Texans will have crucial litmus test ahead of 2023 season
With OTAs now well underway, we are just a couple of short months away from real NFL football. The summer months are spent preparing for the upcoming season and whittling the roster down to just 53 players. The Texans have already gone through three OTAs, with more scheduled for this week. Mandatory minicamp will take […]
With OTAs now well underway, we are just a couple of short months away from real NFL football.
The summer months are spent preparing for the upcoming season and whittling the roster down to just 53 players. The Texans have already gone through three OTAs, with more scheduled for this week. Mandatory minicamp will take place on June 13 & 14.
First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans also announced that the team will reinstitute joint practices this summer.
Per NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Texans will participate in joint practices with the Saints in New Orleans and with the Dolphins in New Orleans. The Texans will square off against the Saints in the pre-season and in Week 6 of the regular season. The Dolphins will be in Houston for a pre-season game.
The idea of joint practices was common during the Bill O'Brien era in Houston. Those teams had joint practices with the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions.
Joint practices are designed to give teams an idea of how they match up with opponents. After months of non-contact and only facing off against teammates, most players welcome going against opposing teams.
It is interesting to see the Saints agree to joint practices since the two teams will play in the regular season. Obviously, most coaches are not going to want to showcase much, but there could still be a valuable scouting opportunity for Ryans and staff.
The joint practices with the Dolphins will provide the Texans' secondary an opportunity to prove themselves against two of the fastest receivers in the league in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Featured image via © Thomas Shea | 2023 May 12
