Head Coach Bill O'Brien
(on today's practice) "It was a good practice. Those guys really responded well. Like I've said to you guys a bunch, we've got a bunch of hardworking guys and they responded well today which was good to see. It was a tough practice, wasn't an easy practice. That was good to see."
(on the last time he had them in pads like today) "Probably right before the season started. There's a rule there, which basically is one per week. I think it's a total of 15 for the year once the regular season starts. We kind of try to space it out, use them all, but maybe not all in a row basically."
After a weekend off, the Texans went back to work on Monday morning in helmets and pads.
According to head coach Bill O'Brien, it was a "good practice". The Texans fell to 1-4 following Thursday evening's loss at home to the Colts. The players were free on Saturday and Sunday, but were back at it on Monday morning at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
"Those guys really responded well," O'Brien said. "It was a tough practice, wasn't an easy practice. That was good to see."
O'Brien said the Texans hadn't practiced in pads since before the regular season started, and that teams are limited in how many times they can do so.
"There's a rule there, which basically is one per week,"O'Brien said. "I think it's a total of 15 for the year once the regular season starts. We kind of try to space it out, use them all, but maybe not all in a row basically."
Brian Hoyer, who will start at quarterback this Sunday in Jacksonville, said it was "fun" to get back out on the field.
"Sometimes when things aren't going really well for you, you just go out there and try to remember that you're playing a game," Hoyer said. "Go out there and have fun and embrace your teammates. Go out there, compete as hard as you can and, like I said, take it one day at a time."
The players will have their customary Tuesday off, and return to the practice fields on Wednesday through Friday, before leaving Saturday to face the Jaguars on Sunday.
The Houston Texans roster in photos.

DL Mario Addison, #56 (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

QB, Kyle Allen, #3

RB, Darius Anderson, #30

DB, Grayland Arnold, #35

TE, Antony Auclair, #83

DL, Ross Blacklock, #90

DL, Thomas Booker, #96

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

LB, Blake Cashman, #53

DL, Maliek Collins, #97

WR, Nico Collins, #12

WR, Chris Conley, #18

WR, Brandin Cooks, #13

WR, Davion Davis, #14

LB, Tae Davis, #19

OL, Austin Deculus, #76

WR, Phillip Dorsett, #4

QB, Jeff Driskel, #6

DL, Michael Dwumfour, #98

WR, Drew Estrada, #81

K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7

DB, Jacobi Francis, #38

RB, Royce Freeman, #26

OL, Carson Green, #62

DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52

WR, DaeSean Hamilton, #5

OL, Kenyon Green, #59

DL, Rasheem Green (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51

LB, Christian Harris, #48

DL, Demone Harris, #94

WR, Damon Hazelton, #86

OL, Charlie Heck, #67

LB, Neville Hewitt, #43

QB, Kevin Hogan, #16 (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

OL, Tytus Howard, #71

DL, Jerry Hughes, #55 (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

FB, Andy Janovich, #41

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.

WR, Johnny Johnson III, #89

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

DB, Tristin McCollum, #39

OL, Justin McCray, #64

WR, John Metchie III, #88

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)

DB, Steven Nelson, #21

DL, Adedayo Odeleye, #75

OL, Cedric Ogbuehi, #77

RB, Dare Ogunbowale, #33

DL, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, #45

DB, Jonathan Owens, #36

RB, Dameon Pierce, #31

LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis, #57

DB, Jalen Pitre, #42

FB, Paul Quessenberry, #45

OL, Scott Quessenberry, #54

TE, Teagan Quitoriano, #84

LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, #34 (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

DL, Derek Rivers, #95

OL, Max Scharping, #74

DB, Kendall Sheffield (AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)

DB, Tremon Smith, #24

OL, Jordan Steckler, #70

DB, M.J. Stewart, #29

DB, Derek Stingley Jr., #24

DB, Tavierre Thomas, #37

OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78

LB, Garret Wallow, #32

WR, Connor Wedington (AP)

LS, Jon Weeks #46

DB, Isaac Yiadom, #20