Jimmie Ward Talks Leadership In Texans Secondary

Subsequently, Houston will lean on the veterans they’ve brought in to establish coach DeMeco Ryans’ winning culture. Expect them to have an outsized role, both on and off the field, as winter nears.

One such veteran is safety Jimmie Ward, who came with Ryans from the San Francisco 49ers last offseason. On Friday, he spoke about the approach necessary for the pivotal games remaining on Houston’s schedule.

“It’s not the Catalina Wine Mixer,” Ward joked. “It’s still football at the end of the day, it’s an important game, but you don’t need to make nothing up, you don’t gotta do nothing different. Just play the same game you’ve been playing since you were nine.

“Obviously you’re getting paid a little more money and there’s a lot more fans in the stands but at the same time, it’s still football.”

Ward hasn’t played since Nov. 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but expects to make his return for Week 13. With cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and safety Jalen Pitre also missing some time with injuries, Sunday will mark the first time Houston’s starting secondary will share the field—at least in a game that counts.

Missing time is never optimal but Ward, who has 35 tackles and a forced fumble across six games, emphasized the importance of fostering development for his younger teammates. Stingley and Pitre are both in their second season.

“The best I can do for my team is to help coach … give them tips, give them advice,” Ward said. “But at the same time, you just gotta go out there and let the guys play. Sometimes you gotta go through it, that’s a great learning experience, too. Watch video, watch tape, and learn from mistakes.”

Ward will lead the Texans into battle against a Broncos team that has won five straight games. Houston’s ability to limit the impact of quarterback Russell Wilson and Denver’s passing offense will play a role in deciding the young team’s playoff fate, for better or worse.