WATCH: Texans rookie DT Roy Lopez recovers fumble against the Dolphins

Houston Texans rookie defensive tackle Roy Lopez was able to recover a fumble that led to the team’s first points of the game Sunday in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.

The fumble recovery is just part of the maturation that defensive coordinator Lovie Smith talked about on Oct. 20.

“As a young player, we kind of talked about what our expectations were for him early on, and you don’t really know as a rookie,” said Smith. “But he earned a spot then to start and to play, and we saw him giving us a little bit as a pass rusher at the nose guard position. But it’s about playing the run, staying in his gap, being disciplined with that. I think every rep he gets, he hasn’t missed anything since he’s been here.”

Houston trailed 7-3 with 8:00 to go in the second quarter.