The Houston Texans are preparing for their final preseason game this week against the Carolina Panthers, which will take place in Charlotte. This matchup follows a joint practice session held on Wednesday, where the Texans had the opportunity to practice against the Panthers in a more competitive environment.
In their previous two preseason games, the Texans' starters have seen limited action. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back Woody Marks participated in just one drive against the Las Vegas Raiders last week, while the starting offensive line has played only two drives across both games. Notably, the starting defense has yet to take the field during the preseason.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans has confirmed that no starters will participate in the upcoming game against the Panthers. This decision appears to align with the Texans' conservative approach to the preseason, opting to field backups instead of risking injuries to key players.
The team has already faced multiple injuries, including those to wide receiver Jayden Higgins, offensive tackle Braden Smith, and defensive ends Dylan Horton and Ali Gaye.
Ryans indicated that the starters had sufficient practice time during the joint session with the Panthers, which may have influenced the decision to limit their game-time exposure. This strategy aims to minimize injury risks as the Texans prepare for the regular season.
