10 TRAINING CAMP QUESTIONS.
Between injury concerns and contract talks, will the Texans find the answers they want?
The Texans’ slow burn of frustration stemming from their playoff loss to the New England Patriots subsided months ago. • In the aftermath of a 3416 AFC divisional-round loss in January to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the setback has created even more determination for the defending AFC South champions. • Winning the past two division titles, the Texans hope to make a serious playoff run this season. Simply being in the playoffs doesn’t satisfy them. • “Getting to the playoffs isn’t good enough for us anymore, and we understand that,” veteran linebacker Brian Cushing said. “We’re close, but we have a way to go. We’re ready to take the next step.” • As the Texans report to training camp this week at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, here’s a look at 10 key questions surrounding the team:
What’s going on at quarterback?
1 The Texans are banking on new starter Tom Savage to provide stability to a position usually bereft of that quality during the three-year tenure of coach Bill O’Brien. Savage has been installed as the replacement for Brock Osweiler without competition following Osweiler’s disastrous one-and-done season with the Texans after signing a $72 million contract.
Popular with teammates for his lowkey personality in the locker room and hard-nosed approach to football, Savage is a strong-armed, classic pocket passer. He’s knowledgeable about an intricate playbook and is careful with his throws, avoiding interceptions. But Savage has had durability issues, isn’t mobile enough to elude pass rushers and, admittedly, needs to speed his delivery.
As excited and pleased as the Texans are about rookie first-round pick Deshaun Watson, they don’t want to rush him into a starting role. Watson is athletic, smart, accurate and confident in his abilities. He has a great pedigree from his All-American performance at Clemson, beating Alabama for the national championship. The Texans love Watson’s work ethic and how quickly he’s absorbing the nuances of the offense.
If Savage gets hurt again or falters and Watson isn’t deemed ready to step in, the Texans have a capable emergency alternative in veteran Brandon Weeden.
How is J.J. Watt’s back?
2 The comeback from a pair of back surgeries that sidelined the threetime NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season is nearly complete.
Watt, 28, looked like his dominant self during offseason practices and had no problems with the herniated disk that plagued him last year. The big caveat: Those practices didn’t involve full-contact drills. It will be interesting to see how Watt’s back holds up when he’s exposed to live hitting in practice.
All indications are that he’s made a sound recovery and is prepared for the rigors of the game after taking a much less aggressive approach to his rehabilitation following his second surgical procedure.
If Watt’s back holds up and he regains his form as one of the top defensive players in the NFL, the Texans’ top-ranked defense could become even better. Watt and Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney could form one of the most dangerous front-seven tandems in the league.
“It’s crazy,” Clowney said. “I’m looking forward to it. I feel like we can all be out there together, me and him and the rest of the guys and just stay healthy, we’re going to be a special defense.”
Will Duane Brown report to training camp?
3 The impasse between the Texans and their three-time Pro Bowl left tackle hasn’t been resolved. Barring a change, he’s not expected to report for the start of camp.
Brown skipped the entire offseason due to unhappiness about a contract that has two remaining years, including a non-guaranteed base salary of $9.65 million this season.
He’s subject to fines of $40,000 for each day of camp that he holds out.
Among all left tackles, Brown ranks 11th in cash compensation this year. He’s playing under a six-year, $53.4 million contract that includes $22.081 million guaranteed with a $12.5 million signing bonus. The deal has become outdated with time as new tackle deals have surpassed those numbers.
Brown’s potential leverage stems from the Texans’ lack of an adequate replacement at left tackle.
Brown, 31, has remained in Los Angeles for most of the offseason. It’s unclear if a compromise will be reached during camp. There’s been no talk of negotiations as the Texans have an unofficial policy to not renegotiate deals with two years left with the only exceptions being for J.J. Watt and Andre Johnson. At this point, Brown isn’t expected to miss regular-season games.
What’s the status of Brian Cushing and Kevin Johnson coming off injuries?
4 A veteran starting linebacker regarded as the emotional leader of the defense, Cushing underwent offseason shoulder surgery and didn’t practice during the spring. Cushing is expected to make a full recovery and has been building strength and flexibility in the injured joint for months. He’s reached a point where he should be cleared to practice, knock off the rust and resume his role working in tandem with second-team All-Pro inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney.
Johnson’s recovery from foot surgery to repair a broken bone is pivotal to the defense after losing A.J. Bouye to the Jaguars on a five-year, $67.5 million free agent deal.
As adept as Bouye was at aggressively shadowing receivers and tight ends, Johnson has the physical skills and mentality to take on those responsibilities. Johnson didn’t practice during the spring, but has been running for months and is expected to be cleared during the preseason.
What’s going on at right tackle.
5 This is one of the most competitive positions on the roster, a complicated situation where the team needs someone to add a rugged blocking presence.
Because Derek Newton is out for the season tearing both patellar tendons last season, Chris Clark enters camp as the incumbent starter. Clark struggled at times, though. He was one of the lowest-ranked offensive linemen in the NFL, allowing multiple sacks and pressures.
The Texans have some candidates that could push Clark for the starting job. The most promising one is former undrafted free agent Kendall Lamm, who is undersized, but athletic.
Former Jets starter Breno Giacomini has plenty of experience, but his recent history of back issues is problematic. The Texans like the potential of rookie Julie’n Davenport, especially because of his long arms and overall size. He is a bit raw, though, after excelling at a lower level of competition at Bucknell.
Who will start at safety?
6 Replacing veteran Quintin Demps isn’t a simple task. Demps demonstrated a nose for the football, leading all NFL safeties with six interceptions last season before signing a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Bears. Without Demps’ heady play, the Texans are counting on Andre Hal rebounding from a substandard season during which he was briefly benched. Hal enters camp as the starting free safety opposite strong safety Corey Moore.
Moore is a reliable tackler and has good speed, but rarely makes many plays breaking on the football. He’s more of a stay-home presence.
Hard-hitting former fifth-round draft pick K.J. Dillon is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He could push for a major role once he proves he’s healthy.
A wild card in the safety battle is imposing, albeit injury-prone former Mr. Irrelevant Lonnie Ballentine. Ballentine has prototypical size and speed, but gets hurt every year.
Is the kicking battle open?
7 Not exactly. Nick Novak is extremely accurate from shorter distances and saved the offense many times last season when it got stuck in the red zone. Novak has been a key part of the Texans winning consecutive AFC South crowns with clutch kicks.
Although it’s hard to fathom them making a change, the Texans like the potential of former UCLA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. Fairbairn is a former Lou Groza Award winner who has a strong leg. The Texans thought enough of his abilities that they kept him around for his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a leg injury. Fairbairn’s talent can’t be dismissed, but Novak is the favorite to remain the kicker.
Who replaces linebacker John Simon?
8 Former undrafted free agent Brennan Scarlett is the front-runner to win the strong-side outside linebacker job vacated when Simon signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Colts.
Scarlett (6-4, 260) is regarded highly enough by the organization that it activated him from injured reserve-designated to return late in the season after he came back from a hamstring injury.
The Texans like Scarlett’s strength and toughness and are optimistic he’ll step in seamlessly as a replacement for Simon.
What’s the status of rookie running back D’Onta Foreman?
9 A third-round draft pick from the University of Texas, the Texas City native was recently arrested on misdemeanor possession of marijuana and unlicensed handgun charges in Austin and assigned a July 31 court date.
His Houston-based lawyer, Chip Lewis, stated the gun was recently purchased and registered in Foreman’s name and properly secured inside of the car in compliance with Texas laws. Lewis added the marijuana belonged to Foreman’s passenger.
All of that might help Foreman legally, but that’s unlikely to prevent him from taking up residency inside of coach Bill O’Brien’s doghouse. Foreman reported to rookie minicamp heavier than his optimal weight and was sidelined initially with a hamstring injury. He recovered from the leg injury and has worked hard to drop pounds.
Between the off-field incident and his conditioning issues, Foreman will need to display more maturity and excel on the field to redeem himself with the Texans following a rocky start to his NFL career.
Is a big deal coming for DeAndre Hopkins?
10 The Texans and their Pro Bowl wide receiver are highly motivated to strike a long-term deal.
Yet it’s been quiet on the negotiating front as the Texans enter camp.
Finding an appropriate value for Hopkins, who’s due a $7.915 million base salary this season after the Texans exercised a fifth-year club option last year, is a matter of figuring out where he fits in the salary pecking order for elite receivers.
The biggest offseason deal for a receiver was signed by Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Brown received a four-year, $68 million deal that included a $19 million signing bonus for an average annual salary of $17 million.
Other recent benchmarks-comps for the Texans and Hopkins’ representation to work off of include the following deals: Falcons’ Julio Jones (five years, $71.256 million, $12 million signing bonus, $47 million guaranteed), the Cowboys’ Dez Bryant (five years, $70 million, $20 million signing bonus, $45 million guaranteed) and the Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas (five years, $70 million, $11 million signing bonus, $43.5 million guaranteed).
Unlike last year, when Hopkins staged a one-day holdout, there’s been no acrimony and he’s expected to report on time.