Night off for Watt, Wilfork

Several Texans players didn’t play Saturday, including defensive end J.J. Watt, for precautionary reasons.

In addition to outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who was activated Monday from the physically unable to perform list and is being eased back into full-team drills, offensive guard Xavier Su’a-Filo remains out with a soft-tissue injury in his foot-ankle.

The Texans rested Watt, nose tackle Vince Wilfork and cornerback Johnathan Joseph for the second consecutive week, operating under the cautious approach that there’s little to nothing for them to prove in a relatively meaningless preseason game. None of the players has an injury.

Inside linebacker Akeem Dent was activated from the physically unable to perform list Monday and also missed the game.

Meanwhile, defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan is out after missing time this week with an undisclosed injury.

Safeties Lonnie Ballentine has a chronic hamstring injury and didn’t play along with safety Terrance Parks, tight end Anthony Denham, linebacker Jeff Tarpinian and rookie linebacker Reshard Cliett, who has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will eventually be placed on injured reserve.

Also sidelined was Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster, who had groin surgery and is slated to miss at least a portion of the regular season.