Houston Texans rookie tight end Marlin Klein has not gotten a lot of action this season, playing only 10 percent of the offensive snaps and 25 percent of the special teams snaps.
However, special teams coordinator Frank Ross has seen him get better on special teams during practice and wants to see Klein become a more versatile player.
"To Marlin's credit, that guy is working, trying to get better at things that are foreign to him, which is special teams," Ross said. "If you remember, you have to rewind your mind a little bit to see the 20-year-old Brevin Jordan coming in and trying to kick slide. It was like, 'Oh boy, we have to figure this out.' It's a time-on-task thing with all young players. The work and I think you guys should all recognize and do, the work that a guy, multiple severe injuries to come back, we all can appreciate that. That storyline, however you want to say it, but it's really the heart. To the direct question, it's a three-phase complimentary football game. The more you can do. Brevin does provide a little bit more on special teams right now, but that's not necessarily all three phases are always being evaluated who can help the team from head coach to their side-of-the-ball coordinators [Matt] Burke or [Nick] Caley and then myself. We have to play the 30 snaps of special teams as well. So how do you get that done? How many defensive players are able to play in coverage? Great, he's an offensive player that can cover, so there's going to be some of that."
Klein was a healthy scratch for Houston's game against the Dallas Cowboys and Brevin Jordan was elevated to the active roster in his place. However, in the first three games of the season, Klein has gotten some valuable reps on special teams that will help him improve as this season continues.
He also had his first catch in the NFL for 16 yards in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills. His offensive snaps dropped to just four snaps in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, signaling that the Texans' coaching staff thinks he needs to develop more before he can become a bigger part of the tight end rotation.
Klein is expected to be on the active roster for Houston's Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans. Both teams enter the game with a 0-4 record and are in desperate need of a win.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Frank Ross explains why Texans rookie TE Marlin Klein was a healthy scratch vs Cowboys
