Aside from injury, is there any way this secondary isn’t the best in the NFL?

Summary

Payne & Pendergast — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Aside from injury, is there any way this secondary isn’t the best in the NFL?
Date: July 27, 2026
Hosts: Sean Pendergast and Brandon Scott (in for Seth Payne)
Podcast: Payne & Pendergast (Audacy)

---

Episode Overview

This episode focuses squarely on the Houston Texans’ secondary, setting the stage with a provocative question: Aside from injury, is there any way this secondary won’t be the best in the NFL in 2026? The hosts—longtime Houston sports voice Sean Pendergast and guest co-host Brandon Scott—offer an in-depth, opinionated breakdown of Houston’s defensive back group, its dramatic upgrades, and how it stacks up in not only the NFL but in Texans franchise history. The show is full of relatable banter, thoughtful analysis, and vivid comparisons to previous Texans units.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nostalgia of Radio & Station News

• Brief Note (01:26–03:25):
  • The hosts touch briefly on the nostalgia of AM radio in Houston and the upcoming move to FM for their show.
  • This segment is quickly wrapped up before turning focus to the Texans.

2. Astros Umpire Talk (03:25–04:46)

• The hosts lightly reference a White Sox game, focusing on umpire accuracy and odd challenge decisions, noting the high-quality ump had an off day with high zone calls.

3. Main Segment: Evaluating the Texans’ 2026 Secondary (04:46–14:03)

The Key Question:

“Aside from injury, is there any way this secondary is not the best in the NFL this year?” (04:46)

Depth, Talent, and Upgrades

• Brandon Scott:

  • Emphasizes the depth and proven talent in the Texans’ secondary:

    “As far as like going into it, trying to project it, looking at the name brands as a part of the secondary from corner to corner with Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, obviously we know that Kalen Bullock ... has really shown himself to be like a gem of a draft pick for Nick Caserio and the Texans. And then they add Reed Blankenship.” (05:12)

  • Highlights the previous safety weakness ("objectively a weakness") has now been shored up with Reed Blankenship (05:54).

• Sean Pendergast:

  • Asserts that last year, even with a “five-headed, rotating, injury plagued, idiocy plagued” group at safety, the Texans still boasted arguably the best secondary in the NFL (06:26–06:43).
  • Lists various players who filled the other safety role, including C.J. Gardner-Johnson (“moron, singular”), M.J. Stewart (“not a moron”), rookie Jalen Reed, and even Kavon Wallace (“a cast of characters...it was a turnstile”) (06:43–09:41).

Position Group Comparisons & Superlatives

• Pendergast:

  • Explains that despite chaos at safety, the secondary was still “the best in football last year” (06:26).
  • Suggests this raises bigger questions:

    “Are they the best position group in the NFL? ... Is this the best position group in the history of the Texans?” (10:07, 11:07)

• Scott:

  • Points out that when evaluating full groups around the league, the Texans’ secondary very likely comes out on top (10:33).

• Memorable line:

  “The secondary had that going on and they were still the best in football. The O-line had that going on and it felt like that was symptomatic of what this, that offensive line was.” (09:41)

Position Group Debates In Franchise History (Texans)

• The two hosts debate if any Texans unit rivals this secondary:

  • 2011–2012 Offensive Line: Cited as the only real contender: Chris Myers, Wade Smith, Dwayne Brown (“three Pro Bowlers on that offensive line” [11:49]).
  • Wide Receiver Room:
    • Johnson, Hopkins, Collins lineage, but “Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins were never that guy at the same time.” (12:44)
    • Quarterback instability limited their true impact as a group (13:13–13:29).

• Scott’s Conclusion:

  “I think I’m going to go with this secondary. The 2026 Texan secondary. The potential at least to be the best position group that the Texans have ever seen.” (13:36)

• Pendergast Agrees:

  “I am too.” (12:12)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On last year’s secondary adversity:

  “Their other safety spot was a mixture of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, M.J. Stewart, Jalen Reed. Miles Bryant at times, who’s not even a safety really. Kavon Wallace at the end of the year. Kavon Wallace is starting important games in the middle of a long winning streak for you. They were the best secondary, I think clearly, in football last year.” — Sean Pendergast (06:26)

• On improvements for 2026:

  “The fact that Reed Blankenship is now in that spot where there was objectively a weakness in the secondary and now you cannot call that a weakness anymore. At the very least has a seasoned, experienced veteran there. I just don’t see any weaknesses in the secondary at all, really.” — Brandon Scott (05:54)

• On comparative impact of rotating players:

  “It reminded me of like the turnstile at left guard or center on the other side of the ball ... all of a sudden now this safety position looks like the way left guard and center have looked the last few years.” — Brandon Scott (09:07)

• On the best position group debate:

  “Best position group in the NFL. Is this the best position group in the history of the Texans?” — Sean Pendergast (11:07)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:26 — On the upcoming move to FM; nostalgia of AM radio.
• 04:46 — Main question: any way the Texans’ secondary isn’t best in the NFL?
• 05:12–05:54 — Deep dive on secondary’s personnel upgrades; Blankenship addition.
• 06:26–06:43 — Recap of last year’s adversity at safety and still being the top group.
• 07:26–09:41 — Detailed list of last year’s “cast of characters” at safety.
• 09:41–10:07 — Comparing secondary turnover with offensive line issues.
• 10:07–10:33 — Is this the best secondary in the NFL or even best position group overall?
• 11:07–13:50 — Debating best position group in Texans history; receivers vs. O-line vs. secondary.

---

Summary & Takeaways

• Hosts are emphatic: There is no realistic way—barring injury—that the current Texans secondary isn’t the best in the NFL for 2026.
• Upgrades: The addition of Reed Blankenship shores up the only previous weak spot; every starter is seen as a plus.
• Historical context: The secondary may not only be the best in the NFL but possibly the best single position group in Texans franchise history.
• Only threats: Another NFL team unexpectedly “burst[ing] onto the scene,” or massive injuries, could prevent the Texans secondary from holding the top spot.
• Memorable, humorous banter: Colorful references to last season’s injury “turnstile” at safety, and the “idiocy plagued” C.J. Gardner-Johnson, add texture and history to the argument.

For Texans fans and NFL observers, the message is clear: Entering 2026, Houston’s secondary isn’t just strong—it’s the benchmark for the league and perhaps the best group the franchise has ever fielded.

Transcript

[Keenan Thompson]

Latte for Keenan.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

That's me.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Hey, you're.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Buying a car online on autotrader.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Really? But unlike other sites, you can start online, test drive with a local dealer, then finish online or at the dealership.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Really? Wait, are you.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yep.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

It's Keaton. Able to finish in person without starting the process over.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Really? Your info stays with you every step of the way. Cool.

[Keenan Thompson]

Enjoy.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

It's Keenan Thompson. Buy your car online on autotrader.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Really avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint, finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the app. Download today.

[Keenan Thompson]

I'm Jenna Fisher. And I'm Angela Kinsey. And together we have the podcast Office Ladies. Just because we finished rewatching the Office does not mean we're going anywhere. Every Wednesday we'll be sharing even more exclusive stories from the Office and our friendship with brand new guests. Plus, you can revisit all the Office Ladies rewatch episodes every Monday with new bonus tidbits before every episode. So follow and listen to Office Ladies on the free Odysee app and wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Sports Radio 610 presents live from the West Point Lincoln and West Point Lincoln of Sugarland Studios. Here's Pain and Pendergast. All right, someone, someone texted in. Apparently, at least for this person, there's some like bleed through of another station going on On Sports Radio 610 I I bring this up to tell you August 13th, baby. August 13th. Yeah, that's when the big changeover happens. 95. 7 the fan.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah, those bleeding days can be over.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Static, dropping out, all those things again.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Unless you're into bleeding. Unless you're into that.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Well, we had more people than I expected when we made that announcement and we may have people just coming back from vacation this morning not knowing what we're talking about. If you missed it last week. We announced on Wednesday that we are making the move to fm. This is huge. It's the biggest news in the history of the station and there's been big news in the history of this station. Houston sports Leader Sports Radio 610 is becoming 95. 7 the fan and 610 the fan so will simulcast and I the fact that it was greater Than one person like, hey, are you still going to be on 610? Like, part of me is like, who cares? Yeah, we got an FM signal now, but there are people. What I learned b. Scott, Brandon's in for for Seth today and tomorrow is that there is a nostalgia to AM radio for some people.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah. A small minority who likes the nostalgia feeling. The idea that it's, you know, from a previous era or maybe it makes them think about, like, their dad.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

It's a Pavlovian thing. Yeah, exactly.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah. It reminds you of your dad or your granddad or listening to baseball games on the radio way back when. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I guess there is a charm to it, right?

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Yes.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

I can't relate, but it's not for me to relate. It's for us to have the options to you AM, FM, the app, YouTube, however it is you want to find us, you'll be able to find us as of August 13th.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Real quick one, too. On yesterday's game, we were talking about the ump being a little wonky early in the game and the White Sox deciding to challenge him. They actually lost their challenges offensively. First 10 pitches. And I talked about teams, scouting, umpires and in inappropriately the texter points out. And I heard Todd Callis say this yesterday, that that particular ump doing yesterday's game is actually. Is one of the better umps according to accuracy. He's the second most accurate ump. Fair. He was bad early yesterday. I thought the two lost challenges by the White Sox notwithstanding. I thought he was. The ump was a little all over the place. And sometimes, like, hitters, umps have heat zones, you know.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Yeah. He's really accurate overall. But the misses that he has tend to be. He tends to get the calls that are up in the zone. Wrong.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

More than others. That kind of thing.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah. And then also, like, we didn't bring up this point, but I brought up the point of like, if it's. If you're pitching to Jordan Alvarez, like, I could see if you want to be aggressive, like from a. From a defensive standpoint and challenging. But if you're. If you're at the.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Get to do that.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

But if you're at the plate and it's Rene Blanco. No disrespect to Renell Blanco, but of all, like, it wasn't like, it was Hunter Brown on who was up there the day before.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Going to walk you eventually. Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Like, what exactly are they doing?

[Sports Radio Host 2]

It was wild.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Kind of strange.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

It was wild. All right. Countdown to Texans training Camp. We've been counting down in this segment for the better part of the last week or so. 10 questions we've been counting down with. We're down to question number three. So two will be tomorrow, one will be Wednesday morning when Seth is back. And Seth and I will be out at training camp doing the show out there. Um, aside from injury, is there any way this secondary is not the best in the NFL this year?

[Sports Radio Host 1]

The only way, aside from injury, that this Texan secondary is not the best in the NFL. If this is. If there just happens to be another secondary that we don't know about that's just gonna burst onto the scene. Yeah, they got some guys that you hadn't heard about or just didn't know that they were as good as, as they turned out to be. But as far as like going into it, trying to project it, looking at the name brands as a part of the secondary from corner to corner with Derek Stingley Jr. And Kamari Lasseter, obviously we know that Kalen Bullock, I think, I think really over the, over his first two seasons, has really shown himself to be like a gem of a, of a draft pick for Nick Casario and the Texans. And then they add Reed Blankenship.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

That's the big thing.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

The, the fact that Reed Blankenship is now in that spot where there was objectively a weakness in the secondary and now you cannot call that a weakness anymore. At the very least has a seasoned experience, veteran there. I just don't see any weaknesses in the secondary at all, really. And that's not even to mention Jalen Petrie, who's kind of a hybrid defensive back, slash linebacker, slash, nickel defender, whatever he is. Like, I just, I don't see how they're not the best in the league if not either for injury or, or just somebody completely surprising us and coming out of nowhere.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

It was the best in the league last year. And their second safety spot was a five headed, rotating, injury plagued, idiocy plagued if you count CJ Gardner Johnson as part of it, which you have to. He was there for the first three games.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Their other safety spot was a mixture of C.J. gardner, Johnson, M.J. stewart, J. Jalen Reed. Yep. Miles Bryant at times, who's not even a safety really. Kavon Wallace at the end of the year. Kavon Wallace is starting important games in the middle of a long winning streak for you. They were the best secondary, I think clearly in football last year and one of the five, four and a half, I guess we'll call it spots because I'M with you. Jalen Petrie doesn't always count as a member of the secondary for me. He's at times he's as much a linebacker as he is a safety most of the time. But let's count Petrie as part of them just to run up the score a little bit because he's an out.

[Keenan Thompson]

Latte for Keenan.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

That's me.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Hey, you're.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Buying a car online on Autotrader. Really?

[Sports Radio Host 1]

But unlike other sites, you can start online, test drive with a local dealer, then finish online or at the dealership.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Cool.

[Keenan Thompson]

Enjoy.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Buy your car online on Autotrader. Really?

[Keenan Thompson]

With Squarespace, you can do more than just build a website. You can build a business. Squarespace helps restaurants and hotels showcase signature offerings and experiences. And with Squarespace, consultants and photographers can create invoices to collect well earned payments. You can even send email newsletters to keep in touch with your loyal customers. Done. So grow your [e-mail]. get started with offer code. Make it real for 10% off your website or domain.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Hey, this is Richard Deutsch, the host of the sports media podcast. If you're interested in what's happening with all the places where you consume sports, the sports media podcast has you covered. I've been turning down interviews all week. Hoda Kapi reached out. Oprah, George Stephanopoulos. So I said no. I was booked on the Deitch podcast before the Taylor Swift phenomenon. I must live up to my responsibility. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Standing player. Yeah, one of the five positions was street guys, six round picks, journeyman's and morons. Yeah, yeah, moron. Singular.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Cj, Gardner Johnson.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah, but, but at the, or at

[Sports Radio Host 2]

least somebody who acted like a moron when he was here, but at the

[Sports Radio Host 1]

very least a rag tag of cast of characters, right? Like, like you got moron to start it, right? You replace it with MJ Stewart, who. Who's notably not a moron.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Not at all.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Not at all.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

I like MJ Stewart, but at the

[Sports Radio Host 1]

same time mostly a backup slash special teams guy who then again was also injured after that, like almost immediately or not too long after that. And then you start going with the rookie and then, then you get into the cast of characters like you mentioned, the Kavon Wallaces of the world. Like it was, it was a turnstile. You know what safety that safety spot looked like for the Texans on defense? It, it reminded me of like the turnstile at left guard or center on the other side of the ball. It was like all of a sudden now this safety position looks like the way left guard and center have looked the last few years.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

And I think it illustrates the drastic difference between its position groups go the O line and the secondary. The secondary had that going on and they were still the best in football. The O line had that going on and it felt like that was symptomatic of what this, that offensive line was.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah, fair enough.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Yeah. I think, I think the simple answer is no. The question again was, aside from injury, is there any way the secondary isn't the best in the NFL? Yeah, I don't see the answer can be no.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah, I don't see it.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

I did the. The. It actually and to illustrate this, it actually this secondary spawns even more superlative questions about it. Like these questions is, are they the best position group in the NFL? You know, forget about being the best one on the team. Best one in the, of the, of the Texans groups or in the AFC South. Yeah, like the, like the Eagles offensive line of defensive rooms.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah, because. And that's interesting because if you were to just do. Because we're doing the whole secondary. So like the, the, the comparable part to that would be like the entire defensive line. Like I think if you were to do the high end of the Texans defensive line and just put their edges against the Texans corners, then that would be advantage defensive line. But then once you go much, but not by much, but. But then once you go the entire group, then I think that's when it's advantage the, the defensive backs, the sec, the secondary. And then if you compare them around the league, they're probably going to win that one too.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

I think we were to ask maybe questions that had a, you know, a, A bigger debate than is there any way this secondary isn't the best in the NFL, barring injury? Because I think the answer to me is clearly no. They're the best in the NFL and they will be if they're healthy. Best position group in the NFL. Is this the best position group in the history of the Texans?

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Ooh, it could be.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

I think the only one that, the one that pops to mind to me to have a debate and this would be fun. Like if Wade Smith were in here, this would be a fun debate to have. Cause I'm guessing. Cause he was part of it.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

He would have a fun argument against this secondary would be the offensive line. The first two seasons they made the playoffs, the Texans.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

2011 and 2012, they had three Pro Bowlers on that offensive line the same way the secondary had three guys make The Pro Bowl.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Chris Myers, Wade Smith and Dwayne Brown. Brown who? You know, it's between him and Tunsil for best left tackle in the history of the team. You know what even the other pieces were, you know, Mike Brysel and Eric Winston were very solid.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Very solid. You know what, though? I remember those teams just fine, just as well as you do. I think I'm going to go with this secondary.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

No, I am too.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

You know, like now that I think

[Sports Radio Host 2]

it through, I think the debate is those two. Two and then a big drop off. Because even though. So. So you might say, what about the wide receiver room?

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Because you've had DeAndre and Andre at one point and. Well, you've.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

You've had DeAndre, you've had Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins and Nico Collins as part of this team. For the most part. The lineage is almost all the way connected.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah. Except for 2020.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Right.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

It's the only year where you don't

[Sports Radio Host 2]

have in that area Brandon Cooks, who got you a thousand yards.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

But. Yeah, but.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Yeah, but, but.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Right.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

But those three guys, those are clearly the three best receivers in team history. Yes. And the only year you didn't have one of them was 2020. Some would argue you didn't really have Nico in 21 and 22 because he hadn't developed into what he is. But I think that's what keeps the receiver room, is that Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins were never that guy at the same time. It was almost a passing of the torch. You know, DeAndre was good his rookie year.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

He wasn't great. He wasn't a Pro Bowler. DeAndre was great his second year and that was the year that Andre's numbers started to dip a little bit.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah. And the awkward part about that discussion is how good could they have been if they had had requisite or the proper quarterback play?

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Correct.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Right. This isn't necessarily crap on Matt Shop, but they didn't. They didn't really have that.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

2013 was Hopkins rookie year. That was bad. Shop.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

That was the worst. Shop.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

2014, it was Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick. Well, Fitzpatrick who got benched for Ryan Mallet.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

So they were. They were never actually able to realize their full potential together. I don't think this secondary. I, I think I'm gonna go with the secondary. The. The 2026 Texan secondary. The potential at least to be the best position group that the Texans have ever seen.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Poll that one. I don't even know who else is in the conversation other than that offensive line.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Again, Unless you wanted to. Yeah, unless you wanted to be kind to the again to that wide receiver combination. But I would go with the secondary.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Text in 7. 1, 3, 5, 7, 2, 4, 6, 10. All right, headlines. Coming up next, the Astros take two out of three from the White Sox. We'll dig into that. LeBron made his decision. Lots of automotive news from the NFL over the weekend. Lots of bad driving going on out there or drunk driving. We'll get to that as well. In headlines.

[Keenan Thompson]

Latte for Keenan.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

That's me.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Hey, you're.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Yeah.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Buying a car online on Autotrader. Really?

[Sports Radio Host 1]

But unlike other sites, you can start online, test drive with a local dealer, then finish online or at the dealership.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

Cool.

[Keenan Thompson]

Enjoy.

[Sports Radio Host 1]

Buy your car online on Autotrader. Really? Hey, y'.

[Sports Radio Host 2]

All, I'm Maddie. And I'm Poodle. And together we host the podcast Reality Gays. We are too ridiculous horse who love nothing more than talking about reality television and tearing in a new one. So whether it's 90 day fiance love is blind love after lockup or any other trash TV show about lonely hearts looking for love, your gay besties got you covered, y'. All. New shows every week. Follow and listen to Reality gays wherever you get your podcast. Reality Gays, let's love. Since 1927, Mountain Cement has been building careers in literally Wyoming. They're hiring electricians, mechanics, truck drivers, entry level employees and salaried professionals to join their team. Employees enjoy year round work, opportunities to grow and unique perks like private elk hunting, access and permits, a stocked fishing pond, Laramie river access, a shooting range and RV and tent sites. Competitive pay day one benefits and relocation packages are available for qualified candidates. Apply [e-mail] or call 307-745-2620. As the U.S. men's National Team takes center stage at a home World Cup. Make sure you're listening to Call it what you want, part of the CBS Sports PODC Network where you can join me. I'm Jimmy Conrad alongside Charlie Davies, Tony Miola, Marcelo Balboa and Benny Fieldhaver throughout this tournament for previews, instant reactions and analysis of every US Match. Then all summer, we're back every Tuesday and Thursday covering all things U.S. men's National Team. Download and follow Call it what you want on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.