Texans’ starters to make preseason debut against Steelers, including C.J. Stroud ‘Truly believe a guy needs to get reps’

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio – CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- A much awaited preseason debut is set for the Texans’ starters Friday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized the importance of getting his first-team offense and defense prepared for the regular season through some live action in a game situation.

The Texans, who didn’t play the majority of their starters in the Hall of Fame game with the exception of left guard Kenyon Green and center Juice Scruggs, are expected to have Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud and Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs play together in a game for the first time Friday at Acrisure Stadium for the defending AFC South champions’ second preseason game.

“I truly believe that a guy needs to get reps in a preseason game,” Ryans said. “We don’t go to the ground as you see with the way we practice. We try to keep guys up and be as safe as possible in practice, but I think everyone needs the opportunity to go to the ground a couple times in a game. Get up, dust yourself off and know you’re good.

“Like ‘I’m okay and I can go to the ground and get up.’ You just have to go through and play live reps of football before live action comes in September. You’ll see our ones go out and get reps this week versus Pittsburgh.”

In Ryans’ first season last year as head coach, the Pro Football Writers of America Coach of the Year had Stroud play one quarter in his preseason opener against the New England Patriots and one half against the Miami Dolphins and two series in the final preseason game.

Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl selection acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Bills, and Stroud are building their timing and chemistry and relationship. They are making steady progress and Stroud frequently throws and completes passes for Diggs, who had 100-catch seasons every year for the Bills. Stroud led the NFL in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio last season and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“It’s a work in progress,” Diggs said at the start of training camp. I’m not going to say everything is perfect, but you see us kind of getting of that same page here and there. And nothing is going to be perfect. I starve for it, we grind for it, but getting on the same page play after play and that communication, that open line of communication, I feel like that’s going to really separate it seeing that we have such a small period of time.

“But this isn’t my first rodeo and I’m not, by any means, reinventing the well. This is the same football we’ve been playing since we were five. And No. 7 is special, I think everybody kind of knows that. I must reiterate it though because I’ve seen it firsthand and taking it play after play and building, so it’s a work in progress.”

To test themselves against the Steelers is something the Texans’ players are looking forward to.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Green said. “The Steelers are a hard-nosed, physical team, so it’s just going to get us prepared for the regular season going against defensive lines like that and the linebacker crew they have, so it’s going to be a great battle.”

The Texans practiced Monday morning at the University School in the Cleveland suburbs, working out at the alma mater of general manager Nick Caserio, a record-setting former John Carroll University quarterback.

“I just found that out today and that’s crazy, so it’s pretty cool seeing his stomping grounds, where he came from,” Green said. “So, it’s pretty cool.”

Being in Ohio after attending the Hall of Fame ceremony for Texans retired All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson allows the Texans time to bond away from Houston and get out of the oppressive Texas heat.

“We’re excited to be here hanging out in Cleveland and being able to get away,” Ryans said. “First off being able to get away from the heat for a little bit, so I think our guys appreciate this weather and this climate being able to be here. Really great facility here. Thankful for University School for allowing us to utilize their fields.”

With an expansive campus and well-manicured fields, the Texans got in a sharp and spirited workout that included linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair intercepting a Stroud pass over the middle, Stroud scrambling for an ensuing touchdown and backup quarterback Davis Mills connecting with wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson on a crisp throw to the corner o of the end zone for a red-zone score.

“Getting away for a weekend here in camp, the most important thing about it is you see guys communicate more,” Ryans said. “You see guys just hanging out more in the meal rooms. Just talking, playing video games together, so that’s what you want as a coach. You want to see your team grow a tighter bond when you’re on the road for a week and that’s what our guys are doing.

“That’s what I’m probably most excited about is seeing our guys just become tighter as a team. The tighter you are and I always speak this to the team. The tighter you are as a team, the better your team is and the further you can go as a team when you have that tight bond.”

At practice Monday, Stroud was extremely sharp with the exception of Al-Shaair picking him off.

His sideline pass to wide receiver Tank Dell was impressive in addition to a touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Woods and various throws to Diggs and Nico Collins.

“I think overall it was a very competitive practice,” Ryans said. “I think you saw a lot of big plays that our offense made, that’s what we want to see. Execution was higher today on both sides of the football and to see our guys compete. Guys be sticky in coverage. See the offense still make plays like that’s what I want to see. I want to see a competitive team and that’s what you saw today, and it’s always fun to see our offense making big plays.”

Texans nickel Jalen Pitre was flagged for defensive pass interference as he made contact with Diggs while batting away a Stroud pass.

Several players didn’t practice Monday, including Pro Bowl defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter due to minor injuries along with running back Joe Mixon (quadriceps strain), linebacker Christian Harris (hamstring), cornerback Jeff Okudah, cornerback Kamari Lassiter, tight end Teagan Quitoriano (strained calf), offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (offseason arthroscopic knee surgery), defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr., offensive tackle Charlie Heck (plantar fasciitis), Blake Fisher leaving practice early with trainers with something not considered serious, linebacker Jake Hansen (concussion protocol), safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. (concussion protocol).

“Those guys will be fine,” Ryans said when asked about Anderson and Hunter.

Overall, it’s been a productive time for the Texans during their extended time away from Houston.

“All it’s doing is just us connecting together, being more of a family, a brotherhood and it’s pretty cool seeing it,” Green said. “Everybody connecting, offense, defense, just being together, so it’s pretty cool.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.