Sunday morning was a success for Brian Cushing.
"Stayed alive," the inside linebacker said. "Didn't sweat too bad. I think it was a pretty good day for the defense."
The Texans kicked off their 2016 training camp with a two-hour practice outside at the Houston Methodist Training Center. For Cushing, it's his eighth training camp as a professional, and the veteran looked spry from the first whistle to the final horn to end practice.
"By this time of your career you figure out what works for you and what doesn't," Cushing said. "The best things for recovery. How your body works. Especially getting older too, as well. Just trying to train harder, but also smarter."
Responsible for the play calls and helping get his teammates in the right spot before the snap, Cushing stressed the importance of clear communication. Because of his experience, there's also some teaching involved.
"It's a little bit of both," Cushing said. "It's more off-the-field that I'll be teaching. But on-field there's a lot of communication. Certain instances that we'll talk about later, inside the room. Inside the building. Especially this time of year, there's a lot of learning."
Cushing is one of 10 starters returning on the defensive side of the ball. He said he's "very excited for this upcoming season".
The Texans practice again on Monday morning at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
The Houston Texans roster in photos.
QB, Kyle Allen, #3 (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
DL Mario Addison (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
RB, Darius Anderson, #30
DB, Grayland Arnold, #35
TE, Antony Auclair, #83
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
DL, Thomas Booker, #56 (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
OL, Justin Britt, #68
DB, Terrence Brooks, #8
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
WR, Jalen Camp, #17
OL, A.J. Cann, #60 (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
LB, Blake Cashman, #53 (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
DL, Maliek Collins, #97
WR, Nico Collins, #12
WR, Chris Conley, #18
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
WR, Davion Davis, #81
LB, Tae Davis, #19
OL Austin Deculus, #76 (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
WR, Phillip Dorsett, #2
QB, Jeff Driskel, #6
DL, Michael Dwumfour, #98
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
RB, Royce Freeman, #26
OL, Carson Green, #62
DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52
WR, DaeSean Hamilton, #5 (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
OL, Kenyon Green, #59 (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
DL, Rasheem Green (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
LB, Christian Harris, #48 (Photo by Kent Gidley)
DL, Demone Harris, #94
WR, Damon Hazelton, #86
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
QB, Kevin Hogan (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
DL, Jerry Hughes (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
FB, Andy Janovich, #41 (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
An image from the Aug. 21, 2021 Houston Texans preseason game 2 against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Texans won 20-14.
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
LB, Christian Kirksey, #58
DL, Roy Lopez, #91
RB, Marlon Mack, #2 (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
OL, Justin McCray, #64
WR, John Metchie III, #88 (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
QB, Davis Mills, #10
WR, Chris Moore, #15
DB, Jimmy Moreland, #22
OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79
DB, Eric Murray, #23
DB, Steven Nelson (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
OL, Cedric Ogbuehi, #77 (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
RB, Dare Ogunbowale, #33 (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
LB, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
RB, Dameon Pierce, #31 (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis, #57
DB, Jalen Pitre, #42 (AP Photo/Tim Heitman)
FB, Paul Quessenberry, #45
OL, Scott Quessenberry, #54 (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
TE, Teagan Quitoriano, #84 (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, #34 (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
DL, Derek Rivers, #95
DB, Reggie Robinson, #29 (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith, #24
OL, Jordan Steckler, #70
DB, M.J. Stewart, #21 (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
DB, Derek Stingley Jr., #24 (Photo by: Kourtney Carroll)
DB, Tavierre Thomas, #37
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
LS, Jon Weeks #46
DB, Isaac Yiadom, #20 (AP)
