Texans call an audible, shifting practice into hottest part of the day: ‘Some guys responded well, some didn’t’

HOUSTON – The most popular spot on the Texans’ practice field was the ice-cold, huge trailer behind the end zone designed scientifically to bring down players’ body temperature rapidly.

One week after practicing in the mild Midwest weather in the Cleveland area, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans called an audible by shifting practice into the heart of the hottest day of training camp.

After weeks of 9 a.m. start times in Houston, the Texans shifted their practice time to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after an original start time of 10:30 a.m. It was 95 to 96 degrees for most of the practice. With the humidity, it felt like 107 degrees, according to local weather reports.

“How did y’all do in the heat today?” Texans veteran offensive guard Shaq Mason said. “It was pretty hot. It was hot out here today. I mean, it was definitely one of the hottest days, but we need days like this.”

It was definitely an extremely hot and productive day.

“Today felt like a real training camp day for us with the heat and external elements,” Ryans said. “As we all know, it’s pretty hot and humid here in Houston, It’s what we have to deal with. Nothing we complain about, we just got to go to work.

“As I tell our guys, no matter what it is, for me it’s about adversity and when it hits you, how do you respond. Some guys responded well today and some didn’t, so there is a lot for us to learn from build off of.”

The Texans did this schedule change with the intention of getting the players acclimated to their in-season practice time. The Texans practice for the next two days before a Friday walkthrough in advance of a preseason game at noon Saturday against the New York Giants.

“Yeah, for sure,” Ryans said. “Getting back to it at this time is the time that we’ll be working throughout the season, so want our guys to know what it will feel like, especially that first half of the season.”

This was easily the Texans’ most oppressive weather conditions they’ve had to deal with since training camp started.

They’ve had several overcast, rainy practices in Houston, too.

“Our sports performance staff does a great job of prepping our guys, so we’re ready to push through,” Ryans said. “Guys, their bodies are good and just pushing through it, but it’s more mental as opposed to their bodies. it’s a mental thing and that’s what playing in the NFL is about. Everyone is about the same physically, but how you separate yourself mentally. That’s where you separate the best from the rest.”

The Texans got three starters back from injuries Tuesday.

That included rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who had been sidelined for the past week, including the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game, with an ankle injury, in addition to right tackle Tytus Howard, back from a minor knee injury, and offensive guard Shaq Mason, practicing again with a protective brace on his arm.

This marked the second practice back for Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil following offseason arthroscopic knee surgery and Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon from a strained quadriceps at the start of camp.

“For all of our guys, whenever they get back, it’s just about guys getting in and getting valuable work,” Ryans said. “We’re excited any time we get guys back who have been away for a while, so it’s the same with those two guys and I’m excited to see them back out working. I think it’s more important for their teammates to see them and everyone working together and getting on the same page. Excited to see all of our guys back who have been missing for a few weeks here.”

Injury prediction software, GPS tracking in the shoulder pads, real-time load performance data available to the medical, performance and strength and conditioning staff and coaches, all of that is available and utilized by the Texans. Sports science is a critical part of how the Texans evaluate each players’ workload.

Several players didn’t practice with many working on the side.

Not practicing; cornerback Jeff Okudah, who’s nearly recovered from a hip injury, wide receiver Noah Brown (shoulder), tight end Teagan Quitoriano (strained calf), offensive tackle Charlie Heck (plantar fasciitis, foot), linebacker Christian Harris, who had a setback with his strained calf Sunday, wide receiver Ben Skowronek (left leg), defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. (calf) and suspended defensive lineman Denico Autry.

“Player monitoring has changed a lot, it’s the way to go now,” Ryans said. “It’s the norm opposed to when I was playing when there was no GPS units or tracking when it comes to that. I think we do a much better job and a much smarter job of managing guys, managing their bodies and trying to make sure they’re as healthy as possible, but as we all know this game we play is so fast and explosive. Guys are so strong, where guys are going to get hurt and that’s inevitable. It happens in football and that’s unfortunate, but there are injuries all the time in our space.

“That’s why these guys are some of the best athletes in the world and it’s a pleasure for all of us to get to work and watch these guys do what they do. They are special, they are talented, they are gifted guys and there is not many guys who can do what our guys do. It’s always a credit to them and it’s such a huge honor to just be here and work with them and see what they go through on a day-to-day basis. What you guys don’t see at practice, you guys don’t see all the recovery and all the things that these guys go through. These guys go through a lot and it’s just a ton of respect for what these guys go through.”

Moving forward into the next phase of the preseason with two remaining preseason games, including the Giants and the Los Angeles Ras with a joint practice day preceding that preseason finale, Ryans wants to see steady progress in terms of technique and knowledge of the schemes.

“It’s always the small things,” Ryans said. “You want to make sure guys have something targeted that they can hit. It may be for a tight end, just getting your second foot in the ground, or making sure your target is right. Getting your hat on the outside number.

“It’s small things that are very targeted, so our guys can know and see when they actually hit it in practice. Whether it’s our eyes, or our footwork, it’s very small things because that’s what separates the great players. It’s guys who can do those little things consistently over and over again. That’s the way to win in this league. Not the wild plays, it’s just you being consistent in the small details of your fundamentals and techniques.”

For the first time since training camp started, the Texans’ first-string offensive line practiced together.

That included left tackle Laremy Tunsil, left guard Kenyon Green, center Juice Scruggs, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Tytus Howard.

“Man, we can be very good,” Mason said. “We can be. It’s good to have everybody out there just getting on one accord, practicing together. We just out there just trying to take it one day at a time.”

Their primary task: protect Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud.

“I think his attention to detail and I think that’s a big thing coming into Year Two,” Mason said. “With the rookie season that he had, just growing and key-detailing and fine-tuning everything and I mean, he’s come in and he’s been very determined.”

During practice, Mason takes full advantage of the videoboards with instant replays to analyze his play.

“It’s very key,” Mason said. “I mean, I actually try to stop looking at it because I’ll do a play and then I’ll just come back to the huddle and I’m looking up the whole time trying to see what I did.

“So, I mean, it’s very helpful, but it also can be detrimental because you’re paying attention to the last play instead of the next play, but I mean, you can definitely use it and it can hurt you.”

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