DENVER, CO - AUGUST 23: Houston Texans strong safety D.J. Swearinger (36) puts a big hit on Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (83) after a catch up the middle during the second quarter August 23, 2014 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium. D.J. Swearinger; was flagged on the play. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Houston (CBS Houston) – Saturday Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker did his job and so did Texans safety D.J. Swearinger. Unfortunately for the Texans and Swearinger, the official promptly did his job and threw a flag.

“It’s unrealistic,” Swearinger said Monday after practice about the NFL’s expectations for defensive players. “It’s hard. You know, going full speed, you’re breaking on the ball, and the last second, you gotta do what you gotta to do to try to not hit a guy in a certain place when that guy ducks into the hit trying to protect themselves.”

He said it isn’t easy playing defensive back in the league. The NFL in recent years has put an emphasis on protecting what they deem to be “defenseless” receivers.

“In situations like that, man, you just gotta do what you gotta do,” Swearinger said. “My job as a defender is to try to knock the ball out, and not the player. Knock the ball out, that’s what I try to do every play.”

“I wish I had an answer to ‘Where do I hit him at in that situation?’ But we don’t have an answer to it.”

Fellow safety Kendrick Lewis said the hard hits are just part of Swearinger’s style and football is a physical game. He said if it is still an issue later in the season his teammate needs to correct his tackling to a style the league accepts.

Swearinger said he just has to keep playing football the way he knows how to play football.

“Just hit ’em I guess,” he said. “Or move out the way, but that’s something I’m definitely not going to do.”

Get in touch with Cody Stoots on Twitter – @Cody_Stoots

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