Nearing criticalmass for line dance
As the team plays its second preseason game and first of the season at NRG Stadium on Saturday night, here are five things to watch against the Detroit Lions:
Offensive line reboot 2.0 1
It feels like the Texans are approaching a critical time in their evaluation of their blocking situation. A rusty and healing Matt Kalil was their Plan A at left tackle, but the veteran has had an up-and-down training camp. Do the Texans stay the course with Kalil or do they need to shift over rookie Tytus Howard from left guard and reinsert Senio Kelemete as their left guard again? Arguably, their best five could be Howard at left tackle, Kelemete at left guard, center Nick Martin (when he returns as soon as next week from a strained hamstring suffered at the start of camp), Zach Fulton at right guard and Seantrel Henderson at right tackle. If Kalil, who recently got his foot stepped on and was limping through a rocky Wednesday practice and was held out Thursday, doesn't improve soon, the Texans will have no choice but to trigger yet another line shuffle before the season even starts. Howard, the Texans’ top draft pick this year, is the X-factor for a line that needed an influx of athleticism and toughness. How fast he progresses is pivotal to the team's outlook. Roderick Johnson stepped in for Kalil at practice, which raised some eyebrows. Johnson is a former Cleveland draft pick who is starting to realize the potential identified in him at Florida State. He could emerge as a reliable backup. Martinas Rankin needs to turn it on to make the team. He's quickly becoming forgotten at left guard.
Tight end by committee 2
There's a lot going on at tight end, a position complicated by health and consistency issues. Jordan Thomas is back from a hamstring injury that kept him out last week, but he has had shaky hands with too many redzone drops since he returned. The Texans need more consistency from him. Talented rookie Kalahe Warring remains under the NFL concussion protocol. Veteran Darren Fells has been solid throughout camp and Jerell Adams caught a touchdown last week. Jordan Akins has been the most consistent and also can play fullback and line up in the slot. The Texans probably will need an extensive committee approach at this position all year. Akins and Adams have both flashed skill throughout training camp and practiced every day.
CB’s learning curve 3
Hard-hitting rookie cornerback Lance Johnson Jr. allowed a touchdown pass in tight coverage in his NFL debut in Green Bay last week and got thrown out of practice by Bill O'Brien for overzealous contact that led to tempers boiling over. Johnson has a ton of upside and gives the Texans an element of size and speed they've lacked in the secondary for years. As Johnson continues to overcome the learning curve, the Texans are taking a patient approach with the former junior college transfer.
Undrafted rookie WR a deep threat 4
A former blue-chip recruit at LSU who transferred to Oklahoma State, Tyron Johnson is under serious consideration for a roster spot as an undrafted rookie receiver. It's reminiscent of how Vyncint Smith made the team a year ago. Johnson is a dangerous deep threat and caught a 44-yard pass from third quarterback Joe Webb last week. If the season started today, it would be hard to exclude Johnson from making the 53-man roster.
Who's not playing? 5
The Texans are taking a cautious approach with playing key players during the preseason. That could mean no playing time or brief cameo appearances for Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Lamar Miller, J. J. Watt, Justin Reid and Johnathan Joseph. It wouldn't be a shock if Matt Kalil was unavailable, too. Several injured players are expected to miss the game, including center Nick Martin (hamstring), tight end Kahale Warring (concussion), wide receiver Keke Coutee (sprained ankle), center Greg Mancz (ankle), quarterback A. J. McCarron (thumb), cornerback Jermaine Kelly (quadriceps), cornerback Deante Burton (leg), cornerback Xavier Crawford and nose tackle D. J. Reader. With Watson not expected to play much, look for a continuation of the Joe Webb Show that aired last week at Lambeau Field.