The Houston Texans have a challenging situation in training camp at tight end.
Starters Jordan Akins and Darren Fells are excellent and have defined roles in the offense. Third-year Jordan Thomas is battling for snaps, as is second-year Kahale Warring, who was injured his entire rookie year. Then, there is undrafted rookie Dylan Stapleton chomping at Thomas and Warring’s heels.
The Texans will have tough decisions to make at the end of training camp when they trim their roster down to 53 men, and Warring isn’t going to make it easy on them.
“He’s improved,” coach and general manager Bill O’Brien said. “He’s in a battle, though. He’s a great guy. He works really hard. He’s still a young player. He’s got a lot of talent. He had a good practice last week, I think. He’s working really hard to get better and he’s right in the mix.
“We’re working hard with him and we want him to succeed.”
Tight ends coach Will Lawing has worked with Warring and the rest of the group to elevate their play as they will become integral parts of an offense designed to give quarterback Deshaun Watson the best option available, not find ways to give the best receiver in the game the ball.
“That’s a competitive position,” O’Brien said. “You’ve got guys there that have played a lot of football in Fells and Akins, and then Jordan Thomas and Kahale are coming off of injury last year. Dylan Stapleton, coming out of James Madison, he’s doing a good job, so it’s a competitive position.”
The Texans especially hope Warring succeeds because they gave up a premium selection to take him in 2019. At 6-5, 250 pounds, Warring presents a big, athletic target in the passing game. If Warring is able to see the field and play at a high level, the tight end position will be upgraded.
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