Tag: NFL Preseason Week 3

WATCH: Texans DE DeMarcus Walker records a safety against the Buccaneers

Houston Texans defensive end DeMarcus Walker got a safety against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third and final preseason game.

Houston Texans defensive end DeMarcus Walker added to the defense’s ability to score in the third and final preseason game.

Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium Saturday night, Walker fell on quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was attempting to recover a bad snap in the end zone. Walker got a safety for the Texans, who trailed 13-2 late in the second quarter.

Walker told reporters on Aug. 19 that one of his favorite aspects of playing in the Texans’ defense was the ability to just play and not overthink.

Said Walker: “Technique-wise and just letting it go. Sort of taking the handcuffs off me and just letting me do certain actions. It’s a little different when you’re in an attack style defense (instead of) these last two years playing a read defense [in Denver].”

The Texans trailed 16-2 at halftime.

WATCH: Texans S Terrence Brooks picks off Buccaneers quarterback

Houston Texans safety Terrence Brooks got an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Texans’ eighth of the preseason.

Houston Texans safety Terrence Brooks got the team’s eighth takeaway of the preseason Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium.

With Blaine Gabbert in the game for Tom Brady, the Bucs’ backup threw an interception that the former New England Patriots safety picked off.

The interception is also Brooks’ second of the preseason as he had one against the Dallas Cowboys in the second preseason game on Aug. 21.

Defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s preaching of takeaways is starting to manifest. The challenge now is for the Texans to carry such momentum into the regular season.

Texans excited to play in front of a full capacity NRG Stadium

The Houston Texans players and coaches are excited to play in NRG Stadium in a full capacity venue to close out the preseason.

The Houston Texans will do something against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their preseason finale that they haven’t done since Jan. 4, 2020, in the AFC wild-card against the Buffalo Bills: play in front of a full capacity stadium.

Although NRG Stadium won’t be as packed or as rocking for the third preseason game as it would be for a playoff game, the exhibition contest with the Bucs does mark a return to the real normal as the Texans’ home venue won’t operate at reduced capacity as it did throughout the 2020 season.

“I feel like it’s been two years since we had a crowd in here,” safety Justin Reid said. “So, it’s going to be a really sick experience to have the fans back in the crowd and be able to feed off the energy that they bring to the home field.”

Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly noted that he wants the players to give maximum effort in front of the home crowd.

“First and foremost, want to see our guys come out there and play hard,” Kelly said. “It’s going to be good to come out and play in front of our home fans and go out there and execute and really just let the offense work for them.”

Of course, playing hard at NRG Stadium means getting the finer details exact, which is key as the Texans have to cut their 80-man roster down to 53 men by 3:00 p.m. on Aug. 31.

Said Kelly: “In the preseason, it’s a little bit different than the regular season obviously, so we want to make sure our guys are able to come out here execute, play fast and go out and make plays.”

Texans fans are hopeful they will get to see the defense generate more takeaways as Houston led the NFL coming into the third week of preseason with seven turnovers.

Texans vs. Buccaneers: Time, TV schedule and streaming info for preseason Week 3

The Houston Texans close out their preseason slate against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Find out how to catch the game here.

One more game to go and it’s over.

The Houston Texans host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the preseason finale at NRG Stadium.

The reigning Super Bowl champions probably won’t put Tom Brady out there among all of their stars. However, it still is a great opportunity for some players to get valuable reps.

For Davis Mills, it is another opportunity for the third-round rookie to develop as a quarterback before the regular season commences and all the reps in practice go to Tyrod Taylor.

For defensive end Shaq Lawson and safety Lonnie Johnson, it is a chance to increase their trade value as both players are reportedly on the trade block.

If nothing else, the entire game will be a 60-minute countdown to the regular season.

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)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans – Saturday, Aug. 28 at 7:00 p.m. CT

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

Live stream: FuboTV

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

Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 83 degrees, 8 mph wind (indoors)

Referee: Clay Martin

Podcast: Discussing Jags’ preseason loss vs. Saints, loss of Etienne, decision to name Lawrence QB1

Episode 81 of the “Bleav in the Jags” podcast centered around the Jags’ last preseason loss to the Saints that has many worried.

In this week’s episode of “Bleav in the Jags,” Jags Wire’s James Johnson and Phil Smith started off episode 84 by reviewing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ last preseason game, which came against the New Orleans Saints. In that game, the Jags had another concerning showing as the starters didn’t move the ball well on offense and it ultimately resulted in the team losing 23-21. With that being the case, the hosting duo addressed whether it’s time to panic or not for the fans at home.

Afterward, James and Phil discussed the devastating blow the Jags took when they loss Travis Etienne for the due to a Lisfranc injury that occurred in Monday’s game. They also discussed the Jags’ decision to name Trevor Lawrence the starter, then lastly, they discussed the importance of the Jags’ practice facility being approved by the city council.

Episode 84 can be heard below in the media player, while archived episodes can be revisited here.

Feel free to subscribe to “Bleav in the Jags” via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.

Texans S Justin Reid looking forward to facing Super Bowl champion Buccaneers

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid says that he is looking forward to taking on the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the preseason finale.

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid likes going against the best.

The former 2018 third-round pick from Stanford will get a chance to do just that as the Texans take on the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the preseason finale at NRG Stadium Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

“This is the best test you could have: going against the defending Super Bowl champs, [Tom] Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time,” Reid said after practice Thursday at Houston Methodist Training Center. “This is the people you want to play. I still have yet to pick him off, even though I should have. Wish I could have some of those back, but this will be a fun game playing against him.”

Reid’s first game in the NFL was against the New England Patriots in Week 1 of 2018. The Patriots with Brady prevailed 27-20. However, Reid and the Texans were able to get Houston’s second franchise win over New England a year later when the Texans beat the Patriots 28-22 on Dec. 1 on Sunday Night Football at NRG Stadium.

The 6-1, 203-pound safety has collected seven combined tackles and two pass breakups in his two games against Brady.

Although Brady may not be playing for much of the preseason finale, if at all, Reid is looking forward to going against his receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

“They got a couple real good receivers over there in Mike Evans and Godwin,” Reid said. “So, matching up against those guys, especially being a DB, making sure we take away the deep ball, and also playing the run physically. We want to just be solid across the board, not beat ourselves, and just play sound, fundamental football.”

Interestingly Reid’s career stats against the Bucs include four combined tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception returned for a touchdown. However, Jameis Winston was the quarterback during that Dec. 21, 2019 encounter, not Brady.

Here’s the Jags’ unofficial depth chart for their third preseason game vs. the Cowboys

The Jags’ unofficial depth chart was released earlier this week, and though the QB1 role was established afterward, there still are some battles that need to be settled against the Cowboys.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster has been trimmed down to 80 players, and with that being the case, they released a new unofficial depth chart for their last preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. Once that game is over, the Jags will no longer need an unofficial depth chart in 2021 because each team will have to trim their roster down to its final state of 53 players.

Aside from a certain No. 1 overall pick being named the starting quarterback for the 2021 season, there were a few other changes made on the depth chart, although none of them were major. Despite that, though, Sunday’s game at AT&T Stadium will be an important one for the players on the roster as Urban Meyer said the available starters will play. The game will also have big-time implications for all the bubble players as they will be fighting to make the final 53-man roster or impress any other teams watching. 

The updated unofficial depth charts for the offensive, defensive and special teams units are as follows:

Offense

Position Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7
WR DJ Chark Laquon Treadwell Collin Johnson Jeff Cotton Jr. Tavon Austin
LT Cam Robinson *Walker Little Badara Traore
LG Andrew Norwell Ben Bartch

C Brandon Linder Tyler Shatley KC McDermott
RG A.J. Cann Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms Austen Pleasants
RT Jawaan Taylor Will Richardson Jr.
TE Chris Manhertz James O’Shaughnessy *Luke Farrell Ben Ellefson*or

Tyler Davis
QB *Trevor Lawrence Gardner Minshew II

*or

C.J. Beathard

 Jake Luton
RB James Robinson

*or

Carlos Hyde

 Dare Ogunbowale Devine Ozigbo Nathan Cottrell
WR Laviska Shenault Jr. Jamal Agnew Pharoh Cooper*or

Josh Hammond
WR Marvin Jones Jr. Phillip Dorsett II *Jalen Camp Tevin Jones

Defense

Position Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7
DT Malcom Brown Dawuane Smoot *Jay Tufele
NT DaVon Hamilton Doug Costin Daniel Ekuale

DE Roy Robertson-Harris Adam Gotsis Taven Bryan
OLB Josh Allen Jihad Ward Aaron Patrick
MIKE Damien Wilson Shaquille Quarterman
WILL Myles Jack Chapelle Russell Quincy Williams Dakota Allen
OLB K’Lavon Chaisson Lerentee McCray *Jordan Smith
CB Shaquill Griffin Tre Herndon CJ Henderson Chris Claybrooks
CB Sidney Jones IV

*or

*Tyson Campbell

 *Corey Straughter Lorenzo Burns
FS Rayshawn Jenkins Andrew Wingard Daniel Thomas

*or

Brandon Rusnak
SS Josh Jones*or

Jarrod Wilson

*or

Rudy Ford

*or

*Andre Cisco

Specialists

Position Player 1 Player 2 Player 3
Kicker Josh Lambo Logan Cooke
Holder Logan Cooke
Long snapper Ross Matiscik
Punter Logan Cooke
PR Jamal Agnew Tavon Austin Pharoh Cooper
KR Jamal Agnew Chris Claybrooks Pharoh Cooper

Takeaways and notes

  • The unofficial depth chart came out a day before Trevor Lawrence was named the Jags’ starting quarterback, so it didn’t have him in the QB1 slot. We’ve updated that part of the chart, but the rest outside the quarterbacks column remains unofficial.
  • Meyer said the team now has a competition brewing for the No. 2 quarterback role between Gardner Minshew II and C.J. Beathard.
  • The Jags added offensive tackle, Badara Traore, off waivers and cut right tackle Garrett McGhin on Wednesday. Traore was previously listed as a left tackle with the Chicago Bears last week, so we listed him at the LT3 spot, although he could end up playing right tackle in McGhin’s place.
  • With Travis Etienne now on injured reserve, Dare Ogunbowale moved up to the RB3 spot, and the running backs behind him were all moved up a spot as well.
  • Cornerbacks Corey Straughter and Lorenzo Burns were both move up a spot with the Jags waiving Luq Barcoo.
  • There still is a four-way contest listed at strong safety, proving that the group is deep. Meyer praised several players at the position on Wednesday, including Jarrod Wilson and Andre Cisco. He also singled out free safety Daniel Thomas for his sound performance on special teams.
  • The Jags have receiver Tavon Austin now listed as the No. 2 punt returner now. Straughter was listed as the No. 3 but is no longer in the column.
  • Chris Claybrooks is listed as the second kick returner, and Pharoh Cooper was moved back a spot behind him. 

Texans coach David Culley says starters will play more against the Buccaneers

Houston Texans coach David Culley says that the starters will play more against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

HOUSTON — After their 20-14 victory against the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Texans will close out their three-game preseason schedule against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday night at NRG Stadium in Houston.

The game against the Buccaneers will be the Texans’ final dress rehearsal before the start of the 2021 season, and first-year head coach David Culley announced that Houston’s presume starters will play more in their preseason finale. The Texans will open their 19th season in franchise history on Sept. 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“We really want those guys to get a feel for what it’s like to go into the second half of the ball game,” Culley said prior to Monday’s practice. “The plan is to try and take them into the third quarter, to see how we handle adjustments from the first to the second half.”

One player that will likely see his most preseason action against the Buccaneers is receiver Brandin Cooks. Cooks did not play in the Texans preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, and he only appeared in 13 snaps against the Cowboys — where he recorded 10 yards on two receptions.

Culley’s game plan could also mean the Texans will get an extended evaluation from potential starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Unlike Cooks, Taylor did take part in the Texans’ 26-7 victory against the Packers, but only played one drive. In the first two preseason games, Taylor has played 34 snaps while completing 66.6 percent of his passes for 50 yards.

“Every time we step onto the field, it is very important for us to go out there and do our job — and that we finish it as well,” Taylor said. “Execution is something that we preach each and every day. You practice throughout the week on different looks. But when it comes to game days, it is all about executing. And we need that in all phases.”

The Texans take a 2-0 preseason record into their finale with the Buccaneers.