Derek Stingley Jr. on top of his game, delivers interception in Texans win

Derek Stingley Jr. doesn’t traditionally show a lot of emotion. He’s a contained, low-key personality. And the ultra-serious, introspective 23-year-old usually keeps his thoughts a bit guarded in keeping with his blue-collar approach to football.

The Texans’ shutdown cornerback made an exception Saturday.

Stingley undercut New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones’ throw intended for wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, essentially running his route for him as he swooped inside his shoulder pads to cut off the passing lane. The interception by Stingley reinforced how he’s one of the top cover corners in the game, Pro Bowl snub notwithstanding last season.

“Wide side of the field, ball in the air for a little minute, so figured I would turn around and try to catch it,” Stingley Jr. said. “Hyatt, fast guy, he can go down the field, as soon as we got to a certain part of the field, ball got to be out by now, so just turned around and looked for it.”

And Stingley acknowledged his big-time play during a preseason contest at NRG Stadium. He ran through the end zone, extending his arms to his side as he sailed toward the sidelines to celebrate with his teammates and coaches. Yes, Stingley, a soft-spoken Louisiana native, was smiling widely after the interception.

“I got a long way to go,” Stingley said. “I got a lot of things to work on. I can’t wait to practice.”

The Texans’ defense generated five turnovers Saturday.

“It’s impressive, but that’s what we do in practice, coach DeMeco, the S.W.A.R.M., that’s how we get coached,” Stingley said. “Somebody comes in, it shouldn’t be no different.”

During a training camp practice at The University School in Cleveland at general manager Nick Caserio’s high school, Stingley wasn’t going to concede an inch against imposing Texans wide receiver Nico Collins, elevating to high-point a sideline pass thrown by Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Stingley bodied Collins for position and matched his leap to come down with the football against the 6-foot-4, 215-pound wide receiver. After intercepting Stroud, Stingley tossed the football hard back at the offense as if to say: ‘Take that!’

“I was just mad,” Stingley said. “I was just mad that day, so that’s why I threw it.”

Although Stingley prides himself on never losing focus, he realizes that his reactions and emotions and play can inspire his teammates.

“Of course, I still have them throughout the course of the game, like anybody else, but I really don’t show them,” Stingley said. “But I will show them if it’s something good like that, just something for the defense to hype them up or get everybody rolling.”

Stingley’s interception against Jones qualified as something to fire up the defense, which was already charged up after nickel Jalen Pitre returned a Jones interception for a touchdown to open the scoring.

Stingley, a Pro Bowl alternate corner last season and one of the more physically gifted defensive backs in the league, is, one of the top players on the defending AFC South champions’ defense.

Skill. Toughness. Athleticism. Instincts. Feisty streak.

Stingley is as serious as they come when it comes to football and he constantly displays intensity and body control.

“Sting, I never like to say the best, but he’s one of the best ball corners in the league,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “He’s got elite ball skills. Obviously, he’s big and powerful. He’s always tight in coverage, but can go snatch it. I think that’s probably one of his superpowers. So, it doesn’t surprise me when he goes and makes those types of plays.”

Stingley has enjoyed his practice competitions with Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

No, he won’t allow himself to be baited into trading barbs with the outspoken veteran receiver.

“I mean, he don’t trash talk me,” Stingley said “He don’t have a reason to trash talk me because I’m going to look at you or like laugh almost. I don’t know how to trash talk. I’ve said it before. Seeing him going back and forth with other people on the defense, will get us to move around a little faster.”

Earlier in camp, Stingley practically ran the route for wide receiver Tank Dell, mirroring his movements on a deep sideline pass. Once Stingley leapt into the air to pick off Stroud, there was a wrestling match with him and Dell as they fought for control of the football on the ground after the whistle blew. Ultimately, a referee signaled that it was an official interception for the former LSU star.

With textbook footwork, Stingley locks down wide receivers.

“He knows what’s going on to the point where he’s almost becoming like an expert on how the position is played in this scheme,” Texans defensive passing coordinator Cory Undlin said. “Love what he’s done so far. Just consistency, that’s all. We know he can make the big play.”

In his second NFL season last year, Stingley was dominant after returning from a hamstring injury. He intercepted a career-high five passes.

All of Stingley’s coverage skills were on display late last season as the Texans’ talented cornerback shut down passing lanes to lead the NFL with three interceptions in December and nine passes defensed while allowing an astoundingly low 1.7 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for the first time.

“I actually think Sting is, and I won’t even shake when I say that, I think he’s one of the best DBs in the league,” said wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl selection. “Especially from talent level. He’s fast. He can run. He can break and he’s competed at a high level throughout his career.”

Stingley is as talented as anyone on the Texans’ roster, but he’s the opposite of cocky. It wasn’t a surprise that Stingley didn’t brag about how he limited Cleveland Browns star wide receiver Amari Cooper to one reception for minus-six yards on three targets when he was the nearest defender in a playoff victory, including two tight windows, according to Next Gen Stats. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans broke from his usual strategy, assigning Stingley to shadow Cooper on 35 of 42 routes weeks after the imposing wide receiver set a single-game franchise record with 11 catches for 265 yards and two touchdowns against the AFC South champions in a Christmas Eve rout.

Stingley allowed just one reception for -6 yards on 3 targets as the nearest defender, including two tight windows.

Since that successful postseason, Stingley has only continued to grow as a corner

“Derek has done a great job during camp,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s been very consistent. One of our most consistent players in camp, so I’m encouraged with where Derek is.”

Yet, Pro Bowl recognition eluded Stingley.

“I mean, honestly, those type of things, yeah, it would have been cool,” Stingley said. “At the same time, that’s not something I really think about even though a lot of people talk about it.”

Stingley is enjoying honing his skills against one of the most talented wide receiver corps in the NFL, including Diggs, Dell and Nico Collins.

“It is fun,” Stingley said earlier in camp. “Every day you get better, every day you will probably see something you that you have never seen before. So that is good because once we get into the game, there is probably going to be something schemed up like that so it is good that we are seeing it in practice now.”

The growth from Stingley was obvious. Especially after recovering from a hamstring strain in the third week of the regular season that sidelined him for six games.

“Those secondary coaches let me work with him, welcomed me in, and Sting obviously was open to it,” said retired Texans Pro Bowl corner Johnathan Joseph, who mentored Stingley during training camp last year. “Being that I was a first-round pick, knowing what comes with that with the pressure of being in the public eye, being under scrutiny, being hurt, he wanted to come out and prove himself and I thought you started to see that.

“He’s right in there with guys like Sauce Gardner and the top guys you can put his name with them. You can see the ball skills and understand why he was one of the top-ranked kids coming out of high school and LSU.”

The Texans reached the AFC divisional round game last season, finishing 11-8 overall. However, they failed to make it to the AFC championship game again as they lost in the playoffs to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Texans, justifiably, are surrounded by high expectations this season.

“We’re trying to go all the way,” Stingley said. “We’re trying to do what we got to do throughout the full course of the year and just keep playing together as a unit.”

Mentored by his father, Derek Stingley Sr., the corner is remaining humble and grounded.

“I’ve got a long way to go,” Stingley said. “There’s always something, whether it’s footwork or getting your eyes right, your keys right. I still have a lot to do.”

Every day, his father reminds him: stay humble.

“Yeah,” Stingley said. “Every single day, he says it.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans contributor to Sports Talk 790.