Thursday's practice was different, and not just because it was inside.
The Texans spent the morning working on 'situational football'.
In the air-conditioned Houston Methodist Training Center, head coach Bill O'Brien and the team went through the day's work a little differently.
"Working more situational football, trying to help these guys understand the situation of the game
better, trying to help our coaching staff continue to be on the same page in the different situations of the game," O'Brien said.
Instead of going through the normal regiment of practice, O'Brien would put the offense, defense and special teams in situations they don't typically experience.
He'd call out a down, distance, and clock time, and the unit would have to react. Sometimes it meant stopping the clock. Other times, depending on the situation, it meant taking two shots at the end zone with a limited amount of time to execute plays.
"Coach loves that, coach loves situational football," receiver Cecil Shorts, III said. "That is what football is. There will be a lot of situations that come up in a game that he wants us to be ready for it so we were doing this even in OTA's and stuff like that. It's no surprise."
The Texans will conduct a walkthrough practice on Friday and then play the 49ers at NRG Stadium on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. CT.
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