Rookie CB Johnson gets time to cool his jets
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Texans rookie cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. delivered a punishing hit to Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Jace Sternberger on Monday, separating the former Texas A&M player from his helmet.
When Johnson celebrated the collision by flexing his muscles, the Green Bay became irate and went after him in a dust-up that got resolved nearly as soon as it escalated.
Minutes later, Johnson was booted from the remainder of practice by Texans coach Bill O’Brien when the 6-2, 213-pound second-round draft pick plowed over the Packers’ Trevor Davis.
Although Sternberger was unhurt, O’Brien had seen enough and honored an agreement with Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur.
“That’s between me and Lonnie, it’s not a big deal,” O’Brien said. “It’s just a play that developed over there, and it was time for Lonnie to head to the showers.”
Johnson addressed the incident on social media.
“Not trying to hurt nobody, just wanna be great,” Johnson wrote, adding a praying emoji and two exclamation points.
Sternberger downplayed the situation.
“It’s football,” Sternerger said. “I’m fine. It was more that I got the wind knocked out of me. The whole flexing part, I guess that’s why my teammates were so upset. Everybody’s playing aggressive and intense, so that’s a good thing.”
Fellow Green Bay tight end Jimmy Graham was upsetabout what happened and was critical of Johnson’s practice etiquette.
“Honestly, it’s kind of ridiculous by ’32,’ ” Graham said. “Obviously, he’s a rookie, and he needs to know you can’t be hitting guys live in practice. That’s absolutely ridiculous. And we’re not going to stand for that here. I know his older guys over there are going to be on him about it because my young guy’s just running through a zone.
“Just run by him, we know you’re going to blow him up in a game. We’re going to play on Thursday. You can do that then. It’s one of those things, rookie on rookie, but ‘32’ has to chill out.”
LaFleur expressed disappointment with his players’ reaction, and he addressed what happened with O’Brien.
“I thought there was no place for that,” he said. “We addressed it. It’s an unfortunate deal because I was pretty clear with our guys we’re not doing that stuff.”
Watt breaks bike, then injures groin
Texansdefensive end J.J. Watt had a bumpy homecoming to his native Wisconsin.
Watt broke the seat onn a child’s bicycleduring the traditional ride to practice when it could not support his 6-5, 290-pound frame.
Then he injured his groin and was not able to finish the joint practice with the Packers. He is expected to be sidelined Tuesday and also be held out Thursday night during a preseason game at Lambeau Field.
The injury is not considered serious.
“Yeah, it’s all just precautionary,” Watt said. “The groin tightened up a little bit. Rather than try to push through and do some damage to it, I shut it down. I’ve gotten smarter as I’ve gotten older.”
Watt is utilized sparingly during the preseason, even when he is healthy.
As for the young boy’s bike, the Texans purchased a replacement for him.
“It was pretty awesome until I broke the bike,” Watt said. “The bike that I was using was not equipped for a 290-pound man, and the seat broke off. So, I apologize for that.
“It’s one of the coolest traditions. Growing up here, I know how special it is to get to interact with a player from the Green Bay Packers as a kid growing up in Wisconsin. Those are the memories that those kids are going to have for a lifetime.”
Odds and ends
Texans rookie tight end Kahale Warring had his best practice since returning from a strained hamstring that sidelined him for a week of training camp. The third-round draft pick from San Diego State caught a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone delivered by backup A.J. McCarron .… Texans rookie offensive lineman Tytus Howard ,a first-round draft pick from Alabama State, returned to practice in a major way. After missing the previous few days of practice with a minor knee injury, Howard dominated the Packers’ defensive linemen and knocked a few of them to the ground during blocking drills. “I think some of that was a little bit precautionary,” Bill O’Brien said. “He got rolled up on in a previous practice, so we just wanted to monitor him coming back. It was good to see him back out there.” … Tight end Jordan Thomas and center Nick Martin (hamstrings) did not practice along with return specialist DeAndre Carter and cornerback Jermaine Kelly. Carter is expected back soon from an undisclosed injury.