Team is just playing it safe with healthy Watt

Texans coach Bill O’Brien reiterated that defensive end J. J. Watt is healthy and the team is simply being cautious with him to preserve him heading into the regular season.

Watt has not practiced since last Friday, the Texans’ first day in full pads. There was no apparent injury. Watt worked on the side away from his teammates on Thursday.

“He’s doing fine,” O’Brien said twice. “He’s played a lot of football and he knows how to play football. What’s important for him and for us is that he’s in great condition and that he’s ready to go on September 10 (against Kansas City). His rampup is different than anyone else’s, and I could say the same thing about Will Fuller or Brandin Cooks. Everybody’s ramp up is a little bit unique. I just wouldn’t read too much into that moving forward. I really wouldn’t.”

Cornerbacks Gareon Conley (offseason ankle surgery) and Phillip Gaines didn’t practice again Thursday. Gaines spent last season on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

Wide receiver Keke Coutee, who has had a good camp after dealing with injuries the past two seasons, didn’t practice.

Tight end Jordan Thomas appeared to injure his wrist, but he continued practicing. Fullback Cullen Gillaspia (hamstring) didn’t practice again and worked on the side.

Full-scale scrimmages not planned this year

The Texans aren’t planning to conduct full-scale scrimmages. Instead, they will have a lot of full-team drills to simulate game conditions as much as possible.

Bill O’Brien indicated that he has no intentions of a physical scrimmage that might approach the type of contact players engage in during a game. There are no preseason games this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re not having that,” O’Brien said. “That wouldn’t do us any good.”

O’Brien said he regards Thursday’s practice as a scrimmage, with another one currently planned on Aug. 27.

“We have to see where we are from an injury standpoint,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien acknowledged how difficult for players to climb the depth chart without having a preseason game.

“I think it’s hard,” he said. “You’re going off of practice. That’s why you make this one a full-speed practice. It’s not live, but I just think it’s hard without preseason for an undrafted guy or for a rookie to come in there and really show me something.”

Tight end Akins shows versatility

The Texans envision a versatile role for tight end Jordan Akins that capitalizes on his mobility and pass-catching skills.

And the former Texas Rangers minor league baseball player has delivered a strong performance.

Akins caught two touchdown passes Thursday, going across the middle to provide an inviting target for quarterback A.J. McCarron.

Akins caught 36 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns last season, lining up as both a traditional in-line tight end and in the slot.

Ex-UH punter among players working out

The Texans are working out former University of Houston punter Dane Roy, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.

Roy and six other players are in town for COVID-19 testing in advance of a Saturday audition.

The Australia native was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award last season and named first-team all-conference. He averaged 46.9 yards per punt, setting a singleseason school record.

The Texans are also going to work out veteran linebacker Daren Bates, running back Tyler Gaffney, long snappers Carson Tinker, Anthony Kukwa (who was released at the start of training camp) and Andrew DePaola, and linebacker Christian Kunz.

“It’s different than it has been in the past for obvious reasons,” Bill O’Brien said. “It’s the same for every team. That’s the beauty of the NFL. Every team is working under the same rules, but it’s definitely a challenge.”