The Sports Xchange

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans moved on from D.J. Swearinger, a trash-talking 2013 second-round pick who was always more into himself than the team.

Now there’s a long line to replace Swearinger and fill an open spot at strong safety.

Eddie Pleasant, a four-year veteran whose primary contribution has been on special teams, is getting his first chance to work with the first team during OTAs.

“They’re giving me an opportunity now and I’m trying to take full advantage of it,” Pleasant said. “They’ve put me in position where I have more things to do and I’ve got a lot to prove.”

This is the last year of Pleasant’s contract. If he can play well enough to stay ahead of the competition, it could be perfect timing.

“I’m a lot more comfortable being in the system another year,” Pleasant said. “I played a little at the end of last season and I’m a lot more familiar with it.

“The only thing that’s different is that I’m getting a chance to start.”

So far, coach Bill O’Brien likes what he sees in Pleasant. But the coach is quick to point out the contributions of his competition during OTAs.

“Eddie’s done a good job,” O’Brien said. “Eddie’s a very competitive guy. It (football) is important to Eddie. He’s a very good special teams player. Eddie’s a tough guy and a good teammate.”

If Pleasant gets the job, he’ll pair up with veteran Rahim Moore, who was signed as a free agent after leaving Denver.

“That’s one thing that I learned at Denver being with Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins, or being in the room with Chris Harris, Aqib (Talib) and T.J. (Ward),” Moore said. “We all had that role in our position. To come here and have that same role, that’s what it’s all about.

“When you play the game at safety, you have to be a leader. You have to communicate. You have to have a certain verbiage about yourself that you have to take control because you’re the quarterback of the defense. That’s what it’s all about. I’ve been used to that ever since I’ve been playing the game of football and playing safety. Each and every day, I try to continue to get better at that every day.”