Tight end Brevin Jordan caught a touchdown pass from backup Kyle Allen during red-zone drills. Jordan, heading into his second NFL season, is poised for a larger role in the offense.
Jordan caught 20 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns after being drafted in the fifth round last year out of the University of Miami.
“I love what he did in year one of being a young football player," Lovie Smith said. "He's listed as a tight end, but he can play in-line, he can move out. It's a tough matchup because he has big wide receiver skills. Just another weapon that we have to be able to use."
Texans injury updates
Texans rookie offensive guard Kenyon Green didn't practice Friday due to a knee injury. He is expected to return soon, but the team is being cautious with him after he underwent surgery on his knee this offseaosn.
The first-round draft pick from Texas A&M, 15th overall selection and former Atascosita star has been plugged in as the starting left offensive guard lining up next to Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
“A part of getting ready for a season is injuries are going to happen," Texans coach Lovie Smith said. "You're going to be out for a period of time. You get as much mental work as you can. You rehab your injury.
"We like everything Kenyon Green has done. As you can see, he's been working with the ones some. He's a big, athletic man that's going to help us win a lot of games. Again, it's nothing serious. He'll eventually be back out there.”
Green was signed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $15.9 million contract that includes a fifth-year club option. A former consensus All-American and All-Southeastern Conference selection, Green is a former Houston Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year.
“The rook is doing pretty good," Texans right tackle Tytus Howard said. "I think Kenyon is doing a pretty good job of when he was not in the ones, watching what he needs to be able to do to keep up with the ones. Today, he stepped up and did a pretty good job and only going to improve from now on.”A former All-SEC Freshman selection at right guard, Green moved to left guard in 2020 and started every game. He was named a second-team All-American and second-team all-SEC selection. Green was a finalist for the Lombardi Award last season.
Tight end Antony Auclair remains sidelined with a right knee injury.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo didn't practice Friday.
Defensive end Jordan Jenkins remains on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury.
Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett is fully recovery from an injury that sidelined him for over a week.
“Of some of the things that needed to happen, that's one of them," Smith said. "Phillip has missed a lot of time. He's a part of what we want to do. He brings a skill set, quickness, make you miss in the open field. It's good to get him back out there. He's back in the mix now.”
Quick hits
Texans rookie cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has been taking his turn as a punt return and looks comfortable catching punts.
Rockets coach Stephen Silas visited practice, talking with Lovie Smith for a while and trading coaching notes.
“It's very special," Smith said. "Stephen doing a great job. I'm a big basketball fan. I see what he's doing with our Rockets. A young football team developing, a lot of great young talent, can't wait to see them play next year. He's H-town like we are, so it's good for us to compare notes but good to see him at practice.”
Neville Hewitt is a hard-hitting linebacker with a penchant for forcing fumbles. He's the backup to defensive captain Christian Kirksey.
“I love everything he's done since he got here," Smith said. "He knows his role. He's going to back up Christian Kirksey. As you watch practice just about every day he's out there, he's one of the guys that's bought into -- defensive football is like getting the ball back. You see him punch it. It seems like he's punched the ball out just about every day, but he's a valuable backup for us."
Aaron Wilson is a Pro Football Network reporter and analyst and a contributor to Sports Talk 790.