Texans’ defense, All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. focused on Steelers star receiver DK Metcalf: ‘It’s going to be fun’

HOUSTON – It’s impossible to miss imposing Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf.

He’s one of the biggest and explosive downfield threats in the game.

Back from a two-game suspension for his altercation with a Detroit Lions fan, Metcalf has earned the focus of the Texans’ top-ranked defense heading into an AFC wild-card playoff game Monday night.

With Metcalf in the lineup, the Steelers’ offense takes on an entirely different dimension for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Without Metcalf, Rodgers tended to spread the football around. When he was playing, Rodgers devoted the majority of his targets to Metcalf.

“Metcalf gives them their full offense,” said Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, the primary architect of an aggressive 4-3 defense that rarely allows big plays. “He does an outstanding job of playing physical. That’s the one thing that sticks out to me with him, is that he’s a physical receiver whether he’s running the go ball, slants, whatever. So, we have to challenge him.

“We have to step up to the challenge there, we have to play physical versus him as well. It’s going to be a tough challenge. He’s done a great job his entire career of making big plays down the field. I know they’re excited to get him back because he’s such a huge part of their offense. Aaron will definitely look to go to him a ton. We have our hands full when it comes to challenging him and trying to make a play when the ball is up.”

Metcalf was punished by the NFL for his interaction with Lions fan Ryan Kennedy, putting his hands on him.

Litigation appears likely in that ongoing situation.

Metcalf declined to discuss the incident when he returned to the Steelers’ facility, likely on the advice of the team and lawyers.

“I can’t walk y’all through nothing that’s happened,” Metcalf said. “I can’t say nothing about what happened.”

The Steelers won the AFC North title without Metcalf as they defeated the Baltimore Ravens.

“My teammates gave me another opportunity to come back, so just a big shoutout to them,” Metcalf said. “Roller coaster. I couldn’t watch some moments because of my anxiety getting too high, but I’m just happy my teammates got the dub.

“I’m excited as hell to be back in the building around my teammates, being in meetings, going to practice, all the things that encompass a week of preparation. I feel full responsibility for my actions. I’ve got the most respect and confidence in my teammates. I’m excited to be back.”

Metcalf leads the Steelers with 850 yards and six touchdowns on 59 receptions.

And the Texans’ defense counters Metcalf with strong pass coverage. Especially on the perimeter with All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and Pro Bowl alternate selection Kamari Lassiter. Both have four interceptions.

It’s unclear if the Texans will have Stingley shadow Metcalf, which he’s capable of doing, because they have Lassiter to line up against him, too.

“It’s going to be fun,” Stingley said. “He’s a great receiver, great quarterback. It’s going to be a good game.”

Metcalf is the only Steelers receiver with more than 500 receiving yards.

When he’s playing, Rodgers has a 67.2 completion percentage, 7.1 yards per attempt, 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions and a 99.9 passer rating. Without him, Rodgers is a 60.5 percent passer with 5.4 yards per attempt, one touchdown and a 77.8 passer rating, per Next Gen Stats.

“Great receiver, bigger receiver that does a great job down the field,” Texans nickel Jalen Pitre said. “He does a great job at running after the catch as well.”

Metcalf averaged 112.8 receiving yards in the playoffs with the Seattle Seahawks with five touchdowns catches in four postseason games. That’s the most in NFL playoff history for players who have played at least four games in the postseason.

When Ryans was the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, his teams competed twice per season with Metcalf and the Seahawks.

He was limited to 65 yards of less in four regular-season games.

The 49ers earned a 41-23 victory in a wild-card playoff game over Seattle, but Metcalf broke out with 10 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

The Texans have allowed an NFL-low 54.4 completion percentage to receivers and a 72.9 passer rating to rank fourth in that category.

There have been a dozen interceptions on targets to receivers, two more than the touchdown passes yielded.

It’s obvious that Metcalf is going to get the football. It’s on the Texans to lock him up.

“They’ve done a really great job of balancing and mixing it up,” Ryans said. “They also mix in some of the things that Aaron has always done well in his career. When you spread the formations out, he can see the defense, and he can pick and choose where he wants to go with the football. That’s always been an element of Aaron and what he’s capable of doing.”

Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said part of the strategy involves simply dealing with the superior size of Metcalf at 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, unusually big dimensions for a receiver. The son of a former NFL offensive lineman, Metcalf is the same height as Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins and seven pounds heavier.

“He’s a really good player, obviously,” Burke said. “Someone asked me about Nico in terms of even being in phase with them and being, covered or being on them, he can still go make those plays. Obviously, can out-muscle you, outwork you, can go up and get the ball.

“So, he just opens up those sorts of plays for them and really reopens some of their playbook. So, it’s going to be a good challenge to try to slow down his explosive plays for sure.”

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