenal of wide receiver weapons from DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller V to newly-traded wide receiver Kenny Stills. If the third-year starting quarterback has a calm approach to the game, so do his receivers. Watson’s job is to be a leader on offense, find the open man and get points on the board.
“If it’s Will that has three touchdowns and Hop (DeAndre Hopkins) has zero, if we win then Hop is going to be just fine,” Watson said. “Vice-versa, and same with Kenny and all the other guys. We all work together and we all treat each other on, there's no egos or anyone hating on each other. We're just out there trying to win games and trying to go for the ultimate goal.”
"I think any time you have a guy at that position that has that type of demeanor, I think that's good,” O’Brien said of Watson. “That's good for the team when they see that type of demeanor every single day."
The Texans open their 2019 regular season at New Orleans on Monday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 6:10 p.m. CT on ESPN and SportsRadio 610.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 9/12/2019)
TE, Jerrell Adams, 89
S, Jahleel Addae, 37
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
DE, Angelo Blackson, 97
WR, DeAndre Carter, 14
LB, Dylan Cole, 51
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Xavier Crawford, 28
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
P, Trevor Daniel, 8
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
WR, Will Fuller, V, 15
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines, 29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
S, Tashaun Gipson, 39
OL, Seantrel Henderson, 76
WR, DeAndre Hopkins, 10
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
OL, Roderick Johnson, 63
CB, Johnathan Joseph, 24
OLB, Peter Kalambayi, 58
OL, Senio Kelemete, 64
OL, Greg Mancz, 65
C, Nick Martin, 66
QB, AJ McCarron, 2
QB, Alex McGough, 3
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
S, A.J. Moore, 33
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
TE, Logan Paulsen, 82
NT/DE, D.J. Reader, 98
S, Justin Reid, 20
CB, Bradley Roby, 21
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
OL, Laremy Tunsil, 78
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
DE, J.J. Watt, 99
LS, Jon Weeks, 46
