Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Amarius Mims, the Bengals' first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, said he understood the importance of facing the Houston Texans' talented defensive ends going into the team's Week 2 win at Reliant Stadium.
"It's obvious why I had this game circled," Mims said after the game. "It's $100 million at (defensive end) out there, man. And it just meant a lot to me, man. I knew like this right here is a very important game to me. All of them are too, but this one especially. I knew I was coming into a hostile environment. I knew they'd challenge us, but like I said, we got a job done. So that's all that matters."
In March, Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter, a five-time Pro Bowler, signed a one-year, $40 million
contract extension.
In April, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. signed a three-year, $150 million contract extension with $134 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
On Sunday, Anderson had eight tackles (four solo), one sack, three tackles for loss and two QB hits against the Bengals; Hunter had one tackle for loss, one sack and one QB hit.
"You guys popped my rib back into place," Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow told Anderson after the game. "I appreciate that."
Mims allowed zero pressures on 34 pass-block snaps against the Texans and Anderson/Hunter, per PFF initial charting.
"I think the really interesting thing coming off of the game for the defense is what's the answer or what's the counter that (Texans head coach) DeMeco (Ryans) does," ESPN's Dan Orlovsky said after the Texans' Week 1 loss to Buffalo. "Because we know (the Texans) like to line up and kind of in their structure … they play fast. And I think (Buffalo head coach) Joe Brady and that offense did a great job … moving the pocket. … I didn't hear (Danielle) Hunter and (Will) Anderson's names mentioned much at all."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: '$100 million at DE out there' Amarius Mims embraced facing Texans
