Texans Derek Stingley Jr. is expected to be ready Week 1

Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) will be available for Week 1. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Texans HC Lovie Smith says No. 3 overall pick Derek Stingley Jr. is expected to be ready Week 1

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 7/29/22

It looks like the Houston Texans will have their first selection from April's NFL draft available for Week 1 of the regular season when they host the Indianapolis Colts.

Good to see #Texans No. 3 overall pick Derek Stingley Jr. working with DBs at camp. During OTAs, Stingley was still working his way back from last year’s foot surgery. pic.twitter.com/71jMzsWcne
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) July 29, 2022

Lovie Smith says that they are ramping up Stingley and he expects him to be ready Week 1. #Texans
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) July 29, 2022

The Texans made Stingley Jr. the first cornerback taken in the 2022 Draft when they selected him out of LSU. In three seasons with the Tigers, the 23-year-old playing registered 73 tackles, six interceptions and 20 passes defended across 25 games.

Stingley Jr. had a Lisfranc injury that required surgery last September. He was a consensus All-American in 2019 and led the SEC in interceptions and passes defended that year as well.

The Texans projected depth chart shows Stingley Jr. starting along with ninth-year veteran Terrence Brooks, new acquisition Steven Nelson and seventh-year pro Eric Murray.

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