Here's everything Houston Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter said following Day 8 of training camp, including his thoughts on the revamped Texans' offensive line, the growth of rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald and the return of Jadeveon Clowney to the Texans in 2026.
Q: On how playing with DE Will Anderson Jr. and DE Jadeveon Clowney will look this season
Hunter: “I think it's going to be fun because that's a lot of experience, a lot of guys that know what they're doing. The biggest thing is we just want to learn off each other. I remember Clowney came in a few days ago and the first thing he was saying how he's been watching me and how he wants to learn new moves from me and Will [Anderson Jr.] and all that. Then the first day he practiced,
he literally got a sack on the first play. I think it's going to be very fun with the kind of pass rusher moves that we all three have in the entire room.”
Q: On DT Kayden McDonald
"McDonald, he's coming along well. He's going out there executing the game plan, buying into the brotherhood. He's buying into what we teach on defense and what Coach DeMeco [Ryans] teaches us. The biggest thing is just we hold a standard on the defensive line. He's starting to understand that every day you just have to keep up with that standard and doing your part.”
Q: On whether he has watched DE Jadeveon Clowney since being in the NFL
Hunter: “Oh yeah, vice versa. He came to the league before me and I've seen what he was capable of. I've seen all his moves and all he's done. He's teaching me stuff and I'm teaching him stuff. I feel like that's very beneficial for our defensive line.”
Q: On what is unique about DE Jadeveon Clowney
Hunter: “I think his quickness. That's what we like on this defense. The quickness and the power that he has, being able to get off the block and just rush the passer and being able to play the run with the kind of explosiveness that he has. I feel like it's going to be a major plus for us.”
Q: On T Trent Brown and T Braden Smith
Hunter: “I'm not too much on that side, but whenever I do go over there, they do a pretty good job of protecting the quarterback. It’s a big improvement from last year of where they needed to set and everything. As far as I can see, they've been doing pretty good over there.”
Q: On whether he continues to learn despite being a veteran
Hunter: “Yeah, I feel like that's one of the biggest things of being a veteran. You can never be complacent. You always want to evolve because everybody's studying whatever you last did and trying to figure out ways to stop you. The biggest thing that I'll try to teach all the guys in the defensive line room is to always adapt because what you did last year, everybody's trying to figure out how to stop that. You always want to figure out new ways how to do your job and getting better as a player.”
Q: On whether it’s fun to try to find new ways to improve
Hunter: “I think it's pretty fun because the biggest thing about football is you always have to stay uncomfortable. If you're comfortable, that means you're not doing anything right. Always be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
Q: On the mentality of trying to be a better defense this season compared to last season
Hunter: “From my perspective, the biggest thing I do is I always start from the beginning. I always start from the little things, the basics and the fundamentals.Then once I keep evolving, once I keep going through those day-by-day steps, the biggest thing is just focus on what my part is and what I have to do for the team. What I have to do for the defense. It’s basically just buying into the defense. What DeMeco teaches us, doing your part because once we all do our part, we know how we play.”
Q: On whether he likes C/G Keylan Rutledge’s physicality
Hunter: “Yeah, we love that man. That's the biggest thing. Offensive linemen, they're supposed to be like that. They’re supposed to come in mean and aggressive and all that. We love everything we've seen from him so far. The biggest thing for him is just being able to build up and get game experience. He's going to be pretty solid.”
Q: On how difficult it is to put last season behind and build on it this season
Hunter: “Like everybody's been saying, last year is last year. We know where we were and we know where we need to be. The biggest thing is just keep on building and starting from the beginning and knowing what we need to do this year in order to get over that hump.”
Q: On how he is able to keep himself in great shape entering year 12
Hunter: “I feel like the biggest thing is just diet and just taking care of my body and being around the right people. I feel it’s like some simple things like that. Staying out of trouble. That's about it.”
Q: On whether you have to spend a lot of money on keeping your body healthy to stay in the NFL
Hunter: “To an extent, that's true. To an extent.”
Q: On what he has seen from T Aireontae Ersery
Hunter: “I've seen major improvement. As a guy coming into his second year, he has tremendous feet. That's first of all. He's a guy who has great power, great vision, great feet. You can definitely see a big jump from last year to where he's being able to bring this Training Camp. I expect big things from him, as usual, from last year and a big step for him this year also.”
Q: On where he sees the value in having players return from last season
Hunter: “I feel like there's big value in that. A lot of guys know what to expect. They know what coach wants. The biggest thing is just going out there and keep building as a player that they are and keep building as a team. Getting the bond. I feel like that's one of the biggest things with a football team, is having a bond and being able to keep rising up to each challenge that we get every week.”
Q: On what he sees from DE Will Anderson Jr.
Hunter: “He's looked phenomenal. Biggest thing about Will this year, I just feel like he just keeps getting quicker and quicker. Explosiveness, power. The sky's the limit for that kid. I watch him and I'm like, ‘Damn.’ He's developed new techniques, new angles, new kind of moves. I'm happy for him about that. He's been around the right people. I talk to him sometimes. If he needs help with stuff, he'll come ask. Every year, he's evolving to be that next best player. I'm actually proud of him. He's going to keep doing his thing. I'm just going to be there if he needs me.”
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter said after Day 8 of training camp
