O’Brien will keep tinkering with secondary

The Texans’ secondary remains in a state of flux heading into Sunday’s game against Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Exposed by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his talented receiving corps in a season-opening loss, the Texans’ overhauled secondary allowed three touchdown passes with just two passes defensed.

With Gareon Conley on injured reserve after offseason ankle surgery and not eligible to return for another two weeks, the Texans opted to go with Vernon Hargreaves as the starting cornerback opposite Bradley Roby in Kansas City.

Hargreaves allowed one touchdown pass to Sammy Watkins while playing 44 snaps (64 percent) overall. Watkins finished with seven catches for 82 yards. Roby gave up a touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill.

The changes are expected to keep coming for the Texans, according to coach and general manager Bill O’Brien.

“We’ll be week to week pretty much the whole year when it comes to the secondary,” O’Brien said Wednesday during a Zoom video call.

Hargreaves played ahead of Lonnie Johnson Jr., an imposing former second-round draft pick from Kentucky who had been expected to have an increased role in his second NFL season. Johnson had been dealing with a hip injury, but he played extensively in the second half and appeared in 29 snaps (42 percent).

Johnson isn’t listed on the latest injury report, though, and is expected to have an increased role against the Ravens. Because of Johnson’s size, speed and aggressiveness, he has the ability to play a potential hybrid cornersafety

role.

“There were some injuries involved there, so we felt like that was the best lineup for that week,” O’Brien said when asked about Johnson. “We feel like we’re healthier this week. Don’t really want to get into all the specifics there, but it’s obviously week to week for us.”

Rookie corner John Reid was the primary nickel and was fairly effective in his first NFL game. Reid played 32 snaps. The

Texans used a lot of three safety alignments with starters Justin Reid and Eric Murray playing the entire game, and dime A .J . Moore, who allowed a touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce, playing 26 snaps.

Injured Warring could return

Texans reserve tight end Kahale Warring could return this season, according to Bill O’Brien.

Warring was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with undisclosed injuries, but he can be designated for return in three weeks.

Warring had a hamstring injury during training camp that sidelined him for several practices. A former third-round draft pick from San Diego State, Warring spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a concussion sustained during the preseason in a joint practice with the Packers.

Duke Johnson back at practice

Running back Duke Johnson practiced on a limited basis Wednesday despite a sprained left ankle suffered against the Chiefs.

Johnson is regarded as week to week because of his injury and hasn’t been ruled out yet for Sunday as the Texans gauge how his ankle responds, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

The Texans will lean heavily on starter David Johnson, who rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Audition time for receivers

The Texans are working out former Cowboys wide receivers Dwayne Harris and Devin Smith, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.

Harris is a former sixthround draft pick from East Carolina. He has also played for the Giants and Raiders.

Harris has 77 career receptions for 874 yards and eight touchdowns with five returns for touchdowns on special teams.

The Steelers signed offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins off of the Texans’ practice squad.