Houston Texans: 3 Players to watch in Week 3

The third week of the ’22 NFL season is here as the Houston Texans are playing the Chicago Bears, and still looking for their first win after losing last week, and tying in the season opener.

The Texans have a lot on the line in this game. They have yet to get a win this season, and with the Jaguars taking the lead in the AFC South with their win last week over the Colts, the Texans need to get a victory so not to get too far back in the standings, and possibly be a first place team in the division with a win.

The Bears are 1-1 and aren’t looking great following their loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Houston is going into Chicago as the underdogs, but the Texans can look for the upset if players step up and earn the win.

Which players should we watch in Week 3 against the Bears?

Davis Mills – Quarterback

No one on the Texans has more pressure on their shoulders this week quite like quarterback Davis Mills. With a poor performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, Mills needs to step up. His poor play has been far from what Texans fans were expecting. Mills looks to have regressed from last year and has some Houston fans already looking into the 2023 NFL Draft for a new quarterback.

We must see Mills look through his progressions more this week. He cannot keep targeting Brandin Cooks when he isn’t open. The Texans have other weapons like Nico Collins, who must get targets. Collins provides the athletic ability, size, and strength to be special, but will Mills look to him or Chris Moore this week?

If we can see a development in Mills’ game with more confidence in the pocket, Texans fans may calm down on their hopes for a new quarterback next season and potentially gain faith in Mills.

Dameon Pierce – Running Back

The week is here for Dameon Pierce to show his skills and dominate the run. The Bears are dead last in run defense, allowing 5.0 yards per carry. Head coach Lovie Smith has repeatedly said that the Texans are a run-first offense, and this week we hope to see this come to fruition.

Pierce has the talent and work ethic to dominate in this game, and if offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton calls the right plays for Pierce to have an opportunity, he should dominate the solid performance from last week and hopefully end up in the end zone.

Jonathan Owens – Safety

From being a practice squad player for Houston in 2019-20 to leading the entire NFL in tackles, that is the story of safety Jonathan Owens. Having 25 tackles going into Week 3 is very impressive, especially from a safety over a linebacker, and that’s what Owens has accomplished in thee first two games of the season.

The world knows Owens for being married to Olympian gymnast Simone Biles, but Texans fans love what he brings to the team and have impressed this season.

The Bears are a run-first offense with David Montgomery as their lead rusher, while quarterback Justin Fields will have his fair share of runs. Owens and the Texans have a lot to show this week, stopping the rush in a must-win game against the beatable team.

Can Owens continue his tackle domination, or will he get run over by the Bears’ run game?