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| Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs |
The time has finally come for Houston Texans fans to get a sneak peek at their team. The Texans will play their preseason home opener at NRG Stadium on Saturday against the New York Giants.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans did not give an exact amount of time or series for the starters to play. Still, he alluded to a significant number of reps during his media availability session this past Thursday.
Here are a few things you should watch for during Saturday’s game:
The Band Is Back Together
Saturday’s game will mark the debut of the Texans’ starting offensive line, which includes the return of left tackle Laremy Tunsil and right tackle Tytus Howard. Both players did not play in the preseason games against the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers.
It will also be the first time Tunsil and right guard Kenyon Green have played next to each other since Green’s rookie season in 2022, after he missed last season with a shoulder injury. Also, keep an eye on the chemistry between Green and second-year center Juice Scruggs, who missed his first 11 games during his rookie campaign with a hamstring injury.
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| Texans rookie CB Kamari Lassiter |
Lassiter Ready For Action
After missing the first two preseason games, rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter will finally get to show why his head coach, DeMeco Ryans, has been sending him compliments throughout training camp. Lassiter missed the first preseason game against the Chicago Bears because Ryans decided not to play any starters. He was unavailable against the Pittsburgh Steelers as he dealt with a lower leg injury.
The two-time National Champion at the University of Georgia will be well prepared to play against the Giants wide receivers as he practices against some of the league’s best every day in Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell.
“I learn a lot every day,” Lassiter said earlier in camp. “Every day, I learn something new from them. I’m trying to soak up knowledge from them. After practice, I’m getting game from them, talking about our reps, what I can do better, what they’re thinking in the middle of a rep. So, I am just going against guys, vets like that, guys who are really good at what they do; it’s just making me a lot better every day.”
Just Keep Running
Houston needs to establish the run early and often. While the passing game will be on display, the Texans must dominate time of possession, and that can only be done with an efficient running game that has been anything but that in the last two outings, rushing for a measly 134 yards on 48 carries. Hopefully, that will change with the entire offensive line back in the lineup.
“They all do a good job of creating what they can with what we give them, and all of our backs are explosive in their own ways, and they all make plays," said guard Shaq Mason
According to reports, Houston may be without backup quarterback Davis Mills as he recovers from sore ribs sustained in the game against the Steelers last week.
