DeMeco Ryans spent 10 seasons in the NFL before electing to turn in his helmet for a headset, during which he saw his fair share of scuffles and skirmishes internally between the offense and defense while leading up to the regular season.
Seven practices into training camp, the Texans have seen two small fights break out. On Wednesday, Derek Stingley Jr. went after tight end Dalton Schultz moments after Jimmie Ward lowered his shoulder to deliver a blow to Stefon Diggs.
Two days later, rookie linebacker Max Tooley nearly had an interception but ran into receiver Ben Skowronek. While not as intense as Wednesday’s scuffle, the two did exchange a few polite jabs before teammates broke it up.
Football — as tight end Brevin Jordan describes — is a game that features “a bunch of grown men with a bunch of testosterone.” They want to hit, especially now that pads have been added to the equation.
Another little mini practice skirmish here at #Texans, rookie Max Tooley should’ve had a sliding INT, Ben Skowronek got tangled up with him on the ground, Skowronek didn’t like it. Teammates pulled them away before anything truly flared up. #trainingcamp
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) July 26, 2024
Ryans, a former Pro Bowl linebacker, often tries to find a positive in any negative. For scuffles, the second-year coach said it’s a lesson on learning when and how to hit once before actions translate over to gamedays.
“For me if we’re in a game, are you throwing hands in a game? If you do, then you’re thrown out of the game,” Ryans said Friday following practice. “For me, it’s just learning a lesson that if you throw punches, or whatever you do, are you really protecting the team? Because now you’re kicked out of the game. I don’t want it, I don’t like it.”
On gamedays, any late hit will lead to an ejection, thus leaving the 53-man roster short a man and oftentimes a starter. For Ryans, it’s sloppy and an overall putrid representation of the team.
#Texans HC DeMeco Ryans addresses Wednesday’s skirmish. Brings up how everyone it’s about addressing the situation “quickly” pic.twitter.com/cukfHt0jB1
— Cole Thompson (@MrColeThompson) July 26, 2024
But it’s still football. Things happen when tensions rise. Ryans knows that little hiccups will come in the early stages of camp. It happened last year when Christian Harris and Devin Singletary exchanged shoves after a hit on a swing pass.
The response, however, is more important than the interaction.
“We just want guys to move forward from it. Nobody is holding any grudges,” Ryans said. “We’re still teammates. We’re still brothers. Skirmishes happen in our families all the time. We get upset, but at the end of the day we’re still family and it’s still all love.”
The Texans will finally have a chance to hit someone other than a teammate when they take on the Bears next Thursday in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.