It's hard to describe the first day of training camp in Houston. There's so much excitement about the season, yet it's just day one. New players are going to rush for 2,500 yards in the first week after taking a handoff in individual or register 35 sacks after one rep against the heavy bag. Hyperbole and reality don't often intersect during the first day, much less first week, at least, not until the GRIND of training camp REALLY sets in.

Throw in mid-90 degress throughout most of the 90 minutes of practice and it's almost too hot to think straight watching practice and counting how many Super Bowls the Texans are going to win.

So, over my 18 years of covering training camp, I've tried to find equal levels of joy/happiness, mixed with the reality of this team, the game and the performance. But, BUT, on day one, it's okay to let happiness and positivity run wild a bit, so indulge me as we dive into my Harris Hits - training camp observations

DAY.

NUMBER.

ONE.

Leadership

As I mentioned above, the heat/temperature is the additional player for both sides of the ball that must be accounted for throughout July/August and Coach Ryans did just that, having his guys on the grass for about 90 minutes. Got after it pretty good, with success on both sides of the ball.

One thing that stands out to me more than anything is the leadership on this team. It often comes through quietly too. For example, there was a ten minute special teams period when Tommy Townsend and the punt team got a ton of reps. I looked out and saw Derek Stingley Jr, Jalen Pitre, Kamari Lassiter amongst others on the punt return scout team. Let me repeat…punt return scout team. That's two young dudes that just signed large extensions, and one, who will in due time, stepping over to the scout team side to give the punt team gunners a good look. Coaches didn't have to call for them, either; they just stepped in and helped guys out on scout team punt return.

Gunners at work

Prior to that, I watched the gunners work down at the end of the practice field. Newly signed Damon Arnette was at the front of the line as the coaches changed up the technique they wanted the gunners to use on the drill. Arnette was trying to work through the technique, so Tremon Smith stepped up to show Arnette the best way to do it, ran his rep and Arnette ran it perfectly just after Tremon.

Little things like teammates helping teammates, veterans showing young dudes how "it's supposed to be", that's what DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio have preached since they linked up in 2023. That aspect shows through in spades - in the players they've acquired and the young players they drafted and signed.

Nick Chubb on the Texans... is really cool

Not sure when the surreal nature of seeing RB Nick Chubb in a Texans jersey will die down for me, but it's really cool, y'all, at this point. Chubb taking handoffs from QB C.J. Stroud during the Texans' individual period was wild…yet very cool.

Welcome back to the field, Brevin

I can't even tell you how WONDERFUL it was to see TE Brevin Jordan back on the field. During the second team period, Stroud threw a quick out to Brev and he turned it up like he did in that Browns playoff game in 2023. He SPED up the sideline in a hurry and I just hit Marc on the shoulder as if to say "YOU SEE THAT? WE MISSED THAT/HIM LAST YEAR". Marc already knew, though.

Braxton Berrios puttin' in work

Catching punts may not register much for many, but if you come to practice, watch how smooth and comfortable Braxton Berrios makes that look. Trust me, I did that decades ago; it's NOT as easy as it makes it look. Watching the other returners struggle with Tommy Townsend's, aka Tommy Rockets, BOMBS, only to then watch Berrios handle every kind of punt Tommy hit to him, was telling.

Berrios then made an excellent catch after a great out route to the opposite sideline on a great throw from QB Kedon Slovis.

A different feel to the OL

During the first team period, the offense engaged in run game/play action for each of the quarterbacks. I'm going to say this right now based on day one in shorts and T-shirts - this OL will NOT go passive in the good night. Yes, when the pads go on, things change, but what I'm getting at is the mentality. It's different; I can FEEL it. There weren't pads popping, but the collisions were different on inside runs, etc…It was evident to me how the mentality was different. Very.

…and that's a great thing. Also, I'll say this…it was tweeted/posted/stated what the Texans FIRST OL lined up as is, but there were four different periods of team work and the Texans lined up with a different group as the first line in each of those situations. So, what you read is great, awesome but just know that NOTHING is set in stone AT ALL. Every period could be different from the next for the next week or longer and I saw that up close and in person on day one. It will be a competition for a long while before we get comfortable with "THIS IS THE STARTING OL."

QBs stand out

The second team period was highly impressive from the quarterbacks. Ball didn't hit the ground

• Stroud hit Brev for a big gain on a short out - complete
• Stroud hit to Dalton Schultz on snag route - complete
• Stroud scramble
• Davis Mills to Jaylin Noel on the settle up route - complete
• Davis Mills to Jayden Higgins on short hitch - complete

…and it continued with the best throw/catch of the day on the same play. It was a DIME from Davis Mills to WR Jared Wayne. The Texans third year receiver ran a short corner route and had a step on the DB as he sprinted toward the sideline. Mills lofted one in that direction and Wayne ran INTO the catch, arms outstretched for the nifty grab.

Then, rookie QB Graham Mertz took a little jog out of the pocket and hit Berrios out on the far sideline for another completion. Glad to see the rookie not on PUP and practicing on day one.

Our guy Jakob Johnson got some help from a well-designed route combination out in the flat and made a solid catch on another Mertz throw.

The final throw of the day was from QB Kedon Slovis to Berrios on the far sideline.

Early thoughts on Ersery

Rookie OT Aireontae Ersery lined up at both tackle spots throughout the day, but on C.J's scramble that I noted earlier, I had a great view of him facing Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter. I pointed that out to Marc just before the ball was snapped but he was nonplussed (he watches the ball and I watch the line, mostly). Ersery did a fantastic job staying square on Hunter and slowed his rush about as well as a young dude could. I wrote earlier this week that Hunter embarrassed some of the best talent in the league last year. As such, Ersery holding up just fine against the Texans star DE was a great sign, a GREAT sign, honestly.

Alright, it was just 90 minutes of glorious football in 90+ degree heat, but WE BACK, BABY! And, I'll be back with more Harris Hits tomorrow as well. Thanks for reading, as always.