Justin Houston Has ‘Plenty In The Tank’ As He Begins Colts Career

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After spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs — who selected him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft — Houston will have two challenges in particular that will be top of mind as he starts anew in Indianapolis.


First and foremost he wants to be sure to stay on the field. After playing in all 16 games three out of the first four seasons of his career, Houston would miss 16 games total over the 2015-16 seasons as he dealt with a knee injury. He played in 15 games in 2017 — logging 9.5 sacks — but last season was limited to just 12 games in the regular season as he dealt with a hamstring issue.


Despite missing a quarter of the season, however, Houston in 2018 still logged nine sacks and a career-best five forced fumbles. He was getting stronger as the season wore on, collecting six sacks and two forced fumbles over the Chiefs’ final six regular season games, and then sacking Colts quarterback Andrew Luck twice in Kansas City’s Division Round playoff victory at Arrowhead Stadium.


“I feel good — I feel great. I’m healthy,” Houston said Thursday. “I’m healthy, excited — just ready to be out here with the guys, get to know everybody and get used to being with a different group of guys, because I know from what I’m hearing these guys love to work, so I’m just excited to join.”


A second challenge for Houston will be a technical change in positions. An outside linebacker in the Chiefs’ base 3-4 defense his entire career, Houston will now be utilized as a defensive end in the Colts’ 4-3 system.


What does that mean? In the simplest terms, Houston will now primarily always line up with his hand in the dirt and only worry about getting to the quarterback.


That sounds perfectly fine to him.


“I don’t think it’s going to be a big difference because nowadays it’s a passing league,” Houston told local reporters Thursday in a conference call. “So 70, 80 percent of the time you’ve got your sub (package) out there and I’m rushing the passer anyway. I think that’s just going to be a part of the game and I get to do that every down and not have to worry about dropping into coverage. So I think my job will be easier than it has been in the past.”


Most of all, however, Houston is just looking forward to the opportunity to reward the Colts for putting their faith in him. Cut by the Chiefs on March 10 in what was viewed as a cost-saving measure, Houston says he still has “plenty in the tank.”


“And I think some people don’t believe that,” Houston continued when asked if there was anything he wanted to prove to himself with the Colts. “So it’s more so what I’m about to show the world than myself, because I know what I’m capable of.”