There was simply no existing scenario where Derek Stingley Jr. would miss this football game.
Not even a sore left oblique injury that the Texans All-Pro cornerback aggravated against the Jacksonville Jaguars and forced him to miss the remainder of that game.
Stingley has been dealing with the injury since the first game of the season against the Los Angeles Rams.
Although Stingley missed the majority of the Texans’ practices last week before returning Friday on a limited basis, he intercepted a pass during a 26-0 shutout victory over the Tennessee Titans.
“It take a lot to get me off of the field,” Stingley said. “
Stingley played 94 percent of the Texans’ defensive snaps, delivering a gritty performance.
“Stingley comes back, he was battling all week just to be able to be out there and he toughed through it,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He was able to be out there and not just be there but be productive. He was able to intercept the football for us to change the game.”
Signed to a contract extension in the offseason that includes $90 million in new money, Stingley read the play alertly when Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward’s pass was deflected.
He intercepted the 13th pass of his career.
“Right in the right place,” Stingley said. “Just doing my job. Just being who I’m supposed to be.“
Stingley managed to gut it out despite dealing with the injury and only practicing once last week.
“Every day is important,” he said. “Whether that’s doing stuff on the field, or doing stuff in other places.”
This marked the Texans’ third shutout in franchise history and their first since a 2010 win over the Titans.
It’s a milestone that Stingley was a big part of.
“That means a lot,” he said. “Hopefully, we can keep on doing it.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com