The Texans added veteran nose tackle Ryan Pickett to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, and he went right to work.
"I'm just trying to get in where I fit in," Pickett said before his first practice with the team. "They can use me however they need to."
The 6-2, 340-pounder said he's "excited" to joint the Texans, and that learning the new defense of coordinator Romeo Crennel is like "learning a new language." The Texans were gashed for 193 rushing yards in Sunday's loss to the Giants. Pickett said one of the main reasons he was brough in was to help bolster
the run defense.
"Absolutely," Pickett said. "That's why they brought me here. They need help stopping the run."
With 14 years in the NFL, Pickett was a first round pick by the Rams in 2001. He signed as a free agent with the Packers in 2006. He started all 16 games last season in Green Bay, and finished with 19 tackles, two pass deflections and a tackle for loss. He's started 172 games in his career, and played 194 total.
"We felt like he was a guy that could come in and help us in our base defense," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "Big guy. Good guy."
Defensive end J.J. Watt said he thought highly of his newest teammate.
"To play that long, especially on the defensive line, is impressive, so you have a lot of respect for that right out of the gate," Watt said before Wednesday's practice. "Excited to get out on the practice field and let's see what he's got."
Defensive line coach Bill Kollar held the same position in Saint Louis while Pickett was there.
Rookie Louis Nix, III was placed on injured reserve. Jerrell Powe is the other nose tackle on the roster.
