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. (Updated 4/16/2021)

TE, Jordan Akins, #88

TE, Antony Auclair

DL, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98

DB, Cornell Armstrong, #30

DL, Ross Blacklock, #90

OL, Justin Britt

DB, Terrence Brooks

TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85

OL, Cohl Cabral, #72

OL, Marcus Cannon

WR, Randall Cobb, #18

DL, Maliek Collins

WR, Chris Conley

WR, Brandin Cooks, #13

WR, Isaiah Coulter, #82

WR, Keke Coutee, #16

DB, Keion Crossen, #35

LB, Zach Cunningham, #41

LB, Tae Davis

DL, Brandon Dunn, #92

LB, Duke Ejiofor, #53

WR, Alex Erickson

K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7

QB, Ryan Finley

OL, Hjalte Froholdt, #77

LB, Jonathan Greenard, #52

LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill

LB, Nate Hall, #48

DB, Vernon Hargreaves III, #26

OL, Charlie Heck, #67

RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #27

OL, Tytus Howard, #71

RB, Buddy Howell, #38

RB, Mark Ingram

TE, Ryan Izzo

LB, Jordan Jenkins

RB, David Johnson, #31

DL, Jaleel Johnson

DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #32

P, Cameron Johnston

DB, Desmond King

LB, Christian Kirksey

DL, Shaq Lawson

RB, Phillip Lindsay

LB, Jacob Martin, #54

OL, Justin McCray

LB, Whitney Mercilus, #59

DB, Terrance Mitchell

WR, Donte Moncrief

DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33

WR, Chris Moore

DB, Eric Murray, #23

LB, Hardy Nickerson

DL, Charles Omenihu, #94

DB, Jonathan Owens, #36

LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis

RB, Scottie Phillips, #40

TE, Paul Quessenberry

DB, John Reid, #34

DB, Justin Reid, #20

DL, Derek Rivers

WR, Andre Roberts

DB, Bradley Roby, #21

OL, Max Scharping, #74

DB, Tremon Smith

OL, Jordan Steckler

OL, Lane Taylor

QB, Tyrod Taylor

DL, Vincent Taylor

LB, Joe Thomas

DB, Tavierre Thomas

OL, Cole Toner

OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78

DL, MeMarcus Walker

TE, Kahale Warring, #81

QB, Deshaun Watson, #4

LS, Jon Weeks #46