Tag: NFL preseason Week 1

WATCH: Texans RB Scottie Phillips scores 5-yard touchdown against the Packers

Houston Texans running back Scottie Phillips scored a 5-yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter of their preseason bout.

Scottie Phillips didn’t have very many chances in 2020.

The undrafted free agent from Ole Miss caught on with the Houston Texans, but the impacts of COVID-19 nixed the Texans’ offseason program and the preseason, which is where he would have had hit shot at demonstrating his potential.

With the preseason back, at least for three games in 2021, Phillips showed what he had.

Phillips bowled his way through Green Bay Packers defenders to score a 5-yard touchdown Saturday night at Lambeau Field.

The touchdown moved the Texans’ ahead 10-7 past the Packers in the second quarter. The score also showed what Phillips can do inside the 10-yard line.

Report: Texans GM Nick Caserio in communication with coaches from press box

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio will be wearing a headset from the press box in the team’s preseason opener at the Green Bay Packers.

The Houston Texans are doing it their way.

According to a report from John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans will have general manager Nick Caserio on a headset atop the press box inside the coaches booth. The setup is similar to what Caserio had when he was the director of player personnel with the New England Patriots.

Just as Caserio was in communication with coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, so will Caserio be in communication with Texans coach David Culley and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

Caserio does have a coaching background. In 2002, he was an offensive assistant with the Patriots and in 2007 was their receivers coach when New England went 17-0 in the regular season.

Texans LB Christian Kirksey looking forward to the Packers after ‘long training camp’

Houston Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey says he looking forward to playing the Green Bay Packers, his old team, just to play actual competition.

Christian Kirksey is entering his eighth NFL season and his seventh preseason when the Houston Texans take on the Green Bay Packers Saturday night at Lambeau Field.

For the former Cleveland Brown and Packer, Kirksey still relishes getting preseason snaps, even if they are limited and the outcome of the game doesn’t count.

“When you have a long training camp, going up against the same guys, especially the teammates, you want to go out and compete with other guys around the league,” Kirksey said. “Keeping score, whenever you’re keeping score, it’s always going out to try to win. It’s always exciting for the preseason.”

Kirksey collected 77 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, and four pass breakups through 11 games, all of which he started in his lone season in Green Bay last year.

Preseason affords veterans, including Kirksey, the chance to prepare for an actual game, which is beneficial because success at the pro level is in the preparation.

“\You’re sharpening up your tools and seeing what you got and putting everything together and actually going out and showcasing it and seeing where you are as a team,” said Kirksey.

The last time Kirksey played in the preseason was in 2019 when there were four games. The NFL reduced the number to just three for 2021, but the number of contests isn’t as significant to Kirksey as it is the quality of work on the field.

Said Kirksey: “Me personally, I look at it the same way, whether it’s three or four. It’s all the same approach. I don’t think it’s more valuable or less valuable. It’s just another game to go out there and fine tune everything and get ready for the regular season.”

The Texans will also see the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this year’s three-game preseason slate.

4 position battles to watch in Texans’ preseason opener vs. Packers

The Houston Texans kickoff the preseason with the Green Bay Packers. Here are four position battles to watch during the exhibition opener.

The Houston Texans have turned over their roster throughout the 2021 offseason.

On June 14, general manager Nick Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] that the turnover with the roster is just par for the course with the NFL.

“For the most part you can go to one extreme to the other. 25 to 30% of the team is going to be new anyway,” said Caserio. “So, again, what you try to do is look at what you’re dealing with right now with your team and each year is different. Each team is going to be different. We’ve added a number of new players to our team. I think that’s been talked about throughout the course of the spring. So, again, we just try to do what we felt was best for our situation. I think the one thing everyone understands is that no one is guaranteed anything. I think everybody is going to earn, whoever it is, is going to earn their role and job, whatever that is.”

Here are four positions where jobs will be competitive against the Green Bay Packers Saturday night.

6 Texans who need to show up against the Packers

The Houston Texans make their preseason debut against the Green Bay Packers. Here are six players who need to have good performances.

Houston sports fans will get a glimpse of what is in store for the 2021 Texans when they take the field Saturday night at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers.

The Texans are a staple at the bottom of everybody’s power rankings. Saturday night will fortify that preconceived notion or the edifice will start to crack.

Here are six players who need to have good performances against the Packers in order to give Texans fans optimism about the regular season. Keep in mind that it is commensurate upon playing time.

What is an acceptable level to judge David Culley in the Texans’ first preseason game?

Houston Texans coach David Culley will see his first NFL action as the boss on the sidelines. What is the proper way to evaluate his efforts?

David Culley is finally going to get his shot.

Albeit the shot will come during the Houston Texans’ preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, but it will nevertheless be the first time that Culley can show the world what an NFL team plays like under his command.

To this point, Culley has been the happy, consistent face of a rebuilding franchise. Even though he isn’t working with Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, or even DeAndre Hopkins, luxuries that Bill O’Brien had to work with since 2017 with just one playoff win to show, Culley is constantly enthused to come to work.

For Houston sports fans who feel yet again toyed with by the Texans, Culley has been too lovable to despise. In fact, he is easy to root for.

The whole façade gets tested in Green Bay.

Every pre-snap penalty or special teams goof will be on display for Texans fans who maybe haven’t dug deep into the reports coming out of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. When Tyrod Taylor drops back and gets sacked on the opening drive, it will be a preview of what Houston fans may have to get used to for 17 regular season games.

According to general manager Nick Caserio, the team is looking at keeping as many good players around as possible, no matter their spot on the depth chart.

“You have to figure out what makes sense,” Caserio told Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] on July 28. “Do we cut this guy and try to put him on the practice squad? Okay, we’re not sure we can get him there. Those are some of the things that will go into the psychology as we get a little bit closer. But you’re really looking at that group in totality because at any point those players could be active on Sunday, at least that’s how we’re approaching it.”

How the Texans play in the first quarter when a majority of the starters and role players are in the game will tell the tale. If they have negative plays, can’t move the ball, sustain penalties, have communication issues, that will be problematic for the season. If such issues occur later in the game with players who will be on practice squads this fall, that isn’t necessarily a coaching issue, no matter who is on the sidelines.

5 storylines for Texans vs. Packers preseason Week 1

The Houston Texans take on the Green Bay Packers to kickoff preseason. Here are five storylines to follow in the exhibition season opener.

The Houston Texans take on the Green Bay Packers to commence the 2021 preseason.

For the first time since 2019, the Texans will get to see what their players look like in an exhibition setting. While they will keep score, the results don’t matter. What is consequential is the evaluation process.

“What’s important more than that for us is the evaluation process,” coach David Culley told reporters on Aug. 12. “Now, they do keep score, and whoever’s in there at the end want to win the ball game, and we feel the same way about that. But the most important thing right now for us is the evaluation process and getting our players in to be able to see where we are and what we need to do to go further.”

Here are five storylines to watch for against the Packers.

Texans G Max Scharping excited to face hometown Packers again

Houston Texans guard Max Scharping is stoked to get back to his hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and take on the hometown Packers.

Houston Texans guard Max Scharping is no stranger to Green Bay.

In fact, he grew up there. He graduated high school from Southwest High School just 2.7 miles away from Lambeau Field before going on to play at Northern Illinois.

Green Bay is a city of beginnings for the former 2019 second-round pick.

“I grew up my whole life there, so it’s everything,” Scharping said. “It’s who I am. That’s where I came from. So it built me into who I am today. I wouldn’t be here without Green Bay.”

Saturday night will be the second time Scharping has returned to Green Bay and the third time in his short career that he has faced the Packers, preseason or otherwise. Scharping’s first preseason game against the Packers was in 2019 to open up the preseason, coming off the tail end of joint practices with the NFC North club.

“I’ve been back once before obviously a couple years ago,” said Scharping. “It’s going to be super special again to get to go back to Green Bay. I’m excited.”

Scharping’s family is excited to see one of their own return to play at Lambeau Field — it means they won’t have to travel very fair.

“The fact that they can just host it and tailgate and stuff, they’re going to be happy,” said Scharping.

If Scharping can get a chance, depending on the schedule and logistics, he will try to see his family and friends after the game.

Ticket procurement is not up to Scharping.

Said Scharping: “That’s all on my parents. I have no idea. I’m not in charge of that one. That’s on them. That’s too much for me to handle.”

Scharping has enough to handle with three tackles, Tytus Howard, Laremy Tunsil, and Roderick Johnson, on the COVID-19 reserve. Nevertheless, in Green Bay, Scharping and the Texans have a chance to lay the foundation for a successful 2021 campaign.

Texans vs. Packers: Time, TV schedule and streaming info for preseason Week 1

The Houston Texans face the Green Bay Packers Aug. 14 to kickoff preseason. Here is everything you need to catch the game.

What does a team coached by David Culley play like?

That question will finally be answered Saturday night when the Houston Texans face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Unlike two years ago when quarterback Deshaun Watson and Wisconsin native J.J. Watt led the Texans into Green Bay to kickoff the preseason, a new era commences with Culley on the sidelines, Tyrod Taylor under center, and rookie quarterback Davis Mills seeking to improve as a signal caller.

Saturday night will be all about the evaluation more so than the final score. Culley says that players who don’t make it the Texans should still keep their hopes up on catching on elsewhere in the NFL.

“Everybody that comes into this situation knows exactly what it’s about,” Culley said. “The thing about that is we know we can’t keep everybody on this team, but just because you don’t make this team doesn’t mean there’s not an opportunity somewhere else for you to make it.”

To get ready for the first week of preseason, here is important game day information so you can catch the game. Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane, @CotyDavis_24)

Houston Texans vs. Green Bay Packers – Saturday, Aug. 14 at 7:00 p.m. CT

TV channel: ABC13 [KTRK-TV] (Kevin Kugler & Spencer Tillman)

Live stream: NFL Game Pass

Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), Mega 101 (KLOL-FM) (Marc Vandermeer & Andre Ware)

Location: Lambeau Field

Forecast: Clear skies, 70 degrees, 3 mph wind

Referee: Ron Torbert

A rookie from each team to watch in NFL preseason Week 1

The NFL kicks off its first week of preseason with 16 games over four days. Here is a rookie to watch per all 32 teams.

The first week of the NFL preseason kicks off, which means it is the first action for the 2021 NFL rookie class.

The physical side of the game is one thing, but the mental side of the game is another. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn believes rookies today have a higher football IQ than in years past, but the welcoming hit of pro football always gets the rookies.

“I would be bet people are further along,” Quinn said. “But I think the volume of plays that go into the NFL and the amount of teaching on the smallest things, it’s pretty remarkable and I think most people have the ‘oh, my’ moment that this is a lot. Some hit it during this time and we got to continue to push them through it.”

Here are 32 rookies to watch for the first week of the NFL preseason.