Jaguars fans cannot do anything but laugh at Texans training camp scuffle
![Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) in action during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) in action during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3097,h_1742,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01j3p061f2r8nzrs5xr3.jpg)
The Houston Texans made the playoffs and won the AFC South in 2023. Dethroning them will be no walk in the park for the Jacksonville Jaguars but they can at least have a good laugh at the expense of their division foes.
Several Texas players got into a brawl early in training camp. It all started when safety Jimmy Ward laid an unnecessary hit on wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The highlight of the scuffle was cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. hammering tight end Dalton Schultz.
Stingley and Shultz get into in camp #Texans #traningcamp #houstontexans pic.twitter.com/XtsrhLkms1
— Rob (@YouGewdBro) July 24, 2024
Following the quarrel, an aggregator account on Twitter blamed Diggs but teammate Laremy Tunsil caught wind and wasted no time coming to his defense.
lol lies!
— Laremy Tunsil (@KingTunsil78) July 25, 2024
What's unfortunate is that the scuffle overshadowed Stingley's outstanding performance in practice. The third-year cornerback logged an interception off C.J. Stroud on a pass intended for sophomore receiver Tank Dell.
Derek Stingley Steals One From Tank Dell!#wearetexans pic.twitter.com/p99tH0zFp7
— Ruben Gamez (@713HouSports) July 24, 2024
Stingley, the third overall selection in 2022, struggled with injuries as a rookie but showed noticeable improvement last year, registering five interceptions and 13 passes defensed in just 11 games. He's expected to keep making strides in 2024.
Schultz, on the other hand, signed a one-year deal with Houston last year after five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He played well enough to get an extension.
Diggs was among the Texans' biggest acquisitions in the offseason. Even though they were stacked at wide receiver, they traded for the four-time Pro Bowl nod to make sure Stroud has enough weapons at his disposal.
On a related note, Tunsil is still one of the best left tackles in the NFL. When Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen was asked to name the three toughest players he's faced in his career, he mentioned Tunsil, along with Tristan Wirfs, and Trent Williams.
The Jaguars have their work cut out, the Texans are still the team to beat in 2024
Unless another brawl erupts in practice, though, this could be a non-issue. But if he does, it will most definitely be a cause for concern. Then again, head coach DeMeco Ryans must've surely let everyone know that they cannot afford to lose their cool.
On one hand, you want to see players compete and show a feisty attitude. On the other hand, they must also display discipline, especially when things get tough. Otherwise, they could be the target of other teams, who'll try to provoke them to make them lose their focus.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, for their part, have managed to avoid any kind of negative attention in training camp. There aren't currently any contact disputes, and they have a relatively clean bill of health. The fact that they're somewhat flying under the radar has allowed them to solely focus on getting ready for the regular season.
The Jags are facing an uphill battle to reclaim the AFC South. Having said that, the Texans showed during their training camp brawl that they can be vulnerable.
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