Houston

Texans

Speaking to reporters Monday, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said that starters will see snaps against the Steelers in preseason Week 1. “You just have to go through and play live reps of football before September. You’ll see our ones go out and get reps this week against Pittsburgh.” How long the starters will remain in the game remains to be seen, but it is now evident that we will see them on the field against the Steelers.

Jackson began the 2023 season in Denver but didn’t make it through the end of the season. He was ejected from the team’s Week 2 game against the Commanders due to an illegal hit. Jackson committed the same penalty in Week 7 and was suspended for four games, though it was later reduced to two. Jackson inexplicably returned to the field only to commit the exact same penalty once more. The league gave him the four-game suspension this time around. Seeing him as not worth the trouble, Denver cut Jackson after he served his second suspension. The Texans claimed him off waivers but kept him in a reserve role to close out the year. Jackson will be a depth option for a depleted Buffalo secondary, but his history of violent hits has him on thin ice with the league.

Autry released a statement saying, “It was important to me that the NFL know that I did not intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance.” According to Autry, he wrongfully received medication from a pharmacy that was supposed to provide him with a different medication as prescribed by a doctor. Autry said he sought legal counsel and “provided the NFL with information, including documentation” from his doctors as proof that he “neither asked for nor was prescribed any banned substances.” Autry said he accepts the six-game suspension but also plans to look into legal options as they pertain to his situation. Autry totaled 50 tackles and a career-high 11.5 sacks for the Texans last season. He will be eligible to return in Week 7 when the Texans take on the Packers at Lambeau Field.

Ryans added, “I’m not worried about Joe,” to reiterate his confidence in his veteran running back. There haven’t been any reports of an injury to Mixon, but his absence is intriguing when considering they have worked out a handful of veteran backs over the last few days, and recently signed Cam Akers. The team appears unconcerned about Mixon at this time, giving us little to go on here. Unless we hear otherwise, we’ll assume Mixon will be back practicing with the team soon and that this is little more than a blip on the training camp radar.

Harris isn’t practicing with the team in the early stages of training camp. The third-year linebacker, who totaled 101 tackles and two sacks, is instead observing from the sideline as he works his way back to the field. According to Wilson, Harris “is expected back relatively soon,” so we won’t read too much into this for now. Harris turned in a career year last season and is expected to help anchor a Texans defense that ranked 11th in points allowed per game (20.8) in 2023.

It’s the latest sign that Mixon, 27, who signed a three-year contract extension with Houston this offseason, will be the team’s unquestioned primary back in 2024. Though Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans recently said Mixon and Dameon Pierce will be a “one-two punch,” all indications point to Mixon as the lead back who will see high-leverage touches in the ascendant Houston offense. Mixon totaled more than 1,200 yards in each of his final three years with the Bengals. Pierce in 2023 was among the worst running backs in the NFL, averaging 2.8 yards per carry. He’ll be a backfield insurance option in Mixon misses time this season. The team recently added journeyman Cam Akers to the backfield.

Returning from his second torn Achilles in three years, Akers will now look to make the Texans’ 53-man roster this summer. The former second-round pick struggled last season while splitting time between the Rams and Vikings, running for 167 yards and two touchdowns on 60 carries (2.8 YPC) before seeing his season come to an end in Week 9 against the Falcons. Even if he makes the Texans’ roster, Akers will presumably be buried behind Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce on the depth chart. As of now, this signing doesn’t move the fantasy needle for any of the three backs.

Akers, 25, has suffered two torn Achilles since 2021 and last played with the Vikings for part of last season. The four-year pro struggled to the tune of 60-167-2 (2.8 YPC), appearing to be a shell of what he once was. If Akers signs with the Texans, it won’t be as anything more than as a camp body who has a chance to make the 53-man roster in camp. He’s a long way from having any fantasy upside even if he does land on a roster this season.

Jackson split last season between the Browns and Giants. He totaled just 30 scoreless yards from scrimmage on 19 touches and hasn’t amassed more than 98 touches in a season since being signed as a UDFA by the Colts in 2021. If he were to sign with the Texans, Jackson would likely need to show flashes on special teams to secure his spot on the roster.

Asked by a reporter if he is ready to contribute on special teams, Dell said, “Am I ready? I’m ready for everything, you know?” HC DeMeco Ryans furthered the point, adding “With the new kickoff rule, I think you’ll see a lot of teams using many more skill players at the return position.” His goal is to find out” who’s best at really creating explosive plays” as a returner. The Texans passing offense generated explosive, 15-plus-yard plays at the league’s third-highest rate (16.7 percent) last year so it comes as no surprise that Ryans’ goal remains the same on special teams. Should Dell win the role, his return usage would provide a slight edge in leagues that award points for special teams production.