Texans All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. honored as AFC Defensive Player of the Week after epic pick-six interception

HOUSTON – Derek Stingley Jr. delivered an epic pick-six interception Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders in a signature moment for the Texans’ All-Pro cornerback.

He was named to the Pro Bowl again Tuesday. One day later, Stingley was recognized as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Stingley reacted at the speed of thought, instinctively peeling back to the football to undercut a swing pass intended for Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty.

He expertly read the eyes and intentions of Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.

It was the kind of rare blend of athleticism, film study and body control Stingley has built a reputation on with his skills paying dividends as he jumped the pass for the first pick-six interception of his career. Stingley delivered the top play of the game as the Texans earned a 23-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders to remain in the seventh playoff spot in the AFC standings and their seventh victory in a row.

Stingley had two tackles, one forced fumble and returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown on the Raiders’ third play from scrimmage. It marked the Texans’ first interception return for a touchdown this season and the first of Stingley’s NFL career and his first since high school. He has four interceptions for the season, making him the only player in the NFL with at least four interceptions in each of the last three seasons.

Stingley has recorded 32 tackles, 13 passes defensed, and one forced fumble. He is part of a secondary that became the first team since 2017 to feature four players with at least four interceptions in a single season and has started all 15 games for the NFL’s league-leading defense in total yards allowed per game (272.3) and points per game allowed (16.6).

This is his third AFC Defensive Player of the Year honor.

Stingley scored easily while running behind a convoy of blockers. That marked his first touchdown since his senior year of high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana when he had five touchdowns as a receiver.

“It’s crazy,” Stingley said. “Everybody was blocking. I got up and seen almost the whole team right there. So, I just ran. To win the game is the biggest thing.”

Stingley showed again why he’s called All-Pro Sting in the Texans’ locker room, and on social media where it emerged as a popular hashtag last year.

Texans nickel Jalen Pitre said that there’s nothing Stingley is incapable of doing, calling him “the best cornerback in the league.”

Pitre even compared Stingley to NBA legends LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kobe Bryant.

Stingley now has four interceptions this season, tying Pitre, safety Calen Bullock and cornerback Kamari Lassiter for the Texans’ top-ranked defense.

“He can do anything he wants to do,” Pitre said. “He’s the best cornerback in the league. He could play receiver. I don’t know if y’all have seen him on a juke, but he could play running back. And I know y’all haven’t seen him at practice, but he also could play quarterback. There’s nothing he can’t do.”

Stingley had the game ball at his locker stall. He intends to give it to his father, Derek Stingley Sr.

Stingley, once reminded that his last touchdown was in high school, smiled.

“That’s crazy,” Stingley said. “I’ll try to do it again.”

Could Stingley perhaps line up at receiver? He has arguably some of the best set of hands on the team.

“I’m not in control of that,” Stingley said. “If they want to do it, they’ve got to bring Kamari with me and CB and Pitre, everybody. Just put all the DBs at receiver.”

Stingley, who was questionable on the injury report with a lingering oblique injury, openly laughed Friday when asked by KPRC 2 if he would play, Stingley signed a $90 million contract extension during the offseason

Stingley has 15 regular season interceptions in four NFL seasons since being drafted third overall out of LSU. Most quarterbacks avoid throwing in his direction. Smith chose not to, and he paid the price.

“We challenged our defense to get a turnover in the first quarter,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “That hadn’t happened for us all year. For Sting to show up how he did and get not only a turnover but to go score, we needed points bad, and Stingley showed up and made a huge play for our team.

“We needed that play. Stingley, outstanding awareness by him to be able to make that play, not just pick it off but to go score. Rally proud of him. You continue to try him, he continues to make plays.”

The Texans are in the AFC playoff hunt largely by leaning on elite defensive players like Stingley.

“He shows up big for us every week, and teams are scared to throw at him,” Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said. “You see when they throw to him, that’s the outcome they get. So, it wasn’t very smart today. Man, he’s a baller.

“And he is who he is for a reason because he works hard. He doesn’t say a lot. He loves the game, man. He loves his team.”

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