Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre was hospitalized with a bruised lung against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. He was kept overnight but would be released the very next day.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans provided a positive update on his premier safety during Wednesday's press conference (10 days after the injury).
"Jalen's in good spirits," Ryans said. "I'm encouraged with him and his progress. He's on his way back and he'll be good to go here pretty soon."
The 24-year-old shined throughout his rookie campaign in 2022, recording the 11th-most tackles (147) and tied for the second-most interceptions (5) in the NFL.
Throughout training camp, when the Texans' defensive players discussed topics related to their side of the ball, Pitre's name often popped up, as he's continued to stand out. His "mean and aggressive" mindset earned him one of the seven captain roles.
Ryans explained that Pitre is utilizing his captain role every day, despite being unable to play.
"He brings great energy during meetings and practice," Ryans said. "Jalen's been a great leader for us even though he hasn't been out there physically on game day, but he's been leading throughout the week. That's why Jalen is a special young man and I'm happy to coach him because he brings everything you want from a leader."
Pitre explained how "important" it was to him to receive the captain's honor shortly after it became official.
“It meant the world to me,” Pitre said. "I was really excited and thankful my teammates chose me and I'm extremely grateful. "I look forward to helping the team as much as possible in that role. I just want to be a light for this team."
Ryans didn't provide an exact Sunday that Pitre will be available to play, but he's clearly been "a light for this team" despite not being on the field.
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