The Texans put the pads back on Tuesday afternoon and went to work. Unfortunately, they did so without one of our faves Brevin Jordan, who was put on IR after he suffered an injury during Monday's practice and will miss the 2025 season. He will be missed by many, including yours truly…by yours truly A LOT.

As tough as it might've been to move forward, the Texans attempted to do as such with a spirited practice in the Houston heat, a couple of days before tangling with some angry Panthers. Let's dive into my HARRIS HITS from day 14 of 2025 Training Camp.

An early one-on-one period was a great sight and I spent my time watching the big fellas go at it, yet again. The first rep that I saw was OC Jake Andrews anchoring STRONG against the bull rush of DT Tommy Togiai. I've mentioned Jake's wrestling background a ton because I can see how it manifests itself in his reps on the field.

D-Line Thoughts

DT Tim Settle had a TREMENDOUS bull rush in the Vikings game against rookie OG Donovan Jackson and followed that up with a violent up the field rush against OG Laken Tomlinson on his first rep. When Tim reaches back for that proverbial fastball, he can really rip it up the field.

DE Danielle Hunter works his hands about as well as anyone I've studied/watched and he showed those skilled hands to rookie OT Aireontae Ersery. The young rookie continues to get an education from Danielle and Will Anderson Jr and that one-on-one rep was another great lesson as Danielle kept throwing hands until he could get the former Golden Gopher's hands off of him. Then, Danielle ripped underneath to get to the QB.

More Line Play

OC Jarrett Patterson has done a much better job anchoring against power in his third year. I loved that even on a rep that he held up well, OL coach Cole Popovich gave him one quick tip/pointer and Patterson utilized that tip well on his next rep.

My man ND Kalu said on the broadcast that he was impressed with the way that DE Casey Toohill rushed the edge against the Vikings. He would've been really impressed with the way that Toohill countered with an inside move today for a one-on-one win. Toohill has worked at his rush plan throughout camp and been really good in one-on-one situations, in drills and team periods.

OT Blake Fisher had a couple of outstanding reps today and some that he wished he had back. But, in his first rep against talented DE Darrell Taylor, he anchored against Taylor's bull rush in a big way. Taylor isn't the most powerful or strongest, but I liked seeing him work on a bull rush. Regardless, Fisher handled that rep well for sure.

DT Junior Tafuna is a bull in a china shop and he becomes a bull on nearly every rush. But, one thing that I saw him do at the end of a rush in a 2-on-2 situation could really work for him. He bull rushed on OC Jake Andrews and Tafuna's done that plenty of times during camp. So, when Jake anchored, Tafuna hit a little swipe move at the very end and he got Jake's hands off of him, getting clean to the QB. It seemed simple but Junior hadn't used that move much and it almost seemed like an afterthought, but it worked. Old NFL adage…use things that work, young buck.

7-on-7s

As seven-on-seven started, QB C.J. Stroud went to work. He would've been four for four had his WR not dropped the first fastball that Stroud threw during the drill. Stroud hit Braxton Berrios, Jaylin Noel and Christian Kirk all in a row on the final three plays of his first series.

Then, newest S Jalen Mills got involved. The veteran jumped the route of WR Xavier Johnson and knocked the ball away for a beautiful PBU.

On the next play, QB Davis Mills drilled one to rookie Jayden Higgins for a completion. The former Cyclone continues to ascend throughout the camp.

Then, it was time for the first team period and lo and behold, my man LB Christian Harris was on the field! On the third play of that series, Harris worked his way into the A gap to stop RB Nick Chubb at the line of scrimmage. I had my eyes on Harris the whole way and it was textbook LB play, the way he sifted through chaos, squared up and collided with Chubb at the line of scrimmage for no gain.

Earlier in that series. Stroud connected with Higgins as well. Stroud got some pressure and moved out of the pocket a bit before ripping one to Higgins who had half a step on CB Kamari Lassiter (more on him later).

And, AND DE Derek Barnett was back, getting some team reps as well too. So great to see him and on his first rep, he announced his presence with authority, penetrating down the line of scrimmage to tackle RB Woody Marks for a TFL.

RB Work

On the next play, an excellent run by RB Jawhar Jordan, I wrote in my notebook that it was a great block on the linebacker by the fullback. But, I wasn't totally sure that a fullback had been in on that play. So, I looked up at the board and lo and behold, it was NOT a fullback who made a tremendous block on the linebacker. It was WR Braxton Berrios, perhaps the most non-fullback on the team. But, he slid up in front of Jordan and put a helmet on a linebacker to open the late hole for his RB. Little things from big hearted people, always good to see.

RB Dameon Pierce has been working his way back into practice since we were at the Greenbrier, but today was the first day that he got reps in a team session. On his first play, he took a handoff, followed his FB to start the play, but as the backside DT started into his path, it looked like the play was dead. But, whoever was the OL on that side washed the DT down the line of scrimmage and Pierce cutback without missing a beat, hitting the X button and accelerating into the secondary. That was GREAT to see.

The next play had winners on both sides of the ball. DE Danielle Hunter was able to slide past rookie OT Aireontae Ersery to tag off on QB C.J. Stroud, but just as he did Stroud reached back for a fastball, a 101 mph to Christian Kirk, who had crossed the formation in the middle of the field. I mean, that ball was gassed up and Kirk made a great catch directly in the middle of the field.

DE Will Anderson Jr. wasn't going to let his pal Danielle Hunter have all the fun, so he decided that he'd blow up a run play on the next down. And, he did, rather easily.

LB Jamal Hill's performance against the Vikings was noteworthy with two tackles, one on defense and one on special teams, in which he flashed some serious speed. Today, his speed got him in position to break up a pass intended for TE Dalton Keene.

Spreading the Ball Around

When Stroud came back onto the field, he eyed rookie WR Jayden Higgins on the curl route, but CB Derek Stingley Jr. was on the rookie like a fitted sheet on a king bed. The pass protection was excellent and Stroud had plenty of time, but Sting just wasn't going to let that pass be complete. Great PBU by the All-Pro.

Two plays later, Stroud showed just how much he's grown as a QB. He first looked to our sideline for WR Jayden Higgins. When he saw that Higgins probably wasn't a great option, he shot his eyes and swiveled his hips back to the middle where he saw WR Nico Collins. He reached back and fired another fastball right into the waiting arms of his top target for a TWO ASTERISK COMPLETION.

On QB Davis Mills first rep of the next series, he was able to find TE Cade Stover, but the story of that play was the blitz pickup of RB Woody Marks. He slid in front of Mills to pick up the blitzing linebacker to give Mills enough time to find Stover for the completion.

But, on the next play, it was a little Mills on Mills violence. DAVIS Mills looked for his receiver on the snag route, but JALEN Mills sped from his safety position to knock the ball away, another near interception for the newest Texan defender.

DT Mario Edwards Jr. is steady giving out lessons as he did to one of the OGs on the next rep. He would've had a sack as he slid/ripped past the guard's outside arm and right into the QB's lap.

Then, Stroud drilled a quick slant to Collins again and Nico was off to the races with the ball in his hands, a secondary's worst nightmare. Two plays later, Anderson Jr…sack.

Lassiter

I mentioned LB Jamal Hill earlier for a great PBU he had, but his best play was a pick six interception that he had a few plays after Anderson Jr's sack. I said to Marc that Hill is playing his best ball as a Texan and he looks night and day different than he did last year as a rookie.

CB Kamari Lassiter made one heck of a break on an out route to come up with a PBU in the move the ball team period. Stroud wanted Collins on the sideline but #4 had a different idea. But, Lassiter's best play was a few plays later. He initially had coverage on WR Christian Kirk in the flat, but when he saw Stroud looking for Jayden Higgins on the route over his head, he wheeled around, a near 360, and jumped in front of Higgins for his first pick of the day. I mean, that was football IQ, athletic ability and ball skills coming together for one beautiful interception.

The interior run blocking had a couple of solid moments in that team drill as well. RB Nick Chubb was able to slither through the chaos for an excellent run just before Lassiter's interception.

My Offensive Play

The last drill of the day was a red zone drill. My favorite offensive play of that period was what Jayden Higgins did for a catch on third down. Now, keep in mind that he's 6-4, 215 lb. He ran hard down inside on what looked to be a slant or a crossing route. The DB to that side ran hard inside with him. Then, Higgins pivoted, whipping back out to the flat where Stroud found him wide open. Receivers that size aren't supposed to run routes like THAT. Impressive.

Lassiter made another play on a fade route from Stroud to Collins. What I loved about that play was how Lassiter used his smarts to keep Stroud from knowing exactly where to go with that ball. As Nico ran his route, Lassiter didn't commit one way or the other, which forced Stroud to have to throw to a spot. When he did, Lassiter was right there to knock the ball away.

Two plays later, on fourth and goal, Lassiter's partner in crime Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted a pass at the goal line to end the drill. Stud. All-Pro. Best in the league.

When Mills got a series from the red zone, the first play was a toss to RB J.J. Taylor. The former Arizona Wildcat hit the gas and turned the corner with some juice. Why? Rookie WR Jayden Higgins pinned the DE inside, allowing Taylor to burn the edge on a downhill run. That was some impressive MAN type stuff from Higgins.

I mentioned DT Junior Tafuna earlier and the powerhouse that he is. I mean, he's a hoss. But, on the final play of the day, RB Woody Marks took a toss play and ran toward our sideline. Beating feet and running his butt off was Tafuna, tagging off on Marks at the line of scrimmage. That was some impressive stuff from the rookie from Utah.

Okay, that's going to do it for today's HITS. I'll have more from the joint practice with the Panthers on Thursday.