Calen Bullock says Reed Blankenship 'fit right in' with Texans secondary, praises defense's championship mindset
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
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Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock recently joined the Exciting Mics podcast with new teammate Reed Blankenship, where he shared his thoughts on Houston's secondary, the addition of Blankenship, and the mindset inside a defense looking to take the next step in 2026.
Reed Blankenship already making an impact
When asked whether the Texans' defensive backs room had changed since Blankenship arrived this offseason, Bullock joked that it hadn't before explaining just how naturally the veteran safety has fit into the group.
"He fit right in. Once he came in, he fit in. He got the swagger to him."
Bullock said Blankenship's communication immediately stood out during offseason practices.
"The first day we got on the field, you communicating, you always asking questions. I can see that the first day we got on the field. You're always making sure we're on the same page. That's what we need back there."
The comments highlight one of the qualities Houston valued when signing Blankenship in free agency: leadership and communication in an already talented secondary featuring Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Bullock.
Texans' defense isn't satisfied
Despite fielding one of the NFL's top defenses last season, Bullock made it clear that reputation alone means nothing entering 2026.
"We're hearing we're the number one defense, but we still got to go out there and show it. All that is erased now. Coming into this season, we're no longer the number one defense. We got to go out there and prove it again."
Bullock added that both the offense and defense enter the season with a chip on their shoulders after consecutive playoff exits in the Divisional Round.
"I feel like the past two years we done got to the same spot... and we come up short. I think this year we're going in there with that chip on our shoulder."
Why Blankenship's experience matters
Bullock also believes Blankenship's championship experience could prove valuable as Houston pursues its first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
"We got a guy who's been to the Super Bowl... He knows what it takes to get to that next step and what it looks like. I think just us picking his brain, and knowing the things we went through and having that feeling of coming up so short, that's a big piece for us."
With training camp underway, the Texans return one of the league's most talented secondaries while adding a veteran who has already earned Bullock's respect. If Houston is going to break through after back-to-back Divisional Round appearances, Bullock believes maintaining the defense's standard—and learning from players who have reached the mountaintop—will be key.
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