Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus is ready for football and nothing else. The seasoned defender is likely to begin this season without a new contract. Mercilus doesn't appear concerned about the ongoing situation, though he would like to remain in Houston going forward.

“Of course,” Mercilus recently said, via the Houston Chronicle. “Once we cross that road, we will. Right now, I'm just focusing on having the most stellar season that I can.”

It is highly evident that the veteran pass rusher is solely focused on football and not earning a lucrative contract following the conclusion of the 2019 campaign.

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“Yeah, it was a new adjustment for me: understanding and dropping back into pass coverage, helping out there with the route combinations that were there and jumbling around in my head,” Mercilus added in regards to a scheme change from a few years back, via the Houston Chronicle. “This time around, I'm better prepared and able to get the look that I need to do in my drops and understand the route combinations. I'm embracing it.

“It's pretty cool to display that I can do more things than rush the passer. The coaches ask me to do a lot.”

The Texans will be forced to compete with three solid teams in the AFC South next season. The trio of the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans all have the ability to make a serious run at the postseason in 2019, giving Mercilus and company all that they can handle.