Less than 72 hours after he signed with the Texans, John Simon was on the field sacking Andrew Luck.
The outside linebacker, signed off of the Baltimore Raven Practice squad on October 7, is getting noticed with his contributions on the field.
"He's tough," head coach Bill O'Brien said Wednesday. "He plays with a bad ankle. He's a good teammate. He's here all the time, working out, watching film, he's instinctive. Those guys are coached very well by Mike (Vrabel). He coaches them hard. They respond to it. He's one of those guys. I remember him, he killed us at Penn State my first year there. He had a great game. He's a tough kid."
Simon, the 2012 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, played defensive end for four years at Ohio State and was a two-time team captain. Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel served as the Buckeyes defensive line coach during Simon's junior and senior years.
Now the two are reunited at the linebacker position, where Simon transitioned during his NFL career.
"I think I have a little athleticism and my height and build isn't a typical defensive end in the NFL," Simon said on Texans Radio. "I'm more of an athletic guy so I would have to adjust more to dropping into coverages and reading defenses, but still having the edge in setting the edge and pass rush at the same time."
Changing positions isn't something new for Simon (6-1, 252) who played quarterback for 12 years during his school days. He then began his career at Ohio State as a nose tackle before switching to defensive end.
After being drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Simon found himself cut from the active roster after training camp. After what he thought was a good preseason, the rookie admits he was caught off guard when he didn't make the 53-man roster after final cuts.
Still, Simon remained positive and made the most of his role on the Ravens practice squad.
"I was just trying to do everything I could to help the team in Baltimore," Simon said. "My role would be to get them ready for the games and I was blessed that the Texans called up and gave me an opportunity. I'm trying to make the most of those opportunities here."
With outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney placed on injured reserve this week and Whitney Mercilus day-to-day, Simon could see more playing time in Sunday's game at Indianapolis.
