With so much turnover on NFL rosters, it’s no rarity for players to face their former teams. We saw it just last week with Daryl Smith, Eugene Monroe, and Justin Forsett taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Week 16 will be a repeat in a way, as the Ravens roster is loaded with former Houston Texans including Jacoby Jones, Owen Daniels, and, yes, Forsett. Not to mention several coaches including offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
Keeping his eyes on the prize in getting to the postseason, Daniels is doing his best not to think too much about the match-up on Sunday against his former team.
After spending seven seasons in the Lone Star State, Daniels was released early in the offseason after basically being told he wasn’t good enough anymore and didn’t fit into the team’s plan in 2014.
“That’s what they said to me. That was the reason for the release,” Daniels stated on Wednesday following practice. “They give us a release sheet, and it has all the check marks. ‘Why did you get released?’ ‘Yeah, you weren’t good enough. Basically that’s what it says. Players like myself and others on this team that have been released by other teams keep those sheets and remember it.”
While there certainly won’t be any “Goggles” needed as was the case when Steve Smith Sr. faced off against his former team
in Week 4, the soft spoken Daniels did acknowledge on Wednesday he doesn’t forget those words that were said when he was
released.
His approach won’t be any different than any other games the Ravens have played this season, but the veteran tight end admitted it was going to be an odd experience returning to the place that gave him his opportunity to play in the NFL.
“The organization gave me a chance to play in the NFL for the first time, and I can’t be more thankful to Mr. [Bob] McNair and that organization for giving me that opportunity,” said Owen. “They had to do what they had to do, business-wise, last year, and I’m still trying to be the best player I can be here. I have no ill will toward them at all. I love Houston, and it’s my home.
“I’ll go back there every offseason – it’s been one offseason since I’ve been released – but that’s my home now, and I will always go back there.”
One team’s loss is another team’s gain and for Daniels being in Baltimore this season has been a pleasant change. He has seen an increased role since Dennis Pitta suffered another season ending injury in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns.
Daniels has been a solid complementary piece on a Ravens offense that is just 23 points shy of producing the most points in single-season in franchise history (the previous high is 398 from their 2012 Super Bowl-winning season) and is the NFL’s
eighth best this season.
His 45 receptions for 474 yards are third best on the team. Add in his four touchdowns and 30 first down catches, and Daniels has been a crucial component of Gary Kubiak’s offense.
One reason for the success of Daniels this season has been the team’s way of keeping him fresh as he is given the day off on Thursdays so his legs are fresh for game days. Daniels has played 696 total snaps through 15 weeks of football, the second most of quarterback Joe Flacco’s pass catchers.
“I feel pretty good considering it’s Week 16. I feel like I’ve been playing a lot the last few months and playing a lot of plays. But I’ve been trying to take care of myself during the week,” the veteran tight end remarked on his health.
For a Ravens team that’s facing a “win and you’re in” playoff scenario over the next two weeks, this game certainly is more about getting a win than seeking a little revenge against one’s former team but, if it just so happens along the way it will make it that much sweeter for Daniels and company.
“I don’t care if I don’t get one catch [and] block it the whole game,” Daniels said. “As long as we come out there with a ‘W,’ that’s the biggest [thing], the best thing that can happen.”
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