SO FAR, SO GOOD
Watson makes positive, albeit brief, return
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson emerged unscathed Thursday night as he was never touched by the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense during a brief appearance.
The encouraging return of Watson became official as practically everything went according to plan for the Texans.
Between Watson’s continued good health and some positive moments from his teammates, it was precisely what the Texans had hoped to get out of their preseason opener.
The Texans defeated the Chiefs 17-10 before a sparse crowd at Arrowhead Stadium as the defense delivered a goal-line stand to preserve the victory.
During his first game back since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last season, Watson was only on the field for five plays and roughly 2½ minutes, which was the plan for him from coach Bill O’Brien.
Watson looked fine in his lone series.
“It was cool, it was a great time to kind of get the juices flowing a little bit,” Watson said. “We’ll take it one day at a time and see how it goes. There’s no rush.
“Whenever the opportunity comes, OB and the organization are going to make sure they do it the right way. Make sure that I’m going to have plenty of time to get prepared for the season.”
Watson displayed the same confidence in his surgically repaired right knee that he has shown throughout training camp and the offseason.
“Just Deshaun being Deshaun,” backup quarterback Brandon Weeden said. “He’s so cool, calm and collected it’s scary. He’s such an easygoing guy. It’s infectious for the guys. That’s just his demeanor. He had that pep in his step.”
Watson handed the football four times to running back Lamar Miller, who rushed for 29 yards.
“I thought he ran hard,” O’Brien said. “He’s come back in really good shape. He’s a good pro. He grinds. I think he’s come back really with a purpose.”
Watson completed his only pass: a 4-yard throw to wide receiver Bruce Ellington.
It was a successful, healthy return for the former Clemson star before giving way to Weeden.
For Watson, it was a culmination of months of grueling rehab sessions to strengthen his knee and regain his trademark mobility.
After leading the Texans to the highest-scoring offense in the NFL with a 34.7 points per game average during his six starts, Watson appears primed to pick up where he left off as a rookie.
“It was important for him to go through the whole warmup process, preparation for the game and get out there and operate the offense,” O’Brien said. “I thought he did what we asked him to do.”
Atkins scores twice
Following a fortuitously uneventful night for Watson, O’Brien inserted Weeden.
And Weeden delivered a sharp performance in relief. In nearly one half of work, Weeden completed 9 of 11 passes for 97 yards, two touchdown and no interceptions for a 143.0 passer rating.
“As far as efficiency, as far as a unit going up and down the field the two drives I was in, I think that was something to get pretty excited about,” Weeden said. “The guys around me made a bunch of plays and the offensive line played extremely well. I haven’t played in a year. The first few throws, you got some juice and you settle down a little bit. I expect to go out there and move the offense.”
Both of his red-zone touchdown passes went to rookie tight end Jordan Akins, a 26-year-old former Texas Rangers minor league outfielder.
The third-round draft pick’s presence may stabilize a position in flux since the retirement of former starting tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz due to chronic concussions.
“He’s a big target who can run,” Weeden said. “He’s a good matchup on
some of those safeties. He creates a lot of separation. He had a big game.”
Meanwhile, Miller showed off the explosiveness and svelte physique he has regained since revamping his diet and training regimen.
Down to 217 pounds, his lightest weight since playing for the Miami Dolphins, the former Pro Bowl alternate looks much more explosive than last season when he averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry and ceased to be a breakaway threat.
Miller’s four carries included a 19-yard jaunt for a first down.
“I felt pretty good,” Miller said. “The offensive line gave me a crease and I just hit the hole and made a play.”
The Texans decided before the game to make it a night of rest for multiple key players.
Defensive end J.J. Watt,
outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus, nose tackle D.J. Reader, inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney, cornerback Johnathan Joseph, safety Tyrann Mathieu and wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller all didn’t play.
That meant the only activity, besides cheering on their teammates, was a long running session for exercise hours prior to kickoff.
The Texans used the opportunity to evaluate several younger players.
That included starting rookie outside linebacker Duke Ejiofor, a former Alief Taylor standout, and inside linebacker Dylan Cole.
Cole was particularly active as he deflected a pass intercepted by inside linebacker Zach Cunningham during the first half.
“He’s been good for us since he arrived here,”
O’Brien said of Cole. “He’s an undrafted guy, really good football player, loves the team, does whatever you ask him to do. He’s really what you’re looking for.”
The Texans’ backup front seven put a lot of pressure on new Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes completed 5 of 7 passes for 33 yards and was sacked once by backup defensive lineman Angelo Blackson.
O’Brien pleased
The Texans built a 17-7 halftime lead.
The only touchdown they surrendered was on a 24-yard pass from backup quarterback Chad Henn to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. Reserve cornerback Dee Virgin couldn’t catch up with Robinson on a go route as the receiver easily created separation behind him for the score.
With Mathieu held out as a precautionary measure, the Texans started rookie Justin Reid, the younger brother of former San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, next to converted corner Kareem Jackson at safety.
The Texans’ top draft pick, a third-round selection from Stanford, stumbled to the ground during the first series. He finished with one solo tackle.
Overall, it was a solid performance by the Texans.
“I thought for the first time out, it was pretty good,” O’Brien said. “Have some fun, this is what you practice for. It’s important to go out there and have some fun, be enthusiastic and celebrate your teammates when they make big plays.”