The Houston Texans will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Super Bowl champion Rams on Friday night. The two teams will each be competing in their second preseason game of the season. Houston continues its rebuild with new coach Love Smith while the Rams hope to defend their Super Bowl title with any of the key pieces from last year's team returning. The Texans dropped the Saints 17-13 last Saturday night and the Rams upended the Chargers 29-22. The kickoff for this week's game is scheduled for 10pm EST.
Just two short years ago, the Texans looked like they were on the verge of being one of the premier teams in the NFL. They were being quarterbacked by DeShawn Watson, had the premier wide receiver in football in DeAndre Hopkins and one of the best defenders in football in defensive lineman JJ Watts. In a blink of an eye, all three players are elsewhere and the Texans are in full rebuild. The team is now led by 2nd-year quarterback David Mills. Mills started 13 games last season as a rookie as part of the Texans' dismal 4-13 season. Mills was 3 for 3 for 14 yards in two drives where the team failed to get a first down in the preseason opener vs. New Orleans.
“It’s a start,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We didn’t have a lot of production when our one offense was out there, but we got what we wanted accomplished with him. He’s healthy going into Game 2.”
The opene r didn't feature many of the Texans key players as Mills played just two series and the Texans' projected starting RB Marlon Mack had just three carries for six yards. The Texans did feature Mills' backup at quarterback, Jeff Driskel. Driskel had a solid night, going 16-for-26 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to rookie wideout Johnny Johnson III in the game's final minute. Another backup that had a strong game was rookie running back Dameon Pierce, who rushed for 49 yards on five carries. Pierce is a 4th round pick out of Florida.
Going ?? on a Tuesday pic.twitter.com/wXeWgOiDOx
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 16, 2022
The Texans opener did not feature the teams' two first round draft picks as they were without cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., taken third overall, and left guard Kenyon Green, the 15th pick, missing the game with injuries. Stingley has been participating in practice but is being used cautiously as he continues to recover from September surgery to repair a torn ligament in his foot. Green has missed practice time recently with a knee injury. Green has missed five straight practices and is listed as questionable for Friday night. Stingley Jr. is #1 on the cornerback depth chart and doesn't have an injury designation but his participation on Friday will be minimal if at all.