Tag: Hall of Fame Game

Is Texans UDFA LB Max Tooley a lock to make final 53-man roster?

Max Tooley, who graded out by Pro Football Focus as the Houston Texans’ highest-rated player on Thursday night, might have a case of making the final 53-man roster.

The Houston Texans have 90 players fighting for 53 spots on the active roster. Each position differs in the amount of talent needed to be successful.

At linebacker, the Texans often carry five or depending on how they factor in on special teams. Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris and Henry To’oTo’o seem like locks to make the roster. Special teams tackling guru Neville Hewitt probably has an inside track given his previous experience.

As for the last spot or two, BYU standout Max Tooley has gained ground over the past two weeks during the early stages of training camp. During Thursday’s 21-17 loss in the Hall of Fame game, the undrafted free agent recorded two tackles and one pressure against Bears quarterback Brett Rypien.

Usually, one undrafted free agent makes the roster since they shine in the preseason. According to Bleacher Report, Tooley has the best chance among those in Houston entering August.

“Being a bottom-of-the-depth-chart linebacker in the league usually entails playing just about everywhere on special teams,” BR’s Alex Ballentine writes. “At 6’2″ and 225 pounds with a reasonable 4.58-second 40-yard dash, Tooley should be able to contribute in that department. Tooley also had solid ball production for a linebacker at BYU with seven career interceptions and eight pass breakups. He’s already earned a shoutout from veteran safety Jimmie Ward for the skills he’s shown in camp. It doesn’t hurt that his primary competition for a roster spot might come from fellow rookie Jamal Hill, who was only a sixth-round pick.”

Should Tooley only improve throughout the rest of training camp, he could build a solid case to be included on the final 53-man squad. He’ll have competition with Jacob Phillips and Hill, plus fellow UDFA Tarique Barnes.

Ryans praised Phillips on Friday for his attentiveness in practice after coming off back-to-back season-ending injuries. The former third-round pick by Cleveland was expected to be a star before a pectoral injury sidelined him for all of the 2023 season.

“Jacob has continued to improve, continued to show and compete,” Ryans said. “It’s a competition, right, so we have a lot of guys in that linebacker room. Jacob has continued to show the improvement, continued to show playing our style of play, playing fast, playing physical, playing relentless so just want to continue to see those improvements from him.”

Texans RB Cam Akers proves there’s something left in the tank during Hall of Fame game

While the Houston Texans lost on Thursday night, Cam Akers’ stock won big in Canton, Ohio.

A simple play was enough to get the sidelines talking in Canton, Ohio on Thursday night and it perhaps caught more than the attention of Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.

During the second quarter of the Hall of Fame game, veteran quarterback Case Keenum took a botched snap and looked for his nearest target. Cam Akers waited in the flats to take whatever was flung his way.

From there, Akers had a choice: win with power or elusiveness. He chose the latter, spinning inside to make a pair of Chicago Bears defenders miss while picking a gain of 14.

Social media was in a blaze. Stroud, the Texans’ franchise quarterback, was ecstatic on the sideline, hyping up his running back to keep a good thing going on the drive.

He did. Akers found the end zone three plays later on a 4-yard pass from Keenum to extend Houston’s lead to 10. And while the Texans fell short in a 21-17 loss against Chicago to kick off the preseason, Akers didn’t.

He was the Texans’ biggest winner.

“Cam made a couple of nice plays that everybody saw, the plays that Cam made running the football and also with the receiving touchdown,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Cam has a very savvy way of slipping off of tacklers, making plays so I like where Cam was tonight and he showed some playmaking ability, which he has shown in the past.”

A former 2020 second-round pick, Akers finished with 31 yards of offense on eight touches and scored a touchdown. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry and picked three first downs.

When healthy, Akers has been a sturdy option on the ground for the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings. Of course, health has been a significant issue, given that he’s torn his Achilles twice since being drafted out of Florida State.

The Texans knew when they signed him to a one-year deal this offseason. Through two weeks of practice, Akers seems to have left the injury bug in Minneapolis and Los Angeles.

“I’ve been doing that since I’ve been training with these guys, reminding myself, ‘You’re still you. You still have the same abilities after two Achilles injuries,’” Akers said. “And tonight, I think it showed. It came full circle, and I want to keep doing it. I don’t want it to be a one-time thing.”

Houston, which struggled to move the ball on the ground last season behind Stroud’s offensive showcase, tried to elevate its ground game this offseason by trading for Joe Mixon and drafting Jahwar Jordan.

The Texans also see potential in third-year running back Dameon Pierce, who didn’t play on Thursday night to make room for others.

But Akers, who elected to sign with Houston over Minnesota, might factor into the equation in the running back room. He wanted to be a Texan after training this offseason in Houston. He believes there’s a foundation strong enough to win more than a division title.

“I feel like I was just walking into a winning team,” Akers said. “I just want to keep it going and do my part to keep us winning, whether it’s motivating, making plays, whatever I got to do. I just want to be that guy.”

The Texans will practice for three days in Cleveland before traveling to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers next Friday night.

Ex-Broncos QB Brett Rypien shines in NFL’s Hall of Fame Game

Former Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien threw three touchdown passes in the Hall of Fame Game with the Bears on Thursday night.

Former Denver Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien stole the spotlight in the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Thursday evening.

Now playing for the Chicago Bears, Rypien went 11-of-15 passing for 166 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Houston Texans. Rypien also rushed once for nine yards.

Because it’s an extra preseason game, the Bears did not play most of their regular starters, including first overall draft pick Caleb Williams. Instead, Chicago had a three-QB rotation of Rypien, Tyson Bagent and Austin Reed.

Rypien, 28, was a backup with the Broncos from 2019-2022. He went 2-1 as a fill-in starter in three games during his time in Denver. Rypien spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets in 2023 before joining the Bears this spring.

Brett Rypien Hall of Fame Game Highlights

The Texans also had a solid performance from a former Broncos quarterback on Thursday night as Case Keenum went 7-of-9 passing for 102 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Keenum went 6-10 as a starter in Denver in 2018.

Thursday’s game between Chicago and Houston was terminated in the third quarter due to weather. The Bears led 21-17 when the game was paused and Chicago was credited with a win, marking the first victory of preseason.

The Broncos, meanwhile, continue training camp this week with Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix competing to win the starting quarterback job.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Texans TE Teagan Quitoriano carted off in Hall of Fame Game

Teagan Quitoriano was one of three Houston Texans players to leave early during Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game.

The Houston Texans might be down an offensive weapon heading into next week’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tight end Teagan Quitoriano was carted off the field Thursday night during the second quarter of the Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears. He did not return before suspended play due to severe weather conditions.

According to KPRC 2 Sports, Quitoriano is being evaluated for a lower-body injury.

Quitoriano, a 2022 sixth-round pick out of Oregon State, seemed poised for a promising night in Canton, Ohio as the starting tight end for the offense. During the opening drive, he caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Davis Mills to give Houston an early 7-0 lead.

He finished with two receptions for 21 yards on two targets before he got hurt.

While Quitoriano was the only player carted off, two other Texans left the game early due to injury. Linebacker Jake Hansen headed to the locker room after being evaluated in the blue medical tent before halftime and did not return.

Defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. took a knee to his head at the start of the third quarter and went to the locker room with trainers without his helmet. He also did not return before the game ceased play.

All three players are trying to make the roster and are mostly expected to find a role on special teams. With starters out, Thursday was the ideal night for them to see an expanded role in playing time.

Texans Wire will keep you updated on the status of all three players and the return of Thursday night’s game.

Bears top rookies sit out Hall of Fame game

Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze aren’t playing for the Bears in the Hall of Fame game.

If you tuned into the Hall of Fame game to get your first look at Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, you will be disappointed.

Both players dressed for the game and went through pregame warmups but neither player saw the field in the first half and won’t be playing at all. Instead, Brett Rypien got the start for Chicago.

The Bears went all-in on Williams in the 2024 NFL draft. After using the No. 11 overall pick on Justin Fields in 2021, the Bears traded Fields away to the Pittsburgh Steelers and committed fully to Williams as their quarterback of the future.

The Bears then used their second first-round pick on former Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. This gave the Bears a potent one-two punch for the future. Hopefully we will get the NFL debut of Williams and Odunze in the Bears second preseason game when they travel to Buffalo and take on the Bills on August 10.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Texans rookie CB Kamari Lassiter will not play in Hall of Fame Game

Fans of the Houston Texans will have to wait at least one more week to see rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter in action.

Kamari Lassiter has been one of the top standouts since the start of offseason workouts. He’s been so consistent that he’ll have time to rest before returning to practice next week. 

According to KPRC 2 Sports, Lassiter will not play Thursday night in the Hall of Fame against the Chicago Bears. The second-round pick will rest with a majority of starters heading into next week’s preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

While Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said that rookies would see extensive playing time against the Bears, he also told SportsRadio 610 that starters would not be active since the team still would have three more preseason games. 

“When I look at the decision-making process of who’s playing, first thing’s first is we have an extra [preseason] game,” Ryans told Texans’ play-by-play announcer Mark Vandermeer. “So, [we] don’t want any of our starters out there playing.” 

Going off Ryans’ comments, it would appear that Lassiter has all but earned the starting No. 2 cornerback spot opposite Derek Stingley Jr. The former Georgia product was expected to compete for starting reps at the nickel position, but blossomed in the early stages of OTAs. 

So far during training camp, Lassiter has worked exclusively on the boundary with the first-team defense and thrived in man coverage. He’s garnered praise from Ryans and veteran receivers for his attention to detail and physical demeanor.

“[He’s] definitely the best young DB I’ve seen coming out of college that I’ve had the chance to go against,” receiver Noah Brown said following Monday’s practice. “He’s very sticky in coverage, very confident in his ability and I think if he keeps on the pace that he’s at, he could have an elite rookie season and an elite career.”

Lassiter, the No. 42 overall pick, shined as a starter during his three seasons at Georgia. During his final year in Athens, he held opposing quarterbacks to a  38.5 percent completion rate, the lowest among SEC defenders and fourth-lowest among FBS cornerbacks.

“He’s not scared to stand up there at the line with you,” Brown said. “He’s not backpedaling out early. He’s trying to get hands on. He’s confident in his ability and you can tell through his play.”

Kickoff from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

Hall of Fame Game: Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Houston Texans at Chicago Bears odds and lines, with expert NFL picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

The Houston Texans battle the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday to officially kick off the NFL preseason. Kickoff from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Texans vs. Bears odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.

The Texans finished last season atop the AFC South with a 10-7 record. They demolished the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round before finding the same fate in a divisional round loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Houston’s offseason was marked by the acquisitions of WR Stefon Diggs and RB Joe Mixon to beef up the offense surrounding 2nd-year QB C.J. Stroud.

Chicago finished tied for last place in the NFC North at 7-10 and missed the playoffs for the 3rd straoght year. It added QB Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and WR Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick. Outside of the draft, the Bears top offseason acquisition was another move to add to the offense with the addition of WR Keenan Allen.

FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS
Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+

Texans vs. Bears odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:46 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Texans -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Bears +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Texans  -1.5 (-110) | Bears +1.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 31.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Texans vs. Bears picks and predictions

Prediction

Texas 21, Bears 13

Moneyline

PASS.

The spread has better odds for the Texans in this matchup.

Against the spread

BET TEXANS -1.5 (-110).

While both sides have hinted that key players, including Stroud and Williams, will not see any action on Thursday, the Texans still hold the advantage. In a preseason game, we will get to see the minds of the head coaches, including DeMeco Ryans, who is entering his 2nd year after taking the Texans to the playoffs in his first season. He will be the difference maker on Thursday which will allow the Texans to win and cover the spread.

Over/Under

BET OVER 31.5 (-110).

While the starters on both sides will see minimal, if any, action, this is a low line. With new defensive schemes being added over the offseason and both teams seeing their first live action of the season on Thursday, expect struggles on both sides of the ball that will lead to more points. The HOF game has hit Over 31.5 points in back-to-back years and in 3 of the last 5 games played.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @seth_orlemann on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Access more NFL coverage:
BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1367]

How to watch and stream the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game

NFL preseason kicks off tonight with the Hall of Fame Game. Here’s how to watch and stream all the action.

The NFL’s 2024 preseason schedule kicks off today (Aug. 1) with the Hall of Fame Game featuring the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

The Hall of Fame Game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC and available to stream on fuboTV (try it free). Additionally, ESPN Deportes will televise a Spanish broadcast of the game. Kickoff between the Bears and Texans has been scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT).

Chicago is playing in the game after having Devin Hester, Steve McMichael and Julius Peppers reach the Hall of Fame as members of the 2024 class. Houston is playing in the game following Andre Johnson’s election.

The Hall of Fame Game kicks off preseason each summer as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s enshrinement week festivities. Members of this year’s class will be enshrined on Saturday, including former Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar. He will join the list of the greatest players in franchise history who have reached the Hall of Fame.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Chiefs legend Dante Hall ‘hyped’ for NFL’s new kickoff rules

Check out what Chiefs legend Dante Hall had to say about the NFL’s new kickoff rules, which will be seen in action for the first time on Thursday night.

The Kansas City Chiefs will have to adjust their approach on special teams in 2024 after the NFL changed its rules for kickoffs during the offseason.

In a video posted to Twitter by the league’s official account this week, Chiefs legend Dante Hall gave his take on the new “dynamic kickoff” which will be seen for the first time during Thursday’s Hall of Fame game between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans.

Take a look at what Hall had to say about the new rules, which were put in place to improve player safety and provide more excitement for players on special teams units:

Judging from the video, Hall is excited to see how the new procedures might change the dynamic of the game and thinks that the Chiefs may have a unique advantage on kickoffs with the speedy players that general manager Brett Veach brought in during the 2024 offseason.

Tune into Thursday night’s Hall of Fame game to see how the new rules play out.

Flashback: Titans punter electrifies in Hall of Fame Game

With the Hall of Fame Game kicking off on Thursday, we flashback to Tennessee Titans punter A.J. Trapasso’s fake punt and touchdown in 2009.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Game is always an exciting benchmark in the calendar year because it officially means that football is back.

In this year’s version, the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans will meet on Thursday to signal the beginning of the preseason schedule.

While Bears’ quarterback Caleb Williams is not expected to play on Thursday, the Tennessee Titans will get a look at the rookie in Week 1 of the regular season.

In terms of the Hall of Fame Game itself, the Titans had one of the more memorable moments back in 2009 when they went up against the Buffalo Bills.

Facing a fourth-and-10 at the Bills’ 41-yard line, Tennessee punter A.J. Trapasso simultaneously faked the punt while tucking the ball behind his back and took off downfield. Trapasso ran down the sideline untouched and into the endzone.

Check out the flashback here:

The Trapasso touchdown gave the Titans an early 7-0 lead and they were able to hang on, winning the game, 21-18.

[lawrence-related id=147674,147671,147667]