Preseason plotlines

With the opening of camp only 20 days away, here are 20 key things to follow as the big day nears

1 J.J. Watt’s back “feels great” After missing nearly all of last season with a back injury, Watt said he felt great at minicamp last month. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who will rejoin the league’s top defense opposite Jadeveon Clowney at end, is looking forward to participating in full-contact drills in West Virginia. “Training camp is going to be another one of those times where it’s like, ‘OK, next step,’ ” Watt said in June. 2

Tom Savage has the starting job Coach Bill O’Brien already has named Savage as the Texans’ starting quarterback. In the No. 1 role for the first time in his career, the 2014 fourth-round draft pick will attempt to bolster an offense that averaged just 17.4 points per game last season. 3

Fifth-year option season for top receiver Texans star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is due $7.915 million in 2017 entering the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. The 25-year-old saw a dip in production last season with Brock Osweiler at quarterback, but he still is considered one of the top receivers in the NFL. No movement has been made on a contract extension, but Hopkins said he loves playing in Houston. “Those talks are between the Texans and my agent, but this city has embraced me just like my hometown in South Carolina has,” Hopkins said last month. “I love being here. I love playing for this team.” 4

Jadeveon Clowney ready for another monster season The 2016 Pro Bowl defensive end dealt with a sore ankle during OTAs in May but is back to full health entering training camp this month. The dynamic lineman had 52 tackles and six sacks last season and is confident another dominant year lies ahead. “Everything is coming for me now,” Clowney said in June. “I spend more time focusing on who I’m going against than myself doing my job because I kind of know what I’ve got to do.” 5

Now it’s Coach Welker Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Wes Welker will serve as an offensive and special-teams assistant this season in his first NFL gig since retiring in 2015. Joining former New England assistant, Bill O’Brien, Welker is assisting receivers coach John Perry “with anything he needs” and has done some work with returners. “I’m still transitioning, but it’s been good,” Welker said last month. “It’s almost like being a rookie all over again, just in a different aspect.” 6

No. 1 tackle a no-show for OTAs, minicamp Three-time Pro Bowl tackle Duane Brown did not attend the Texans’ OTAs in May or mandatory minicamp last month due to a contract dispute. With two years remaining on a six-year, $53.4 million deal, Brown is due a nonguaranteed $9.65 million base salary this season and $9.75 million in 2018. The 31-year-old veteran has not commented publicly on the dispute and could be fined up to $80,400 for missing the minicamp. 7 Braxton Miller poised for breakout year The former Ohio State quarterback turned slot receiver is an expected starter following a rookie season cut short by a shoulder injury suffered last December. Miller, who finished last season with 15 catches and 99 yards in 10 games, has all the tools to become a dangerous inside receiver this fall and received praise from assistant Wes Welker this offseason. Both he and Will Fuller are poised to make big jumps. 8

A change of scenery In February, the Texans announced they would hold training camp outside the city of Houston for the first time in franchise history. The team will begin camp at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., on July 26 and return to Houston Methodist Training Center on Aug. 21 following its second preseason game. The New Orleans Saints used the facility the past three summers.

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40-and-over club Texans punter Shane Lechler (pictured) enters his 18th NFL season as the thirdoldest active NFL player behind Adam Vinateri (44) and Phil Dawson (42). He turns 41 in August.

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Departures from the secondary The Texans lost two starters in the secondary during free agency. With the departure of cornerback A.J. Bouye (Jacksonville) and strong safety Quintin Demps (Chicago), veterans like Johnathan Joseph (pictured) and Kareem Jackson will need to lead a young group of replacements.

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Battle brewing at center With Texans center Nick Martin (pictured) back from a season-ending ankle injury last year, its unclear if he or outstanding replacement Greg Mancz will get the job. Keep an eye on this battle during training camp.

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Foreman can take load off Miller This year’s third-round pick, University of Texas running back D’Onta Foreman (pictured), will join Lamar Miller and three other veterans in vying for playing time in the backfield at The Greenbrier. The run-heavy Texans offense can certainly use the rookie power back after a banged-up Miller averaged a career-low 4.0 yards on a career-high 268 carries. Foreman recovered from a hamstring injury early on in OTAs but impressed coaches as the offseason program progressed. 13

Coaching carousel Coach Bill O’Brien (pictured) fired former offensive coordinator George Godsey in January and will call the offensive plays for the Texans this season. O’Brien also promoted Romeo Crennel to assistant head coach for defense and named linebackers coach Mike Vrabel as Crennel’s replacement at defensive coordinator. Former receivers coach Sean Ryan was promoted to quarterbacks coach, with former tight ends coach John Perry taking over the vacated receivers position. 1 4 Deshaun Watson learning from v ete rans The 2017 first-round pick who led Clemson to a national championship earlier this year will grow into an NFL-caliber quarterback alongside Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden. “He’s not nearly where he needs to be to be a full-time starter in this league, but you can tell he’s got a lot of qualities you like,” coach Bill O’Brien said last month. “We put a lot on his plate during the spring, and he handled it very well.” 15

D.J Reader prepares to fill mighty big shoes With veteran Pro Bowler Vince Wilfork out of the picture, the Texans have high hopes for their second-year nose tackle this season. The 6-3, 335-pounder finished with 22 tackles and one sack as rookie, starting seven games. 16

Longtime linebacker recovering from surgery Eight-year Texans starter Brian Cushing continues to recover from January shoulder surgery. The inside linebacker missed OTAs and minicamp, and he may see limited action in the early stages of training camp. 17

Zach Cunningham prepares to back up ILBs The Texans’ 2017 second-round pick likely will back up starters Bernardrick McKinney and Brian Cushing this season, but Cunningham said he was adjusting well to the NFL pace at minicamp. Vanderbilt’s first unanimous All-American led the SEC with 125 tackles in 2016 and is someone to keep an eye on during training camp. 18 Right tackle starting spot up for grabs With Derek Newton gone for the season, recovering from surgery on ruptured quad tendons in both legs, it’s unclear who will start at right tackle for the Texans. Chris Clark struggled as Newton’s replacement last season, but Kendall Lamm, veteran Breno Giacomini and rookie fourthround pick Julién Davenport all will compete for the spot. 19 Treston Decoud has a lot of catching up to do The Texans’ fifth-round pick will enter training camp a step behind. The cornerback was unable to participate in OTAs and minicamp because of the Pac-12’s graduation rules, but he doesn’t sound concerned. “Once I get in there, the coaches will walk me through and catch me up on everything. It’s the NFL,” Decoud said. “You have to be ready at all times. I will be ready.” 20

Preseason schedule The Texans will play at Carolina on Aug. 9 and at home against New England on Aug. 19 during their nearly month-long training camp. They then will visit New Orleans on Aug. 26 and play host to Dallas on Aug. 31 to wrap up the preseason fun.