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By Nathan Kamal
Contributing Sports Writer
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Houston Texans star defensive end Will Anderson Jr briefly left the team's match-up against the New York Jets with a reported lower-body injury. After being checked out in the blue tent, he has apparently been cleared to play and is back on the field.
Losing Anderson at this early stage of the game would be a severe setback for the Texans, even the 6-2 team heavily favored to beat the 2-6 Jets. Fortunately for Houston, the defensive end appears to be back on his feet.
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After declaring for the NFL Draft, Anderson was selected third overall by the Houston Texans in 2023, making him one of the highest-drafted defensive players in recent years. His combination of athleticism and technique has drawn comparisons to some of the league's best edge rushers, and he is widely expected to make an immediate impact in the NFL.
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During his time at the University of Alabama, he earned numerous accolades, including being a two-time recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He was also a consensus All-American and led the NCAA in tackles for loss during his junior season.
In his NFL debut against the Ravens in Week 1 of the 2023 season, Anderson tallied one sack and six total tackles. By Week 13, during the game against the Broncos, he achieved his first multi-sack game, recording two sacks.
Throughout his rookie season, he started in 13 games and played in 15, finishing with seven sacks, 45 total tackles (including 29 solo), and one pass defended. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team, and he was also recognized as the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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More recently, The NFL has announced that Anderson has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October. Over the past four games, he has recorded 17 tackles and five sacks, including three during the team's Week 7 game against the New England Patriots.
With 7.5 sacks this season, Anderson has already exceeded his rookie total of 7.0 sacks, which earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. As the season progresses, he is projected to be among the league leaders in sacks by the end of the year. Heading into Week 9, only New York Giants defensive end Dexter Lawrence and New York Jets pass rusher Will McDonald IV have more sacks than him.
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