Texans TE Brevin Jordan eager to get back on field after missing 10 months with torn ACL
Jordan, who is currently competing with second-year tight end Cade Stover for reps as the No. 2 option, suffered a torn ACL in Week 2's win over Chicago last season. He played through the injury, though he credits adrenaline being the band-aid over the severed muscle that Sunday night, before being placed on the injured reserve last September.
Ten months later, the ACL is back intact, so Jordan is looking to make up for lost time during the early stages of training camp. So far, he's been a standout in the years of both C.J. Stroud and the coaching staff.
'I've been feeling like I'm me from the jump," Jordan said. "From the first practice, I was ready to go,' Jordan said. 'I'm stronger, I'm faster, I've been able to sit back and watch the game from a different point of view. So I'm ready to go, I'm ready to just play on Sundays.'
When DeMeco Ryans was hired in 2023, Jordan caught his eye as a fixture piece during the wild-card round victory over Cleveland. Stroud connected with the third-year starter for a dump-off in the flats and a first down. That proceeded to become a 76-yard touchdown and the nail in the coffin of a comeback for the Browns.
That's the version of tight end Ryans hoped to see from Jordan heading into a contract year, but with the torn ACL, he was limited to under 100 snaps. Knowing he'd be a free agent but wanting to see more, the staff offered Jordan a one-year extension midseason to bring him back for 2025.
The reasoning? Allow Jordan to solely focus on his recovery rather than his next plan.
"I see a very talented young player who really loves football and I know he can help us,' Ryans said. 'I see an ascending young player, and when you've got an ascending young player in your building, we want to keep as many of those guys here as we can. So, I'm happy to lock Brevin up.'
Jordan, 25, admitted that the healing process was 'tough,' but "not that hard.' Recovery was easy over 10 months since rehabilitation was a ramp-up of repetition. The isolation working out away the team was the challenging part, as Houston secured another division title a playoff victory without him.
"You have a bad injury, you have to keep going," Jordan said. "The journey is the reward."
Jordan, who will be up for a new deal next offseason, has rewarded fans with several highlight grabs during drills in training camp. On Monday, he caught a pass in the flats, evaded two defenders and turned upfield for a score.
Ryans said the play reminded him of a moment that factored into Jordan's extension last December.
'It reminded me of the play he had versus the Browns where he took one the distance,' said Ryans. 'That's what Brevin can do.'
Under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, the tight end position will be essential to the team's success. A former tight end's coach, Caley has emphasized the importance of having the role be more than just a receiving threat, thus forcing players to lean into blocking sets.
Jordan's noticed a difference in the scheme from last season's work with Bobby Slowik. Not in terms of practice, but rather an openess to talk about concerns of questions with the position in general.
"He's real smart. He's real passionate," Jordan said of Caley. "To have the offensive coordinator be a tight ends coach. He's constantly coming over to our individuals and he's constantly coming into our tight end room to just check in with us. It's awesome."
The Texans have one more day of training camp before an off-day on Thursday morning.
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