Did you know the Houston Texans just completed their first practice in full pads? Another sign that the season is getting closer to kickoff!
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans Celebrates Birthday
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans marked his birthday on Monday while overseeing the team's first practice in pads of training camp. "It's always great for me, I've always worked on my birthday. It's always been Training Camp, so that's the normal for me," Ryans told reporters.
Turning to what he saw at practice, Ryans emphasized player safety: "With it being the first day of pads, what stood out, first and foremost, guys did a really great job of just staying up, off the ground. We want guys to still be able to protect each other, we're still teammates."
He highlighted standout performances from the running backs: "You can see our running backs really running the football, how it will look, playing physical behind their pads. I thought those guys, like [RB Nick] Chubb, did a really good job today with a couple of runs, also [RB] Jawhar [Jordan]."
Janice McNair Named Fourth Member of Texans Ring of Honor
The Houston Texans announced that Co-Founder and Senior Chair Janice S. McNair will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor during halftime of their Week 9 matchup against the Denver Broncos on November 2. She will join her late husband, Texans Founder Bob McNair, Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Johnson, and J.J. Watt.
"My parents brought football back to Houston more than 20 years ago and ever since, my mom has given so much to our city and our organization," said Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair.
RB Nick Chubb Discusses Adaptation to Houston and First-Team Opportunities
RB Nick Chubb spoke about his transition to Houston and getting meaningful practice repetitions. "I feel good. It's been great to get a chance to come out here and play some more football, it's been a while for me," Chubb said on Monday.
When asked about first-team reps helping his adjustment, Chubb noted: "It helps a lot. I need every rep I can get. It's been a while. I got hurt last December, so I haven't been in pads since. It's great to get out here, get a chance, get pads on, get hit and move around a little bit."
Regarding his recovery timeline, Chubb stated: "That was two years ago, so I'm getting over the hump. I just come out here and try to be the best I can."
Chubb Praises Houston's Offensive Personnel and Culture
Nick Chubb expressed appreciation for his new teammates and the team's work ethic. "What I love most about it is the guys that are around me in the huddle. The big guys up front, the receivers, tight ends, and [QB] C.J. [Stroud]. It's a bunch of guys who play with intent, who love to practice and love to work hard and get better every day."
He also discussed working with rookie RB Woody Marks: "It's super important to me. Not only that, but [RB] Woody [Marks] is a Georgia boy, so that's like a brother to me already. He's been great. He's super smart. He's super athletic, super fast."
TE Brevin Jordan Returns with Renewed Perspective
TE Brevin Jordan, who is returning from an ACL injury, expressed gratitude to be back on the field. "It feels unbelievable. Ten months of isolation, just being in the house and being here was tough. Being back out here on the field, it's hot, it's competitive, but I don't take it for granted."
He expressed confidence in his current condition: "I've been feeling like I'm me from the jump. Honestly, from the first practice, I was ready to go... I hit 21.7 miles per hour at one point in my RTF [Return to Football] training. I'm ready to go. I'm faster. I'm stronger."
DT Sheldon Rankins Feels Great
Veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins provided insight into the health issues that affected his 2024 season. "I ended up having a shingles outbreak and viral meningitis at the same time. That knocked me out for a while," Rankins explained.
Now recovered, he stated: "I feel great being back out here and running around in this heat. Back to playing in a defense I love playing in, that fits me, fits my skillset."
Rankins Discusses Chemistry with DE Will Anderson Jr.
Sheldon Rankins spoke about his relationship with DE Will Anderson Jr. and their on-field connection. "Getting back here and seeing his maturation and picking right back up where we left off, whether it's a look here, look there, a glance here, glance there. We've always kind of spoke the same language on the football field."
Rankins described their working relationship: "Getting back and playing next to him again, it's like waking up in the morning. It's like breathing. It's something we've done really easily."
Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson's Leadership Impact Highlighted
Coach Ryans praised the addition of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and his immediate impact on the secondary. "You're adding a Pro Bowl, All-Pro caliber player with a Super Bowl pedigree who's done it at a high level and brings others along with him. He's a true leader by example and by talking."
Ryans emphasized Gardner-Johnson's communication skills: "He's a really smart player, asks great questions and is making sure everybody's on the same page. That's what a safety has to be. A safety has to be an elite communicator, along with the MIKE linebacker."
Offensive Line Shows Progress in First Padded Practice
Coach Ryans provided an assessment of the offensive line's performance in their first practice in pads. "By putting on the pads today, I saw our offensive line do a nice job of blocking the defensive ends and defensive tackles. They also did a great job of getting after them as well."
He noted the competitive environment: "Our offensive line gets to go against one of the top defensive lines in the league every single day. You get to go against the top guys, so everybody's going to get better from that."
