The Houston Texans have announced that none of their starters will participate in the upcoming preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Head coach DeMeco Ryans made this decision following a joint practice with the Panthers, which allowed the team to assess their first unit earlier this week.
In prior preseason matchups, the starters had limited playing time. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back Woody Marks were on the field for just one drive against the Las Vegas Raiders, while the offensive line has only participated in two drives across both games. The starting defense has yet to see any action this preseason.
Ryans stated that this cautious approach is deliberate, as the team is pleased with the performance of their starters during the joint practice. The decision to rest starters also comes amid injuries to key players, including wide receiver Jayden Higgins and offensive tackle Braden Smith, which has led to a focus on minimizing injury risk.
As the Texans gear up for the regular season, backups, likely including quarterbacks Davis Mills and Brett Rypien, will take on the Panthers. This game will provide a final chance for players to demonstrate their abilities before the Texans finalize their 53-man roster. The season opener against the Buffalo Bills at Reliant Stadium will mark the first in-game appearance of the starters this season.
