HOUSTON – There really isn’t a lot of mystery involved in how the Texans will line up Thursday night in the Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears.
The Texans plan to hold their starters out of this extra preseason game, just as the Bears are planning to in Canton. Ohio
That includes Pro Bowl quarterback and former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. The Texans are expected to start backup quarterback Davis Mills against the Bears, who are starting backup Travis Bagent with top overall pick and former USC star quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams’ NFL debut put on hold.
It’s a smart move, considering the potential risk of getting key players hurt at this early stage of the preseason. The Texans are expected to emphasize their younger players and veterans battling for roster spots. The defending AFC South champions are likely to have some of their younger players like rookie safety Calen Bullock play in their first NFL game. Rookie corner Kamari Lassiter ranks first on the depth chart and is a slightly more debatable decision on whether he should see action or be held out.
“With this first preseason game being an extra game for us, we’re really looking to see most of our young guys get out and compete and see if they can take the things we’ve been teaching them daily from the field and take it and show up when the lights are on,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “That’s the main thing you’ll see in this first Hall of Fame game. You’ll see a lot of young guys, who are vying for a spot to make it in the NFL. It will be great to see those guys go out and compete.
“I’m excited about the extra game. I think it really helps us. Helps the younger guys who normally wouldn’t have gotten as many reps, so I think this fourth game really helps them this time around. If they take advantage of it and do it the right way, then they can get that first-game jitters out of the way. It’s an honor for us to be playing in this game.”
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Ryans declined to specify any of his specific personnel plans. It’s obvious what the Texans will do, though.
“You guys will all see who plays on Thursday,” Ryans said. “I’m not going through a list of who’s playing, who’s not playing. I’m not going through that list. You guys will see on Thursday who steps out there.”
The Texans will be evaluating several rookies, including second-round offensive tackle Blake Fisher starting on the left side with Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil still not practicing after undergoing offseason arthroscopic knee surgery as well as running back Jahwar Jordan, tight end Cade Stover, linebacker Jamal Hill, defensive tackle Marcus Harris, defensive end Solomon Byrd and running back British Brooks.
“I’m excited,” said Bullock, a third-round draft pick from USC. “This day is coming up and now it’s the first game of the preseason. Get to go out there in front of everybody. I know everybody is going to be watching. Football is back, so I can’t wait.”
A former starting quarterback and third-round selection from Stanford, Mills was replaced last season by Stroud. Mills has completed 62.8 percent of his career throws for 5,955 yards, 35 touchdowns and 25 interceptions for an 83.0 passer rating. He played in six games last season with no starts and passed for 173 yards on 18 of 39 accuracy for two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“We haven’t been told any of our playing time,” Mills said. “I’ll be ready if my number is called. Been putting in a lot of really good work with our players. When I get my chance to go out there and perform, I’m ready and showcase all the guys around me. It’s going to be fun.”
Mills has made stride as a passer and in his knowledge of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense.
“It’s been great,” he said. “Just continually building the chemistry that carried on from last season. It’s been a lot of fun really kind of taking the offense that they installed to us and then being able to make our own and all kind of be different players within the same scheme and really just being able to facilitate the balls out to playmakers and let those guys make a lot of plays out in space.”
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NOTES: Several players didn’t practice Tuesday and won’t play in the Hall of Fame game. That includes Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil (offseason arthroscopic knee surgery), fullback Andrew Beck (calf strain), running back Joe Mixon (soft-tissue injury), linebacker Christian Harris (soft-tissue injury). Noah Brown didn’t practice and was wearing a red shirt. Beck worked out on the side after being activated Monday from the physically unable to perform list. He’s able to run and is being eased back into drills. Cornerback C.J. Henderson returned to practice from an ankle injury and his workload is being monitored. ... Ryans isn’t satisfied yet with where the Texans are on any side of the football or the kicking game. “Every phase, offense, defense, special teams, we have a lot to improve on,” Ryans said. “We’re not where we want to be right now at this point in camp. No team is, right? It’s a grind and it’s a process of continuing to work to earn the right to be a good football team and we’re continuing to earn that right daily and we have a lot of things to improve on offense, defense and special teams. I think the mindset is there for our guys and we’re heading in the right direction. We just have to keep stacking reps, stacking days and continue to get better.”