Texans star Derek Stingley names $130,000,000 WR as toughest to cover in NFL since joining the league

Derek Stingley has been in the NFL since 2022 after being drafted out of LSU as the third overall pick by the Houston Texans. The star cornerback has faced several top wide receivers in the league, but it has been more difficult for him to cover the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson than any other.

Stingley disclosed this in his appearance on “NightCap” in November. He was asked on the show by Chad Johnson which player he believes he needs to be at the top of his game to cover based on his experience. The cornerback had no doubt about mentioning Wilson.

“I've always said Garrett Wilson with the Jets,” Stingley said. “I remember the first time I went against them, we were at some high school camp. It was an opening or something like that. Ryan Clark was actually my coach. Garrett, he ran like a slam, bro. “And I'm playing like a deep third or something, and the ball is thrown so high, and I'm like 15, 20 yards behind him. I'm thinking the ball is coming right to me. He jumps up so high, catches the ball, just runs, and I'm just looking at you like, ‘Yeah, that's good.’”

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Despite the Jets’ struggle in the last couple of years, Garrett Wilson has been one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL. The brilliance Derek Stingley was referring to about the wide receiver earned him a four-year contract extension worth a staggering $130 million in July.

Derek Stingley among the Texas questionables for Week 16

Derek Stingley Jr. is one of seven Houston Texans players listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The cornerback, who Stingley has yet to miss a game in 2025, sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday due to an oblique injury but returned Friday on a limited basis.

However, there seems to be a good chance of him making it to the field on Sunday. According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, there is some renewed optimism in the building about his availability for this weekend’s game after he was spotted at the team’s final practice on Friday.

"#Texans running back Woody Marks (ankle) and Derek Stingley Jr. (Oblique) working out on side with trainers. Expect them to be listed as limited participation,” Wilson wrote.

Other players listed as questionable to play against the Raiders include linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (ankle, knee), defensive lineman Darrell Taylor (ankle), running backs Woody Marks (ankle), Wide receiver Christian Kirk (illness), running back Nick Chubb (ribs) and wide receiver Justin Watson (calf).

Edited by Farouk Yusuf