Houston Texans football is back, with the first day of training camp in full swing. The pads are on and the Texans mean business as we inch closer and closer to the regular season opener of the 2023 season.
For first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and newcomers C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson, and many more, this is an opportunity to acclimate to their new surroundings and for the players, to make an early impression with their new club. The stakes have risen and there will be those ready to answer the call.
Additionally, training camp provides us with a series of intriguing headlines, position battles, and a first glance at how the team performs at each particular position. With a final verdict on the quarterback battle, fringe roster players looking to make an impact, and the coaching staff getting ready to set the tone in their first Texans camp, there is plenty of excitement circulating Houston early.
With a few key notes to go off from day one of Texans camp, here are three observations from the first day that stood out to us here at Toro Times.
The quarterback battle is in full swing
As previously stated, the battle for the Texans' starting quarterback job between incumbent signal caller Davis Mills and rookie C.J. Stroud has been a constant mainstay in off-season narratives for this club. With training camp in full swing, we got a general idea of how things went for the two on the first day.
Both quarterbacks got an opportunity with the first-team offense today, with Houston Chronicle beat writer Brooks Kubena noting that both quarterbacks were in a rotation throughout practice with the first and second teams. This is the start of what will ultimately be a fierce competition between the two.
Though the job is favoring Stroud at the time of writing, the inclusion of Mills in first-team activities implies that the starting job is not simply going to be handed to the rookie. Opportunities are not handed to you in the NFL and Stroud is learning that firsthand in Texans training camp thus far.
The return of John Metchie III and Kenyon Green
Two players who dealt with their share of injury and medical concerns are back in the pads for the Houston Texans. Wide receiver John Metchie III and offensive guard Kenyon Green are back in the blue and ready to rock.
Metchie, who beat leukemia and most recently dealt with a strained hamstring in the spring, is fully cleared for training camp as first reported by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The return of the young receiver is a welcomed addition to the Texans' offense and a rallying cry for his fellow Texans teammates, who are inspired by his resilience and fight to get to where he is right now.
#Texans wide receiver John Metchie III making an inspirational comeback after missing entire rookie year with leukemia @KPRC2 @AlabamaFTBL @WME_Sports Metchie fully cleared for training camp after strained hamstring in spring pic.twitter.com/93yiMHgdFv
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) July 26, 2023
As for Green, injuries severely hampered his 2022 season and the early portion of the offseason, but he too is back at Texans camp after fully recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. The 22-year-old is an important cog in the Texans' offensive line and will be relied upon to take a huge step forward if the unit is to exceed expectations.
The health of both men will be something to keep an eye on but having them back is an excellent sign for the Houston Texans and their fans. If these two are able to stay healthy, I fully expect them to play a major role in the 2023 campaign.
A resounding success in DeMeco Ryans's first day at training camp as head coach
Looking away from the players, the Houston Texans training camp is of equal magnitude to the man in charge. For first-time head coach DeMeco Ryans, this was his debut as the main man and he did not skip a beat.
Ryans was poised and in control, and most importantly looked comfortable on his first day of Texans camp. The adjustment of the coaching staff is another notable storyline heading into the season and Ryans certainly showcased why he was the man chosen for the job today.
Additionally, Ryans offered some clarity in regards to defensive playcalling, stating that he would start off making the defensive play calls according to Brooks Kubena. As a former defensive coordinator for an elite 49ers defense, this comes as little surprise and is something that the first-year head coach should have no trouble with.
DeMeco Ryans says he’ll start off calling defensive plays
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) July 26, 2023
Overall between the handling of the media, running of the show on the field, and overall comfortability, Ryans checked all of the marks with flying colors. This first day was truly an excellent start for the first-year head coach.