The Houston Texans will conclude their preseason with a game against the Carolina Panthers, but head coach DeMeco Ryans has confirmed that no starters will participate. This decision comes after the Texans had a joint practice with the Panthers earlier in the week, where the first-team offense and defense had the opportunity to compete against another team.
In the previous two preseason games, the Texans' starters have seen minimal action. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back Woody Marks only played one drive against the Las Vegas Raiders, and the starting offensive line has collectively played just two drives across both games. The starting defense has yet to see any game time.
Ryans indicated that the team would take a conservative approach for the final preseason game, opting to rest all starters and rely on backups instead. This strategy may be influenced by the recent injuries to key players, including wide receiver Jayden Higgins and offensive tackle Braden Smith, as well as defensive ends Dylan Horton and Ali Gaye.
The Texans' backups, including quarterbacks Davis Mills and Brett Rypien, will take the field against the Panthers at 6 p.m. CT on Friday. This game serves as the last opportunity for players to showcase their skills before the team finalizes its 53-man roster ahead of the regular season.
