Justin Reid leaves no stone unturned to halt the Texans’ losing streak

The Houston Texans are on a four-game losing streak. Add one more defeat, and the Texans will match the same five-game losing streak they rode into the tumultuous 2021 offseason.

Safety Justin Reid wants to avoid rhyming with recent history.

The fourth-year defensive back from Stanford has been putting in extra work at NRG Stadium on top of his already conscientious output to get the Texans’ elusive second win of the season.

“Honestly, I try and dive into it,” said Reid. “I try and look at myself. I spent every day this week going and talking to our defensive coordinator, just watching the tape, seeing whatever I can do to help the team more.”

As far as what defensive coordinator Lovie Smith has told Reid, the advice is simple: find ways to steal an inch or two in the ultimate game of inches.

“If you can find a way to steal two or three more inches, whether that’s a read step or key, or how to read something faster, it might make all the difference in the world between making a play and not making a play,” Reid said.

Outside of the building, Reid is also delving into his wealth of resources, from his former Pro Bowl safety brother in Eric Reid to his former college coach, David Shaw.

Said Reid: “I have a brother who played in the league, so he knows how this goes, too. Sometimes we’ll just talk ball. I’ll talk to my agent. I even called my former coach at Stanford, Coach Shaw, and talked to him about it, too. So, I have a lot of people in my corner, and I’m fortunate for that.”

Ultimately, Reid, who is tied with safety Lonnie Johnson for the team lead with two interceptions, is trying to find a way to play faster; to eliminate extraneous steps or processes.

“There’s always a way to be faster reading the run keys, as far as not taking a false step, just heading straight downhill,” said Reid. “There are reads in the post, as far as how we’re shifting, and our disguises and how our feet are working. We want to be just stout across the board.”

The Texans play the Indianapolis Colts, also 1-4, Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Lucas Oil Stadium. Houston has not beaten the Colts since Nov. 21, 2019, at NRG Stadium on Thursday Night Football.