Peoria native Kendrick Green claps back at critics after Texans win over Steelers

Kendrick Green was in troll mode this weekend.

The Peoria native, former Illini and new Houston Texans offensive lineman took to social media Sunday to playfully rebuke some of his critics after Houston's 30-6 victory over his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The weekend trolling comes on the heels of Green's comments last week when he was asked by KPRC-TV's Aaron Wilson if he was motivated to play the team that traded him before this season.

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“I don’t even look at it like that, I’m glad it happened, I’m glad I’m not there anymore, I’m glad to be here,” Green told Wilson. “I’m just looking at it like it's another game, go out there and play my best.”

Green also went on to say he is looking forward to seeing old teammates, but said he was “put in a pretty tough spot” with the Steelers. He also said he is grateful to start in Houston and "by the grace of God" is out of Pittsburgh.

Taking to social media

Houston soundly defeated Pittsburgh as it rolled up 451 yards of offense behind the reworked offensive line that included Green starting at left guard.

Green eventually left with a knee injury, but that didn't stop him from celebrating he got "his lick back" against his former team, posting lyrics to a Young Thug song with the same sentiment.

Green also called out Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7-FM The Fan, who posted on game day that the Steelers should "set SACK records in Houston today" because the Texans were starting a "practice squad" left tackle, a rookie sixth-rounder at center and Kendrick Green at left guard — punctuating that comment with a pair of laughing-crying emojis.

In response, Green posted a three-second TikTok video of someone playfully saying "Jeez, Louise, life's tough."

The replies to that post largely supported Green, with one user saying "Boy had tweets bookmarked for this moment," and another calling it "hilarious." Most Steelers fans who replied stayed humble and gracefully let Green bask in the moment.

Kendrick Green's road to Houston

Green, 24, is a 2016 graduate of Peoria High. He went on to a successful career at the University of Illinois before the Steelers picked him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He immediately played a role in Pittsburgh, starting his rookie season at center in the final season for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a likely Hall of Famer.

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After that promising rookie season, Green was inactive all 17 games in 2022. He was on the Steelers' roster bubble most of this preseason — and showed his versatility by playing at guard as well as a memorable few snaps at fullback in a scrimmage. He was traded to Houston on cutdown day of the 2023 NFL season.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria High graduate trolls critics after Texans win over Steelers