Houston Texans: Dylan Cole is destined for a breakout season if healthy

Houston Texans linebacker Dylan Cole has been on the cusp of breaking out but injuries have marred that trajectory. This is the year he does it. Why?

The Houston Texans partook in their first preseason action of the season against the Green Bay Packers this past Thursday at the legendary Lambeau Field. Regardless of the venue, it was just good to see our team out there once again and competing for something.

It has been nearly seven months since we’ve seen any action from this team and the fix is in to cure the football withdrawals that we’ve had over that course of time.

There are a ton of storylines to watch in terms of who will make the final cut on the offensive line, how will the Houston Texans use their tight ends, how the team will assemble the secondary; and most importantly, who will be the breakout player for this upcoming season.

We already know that Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney will dazzle us all but what about the rest of the 49 men on the roster? There’s bound to be a player that will come out of the fray and get the recognition that he deserves so it will be interesting to see who it will be.

But I’ve got an inclination on the player that’s likely to hold that distinction for 2019.

You can go on and put my vote in for Dylan Cole, our undrafted middle linebacker that’s been around since the 2017 season.

His road from Missouri State to the majors is quite admirable but his trajectory to greatness has been marred by persistent injuries that he’s sustained over the past two seasons.

Former Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith was typically good on hitting the mark on finding talented undrafted players and this rings true with Cole, who was selected by Smith.

Cole missed four games in his rookie season (2017) with a hamstring injury and missed eight last season with a dislocated wrist plus arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He sustained that injury

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back in Week 3 against the New York Giants but did return later in the season, right when the team was at the cusp of their nine-game winning streak.

But when this man is healthy, he is one of the most talented members of the defense and he’ll get considerable time behind Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham.

Pro Football Focus had Cole as the top performer on defense against the Packers this past Thursday and they gave him a grade of 89.8 which is damn-near perfect with his high level of performance.

I expect this trend to continue because I know he wants to ensure this is a season where he appears in all 16 games. With all the hits a player takes, it’s an accomplishment to see a one complete such a feat and it’s not too far-fetched for Cole.

Next. Texans: Jadeveon Clowney will be ending his holdout. dark

He recorded four tackles against the Pack — two assisted — but he ensured that he made his presence known out on the field.

It’s your time Cole — good luck out there!

Cole, 25, amassed 13 tackles, one-for-loss back in 2018.

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