The veteran tight end delivered one of the biggest receiving performances of his Texans career, giving Houston another reliable option in the passing game.
Dalton Schultz put together a performance this past Sunday that should not go overlooked.
The Houston Texans have plenty of attention surrounding their passing game after C.J. Stroud's 353-yard passing performance, but Schultz showed just how valuable he can be when the offense consistently looks his way. The veteran tight end finished with 12 receptions on 14 targets for 140 yards, including a 35-yard reception that helped make him one of the biggest offensive standouts of the game.
It was the type of performance the Texans have been hoping to get from Schultz since he joined the team.
The volume immediately stands out. Schultz was targeted 14 times, meaning he was clearly a major part of the game plan and someone the offense trusted to make plays consistently. He responded by turning them into meaningful gains on a day that things weren't going in favor of the offense.
That level of efficiency is difficult to ignore.
Schultz also received strong grades from Pro Football Focus for his performance, finishing with an 81.2 overall offensive grade and an 84.0 receiving grade. Schultz was consistently productive when the ball came his way and gave the Texans a reliable option for moving the chains.
For an offense that has dealt with questions about consistency through the early portion of the season, getting this kind of production from Schultz could be significant.
Schultz isn't just a checkdown or underneath option. While tight ends are often relied upon for short and intermediate routes, Schultz has enough ability as a receiver to create explosive plays when given the opportunity.
That could make his presence even more important moving forward.
The biggest question now is whether this performance can become a consistent part of Schultz's role rather than simply a one-game explosion.
There is certainly reason to believe it can.
Schultz has been a dependable target throughout his career, and this performance showed that he still has the ability to take over a game when the opportunities are there. Sunday was a reminder that Schultz can be a legitimate focal point of the Texans' passing attack.
If Houston can consistently get this version of Schultz involved, the offense could have another weapon capable of making a significant impact.
With star wide receiver Nico Collins dealing with a hamstring injury, opportunities should continue to rise for Schultz in the passing game.
Now, it's up to him if he takes advantage of them. Because it would really benefit the offense.
