Texans veteran DB Desmond King not shying from Houston's potential: 'We're an up-and-coming team'

When Desmond King joined the Houston Texans four years ago, most of the talk around the team was negative.

So negative, in fact, former Texans running back Phillip Lindsay even claimed folks outside the organization looked at Houston as the NFL’s “scum bucket.”

My, how times have changed.

Houston is now an AFC darling, coming off a 10-7 season that included the Texans’ first AFC South title and first playoff win since 2019. That alone would be deemed a success for a team that has spent most of the last half-decade in the cellar, but thanks to the addition of and instant success enjoyed by quarterback C.J. Stroud, these Texans have their sights set on greater goals.

Considering this, the 29-year-old King found it easy to return to the Texans in 2024.

“I wouldn’t say that’s the only reason I’m back,” King said Saturday, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. “I’m going on my fourth year in Houston. I’ve done seen the evolution of the team and the organization just being here for those first couple of years and seeing where it’s at now, knowing my capability and what I can bring to the team, why not be here with Houston?

We are a rising team and we are here for the long run. We are merely preparing for the season and I am present.

King, a seasoned player who came to Houston aspiring to extend his career and offer guidance to a transitioning team, is undoubtedly deserving of this reward. Despite the Texans’ hardships in 2021 and 2022, he thrived, even taking on the role of a punt returner for a team lacking competent talent in various positions. However, with Houston’s dismal records of 4-13 and 3-13-1 in 2021 and 2022 under two separate head coaches, it would be reasonable for a player of King’s caliber to contemplate other opportunities.

In 2023, he signed with the Steelers. However, his tenure was short-lived as he was released by Pittsburgh during the season. Seeking a new opportunity, King returned to a place he knew well: Houston.

He latched on at the perfect time, rejoining a Texans squad that had morphed from also-ran to budding contender, playing in seven games (three starts) and recording 47 tackles (five for loss) as part of a revitalized defense directed by rookie coach DeMeco Ryans. With Stroud leading an exciting offense, Houston reached the playoffs and blew out the Cleveland Browns on Super Wild Card Weekend before falling to the conference’s top seed, the Baltimore Ravens, in the Divisional Round, sending the Texans into the offseason carrying the promise of potential into 2024.

Right away, it became obvious that the Texans wouldn’t continue to be overlooked in the NFL. This was enough to convince King to return to Houston, where he, as a seasoned player, recognized the potential for the 2024 season to mark the beginning of a successful era – provided that the Texans don’t get caught up in their own accolades.

“Frankly, our main objective is to remain focused on the goal,” stated King. “We are aware of our team’s capabilities. You witness it daily in the locker room. Our actions on the field define us. Sure, we have the chatter and the buzz, but that doesn’t exist on the practice field when we’re putting in the work.”

It’s all about our daily dedication, pouring our heart and soul into everything we do. We understand our potential and the importance of trusting in it, which is truly significant.

There’s no assurance that the Texans will maintain their momentum for a successful 2024 season. A lot needs to align for any NFL team to hold onto success, but King now has confidence that Houston possesses the necessary elements to claim victory. After enduring two seasons of average performance, it is hoped that the wait will be justified.