The Houston Texans are set to face the Carolina Panthers in their final preseason game this week, but head coach DeMeco Ryans has announced that no starters will participate in the matchup. This decision comes after the Texans had a joint practice with the Panthers, allowing the team to evaluate their first unit in a practice setting earlier this week.
In their previous two preseason games, the Texans' starters have seen limited action. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back Woody Marks played only one drive last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, while the starting offensive line has collectively participated in just two drives across both games. Notably, the starting defense has not taken the field at all during the preseason.
Ryans indicated that the conservative approach for the final preseason game is intentional, as the team is satisfied with the performance of their starters during the joint practice. Additionally, the Texans have been dealing with injuries to key players, including wide receiver Jayden Higgins and offensive tackle Braden Smith, which may have influenced the decision to rest starters and minimize injury risk.
As the Texans prepare for the regular season, the team will rely on backups, likely featuring quarterbacks Davis Mills and Brett Rypien, to take the field against the Panthers. This game will serve as a final opportunity for players to showcase their skills before the Texans finalize their 53-man roster.
