Texans tight end Dalton Schultz ‘trusted’ to deliver one of most important plays of the season: a key contested catch

HOUSTON – It was a bold throw from quarterback Case Keenum, lobbing the football high into the air in the red zone, and an even bolder, more pronounced exclamation point from Texans veteran tight end Dalton Schultz.

When a scrambling Keenum threw a pass in his direction, Schultz high-pointed it by wrestling the football away from Tennessee Titans cornerback Roger McCreary to prevent an interception during the Texans 19-16 overtime road victory.

There was no doubt in Schultz’s mind that he had secured the contested catch even though the coaching staff directed the offense to hurry up to the line to run the next play in case the Titans wanted to challenge the completion. Schultz was in celebration mode with the knowledge that he had taken the football away cleanly from McCreary.

“That’s something we set up all game and those things are hard because you’re told to go through the middle and find a landmark,” Schultz said Monday at NRG Stadium. “I was just trying to show up for Case and get in his vision. He kind of lofted the ball up there and trusted me to go make the play.

“Watching the clip back, I don’t really know how it all shook out, but I knew that I caught it because I had it in my hand the whole time. I was like, ‘Dude, that’s why I celebrated.’ Those plays are just the culmination of a lot of work and training and trust. Case trusted me to go make the play, and I was able to do that.”

And Schultz’s clutch first down set up Keenum’s touchdown pass to Noah Brown that tied the game and sent it into an overtime during which kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn won the game on a 54-yard field goal.

Schultz’s impactful play affected the game in a major way.

Catching four passes for 58 yards on five targets in his first game back from a strained hamstring, Schultz was a factor in the passing game as the Texans managed to win and improve to 8-6 with rookie standout quarterback C.J. Stroud sidelined with a concussion.

“Wow, what a play by Dalton there in the red zone,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “For him to come down with that catch, it just shows the competitive spirit of Dalton and just the strength at the catch point to be able to make that play. It was an unbelievable play. Happy he made it for us to set us up there for a score. When you have a tight end who can really threaten the middle of the field, when you talk about coverage, mismatch coverage on linebackers or safeties, having Dalton with his ability to work the middle of the field was huge for us.

“No play bigger than the one he took away from their defender there. I don’t know if that’s an interception or a reception, but it was a great play by Dalton right there. Big-time play of him being aggressive at the catchpoint, so it was good to have him back and seeing him make those plays for us.”

With Schultz back, the Texans’ passing game was effective despite the absence of wide receiver Nico Collins due to a strained calf and, of course, the season-ending broken fibula sustained by rookie wide receiver Tank Dell.

Keenum got the job done, completing 23 of 36 throws for 239 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“Just experience, the way he carries himself, the way he prepares,” Schultz said. “He did a great job all game. He’s been there, he’s done that. He handled himself really well. He’s poised. He communicated. He’s as prepared as any quarterback I’ve been around.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com