Texans RB David Johnson talks about the challenges involved with COVID-19 restrictions that affected his reps with his new team. AFC South standings and upcoming AFCS team schedules for Week 2. And Warring is on I.R. which doesn’t even necessitate a linked article, does it?

Texans RB David Johnson says communication is the most difficult adjustment with a new team
By Mark Lane, TexansWire.com

Excerpt from the article: Johnson had the added disadvantage of not being able to participate in an offseason workout program. The NFL eliminated all offseason programs as the COVID-19 pandemic swept in and stagnated over the United States.

“It was definitely tough,” said Johnson. “We first off didn’t have [organized team activities]. That’s really important for a guy who’s getting traded or being on a new team is going through OTAs because that’s a great mental thing to go through and learning the plays because you got so many months before the first game.”

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NFL Standings Week 1: Houston Texans at bottom of AFC South
By Stephen Forsha, ToroTimes.com

Excerpt from the article: The Texans lost to maybe the best team in all of the NFL with their 34-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night. The Colts on the other hand, they lost to one of the potentially worst teams in the league, the Jacksonville Jaguars, by a 27-20 score in one of the biggest surprises of Week 1.

The Tennessee Titans played in the final game of the first NFL weekend, and they had to battle to the very last play to defeat the Denver Broncos on the road, winning with a field goal with 17 seconds left in the game at 16-14 on Monday Night Football.

Next week for the AFC South, the Jaguars will play at the Titans, the Colts will host the Minnesota Vikings, and the Houston Texans are hosting the Baltimore Ravens.

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AFC South Standings After Week 1:

Jacksonville Jaguars 1-0-0

Tennessee Titans 1-0-0

Houston Texans 0-1-0

Indianapolis Colts 0-1-0

Texans sign a QB and 2 TEs to the PS. Texans WR Brandin Cooks reportedly in good condition following the TNF game vs. the Chiefs. And Patrick Morgan of Toro Times talks Ravens vs. Texans.

Texans announce re-signing QB Alex McGough to practice squad, other transactions
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt from the article: The Houston Texans announced the re-signing of quarterback Alex McGough.

The former Florida International quarterback was on the Texans’ roster during training camp. Coach Bill O’Brien hinted that the club would bring back McGough on the team’s practice squad at some point.

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Texans coach Bill O’Brien: WR Brandin Cooks ‘on the upswing’
By Mark Lane

Excerpt from the article: According to the coach and general manager, Cooks is “on the upswing.” With 10 days off between games, the Texans get an early mini-bye to start the season, which bodes well for getting Cooks at peak performance.

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Texans secondary will be tested with Lamar Jackson coming to town
By Patrick Morgan, ToroTimes

Except from the article: Lamar Jackson, the reigning league MVP, looked like an extremely dangerous passer in Week 1… and he will be a tough test for the Houston Texans defense.

Last year, the Houston Texans were positively torched by the Baltimore Ravens… or, more specifically, by Lamar Jackson.

While Houston lost a laugher 41-7, it was the Ravens QB who really embarrassed the Texans that day, passing for four touchdowns and 222 yards through the air while chipping in an additional 79 yards on the ground. All in all, the former Louisville Cardinal had over 300 yards from scrimmage against an undermanned Texans D.

Four takeaways from Texans’ 34-20 loss to the Chiefs in Week 1. Despite the disappointing performance, there’s some Thoughts that it might be too soon to close the book on the Texans offense. One thing is for sure: The Ravens are up next, and it won’t be an easy task.

4 takeaways from Texans’ 34-20 loss to the Chiefs in Week 1
By Mark Lane, TexansWire.com

Excerpt from the article:
1. What happened to spreading the ball around?
The stat sheet reveals Watson threw to nine different receivers against the Chiefs, but the flow of the game revealed a dependence on Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, and David Johnson, who had 10, five, and four targets respectively. Randall Cobb, who the Texans brought in after trading DeAndre Hopkins, saw three targets, and caught two passes for 23 yards. Where was the slot threat?

2. The defensive line is still porous
Edwards-Helaire is a talented back who will find utility in the Chiefs’ offense, but the former LSU Tiger averaged 5.5 yards per carry against the Texans’ defense. Edwards-Helaire had his way with the Texans’ front seven as he gained 138 yards and scored a touchdown on 25 carries.

The defensive line may be an issue that corrects itself as the season goes along. Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard was inactive, and defensive tackle P.J. Hall, who looked promising with four tackles and a tackle for loss, plays his way back into shape.

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@Texans_Thoughts on twitter believes there’s more than what meets the eyes when it comes to the disappointing seasoner opener vs. the Chiefs.

Been rewatching the #Texans broadcast view until the All-22 drops and I think what I’ve found offensively is promising.

The results weren’t there, but the process was, for the most part. More progression from our RPO game, more than just two routes on our shot plays as well! pic.twitter.com/sqhCrQJ45i

— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) September 13, 2020

It’s the weekend. Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Mr. Bill McClintock, the undisputed King of Mashups. He has an ear for mashing songs up. Have a fun, safe weekend everyone.

Bill has a long list of excellent mashups. The Quiet Riot & Kool and The Gang mashup is another catchy mashup on his playlist. Below is some RATT & Marvin Gaye.. Also: Bob Marley & Billy Idol. It’s weird but it works.

Texans, Astros, and Rockets outclassed in one horrific Houston Sports Teams night. And it’s now the 9/11 anniversary, too. Onward and upward.

Like Rockets, Texans’ ‘alternative’ offense exposed against superior competition
By John Crumpler, TexansWire.com

Excerpt from the article: The Houston Texans opened an early lead on Thursday night, carrying a 7-0 advantage over the reigning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs into the second quarter.

Compliments regarding a seemingly rejuvenated David Johnson and schematics by new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver flooded the Twitterverse. Needless to say, for any fans who watched the whole game rather than glancing at the final box score of 34-20, nothing else went their way during the season opener. The Texans were outclassed.

What’s your take on what goes down tonight in K.C.? Are you drunk with hype, or sober with concerns. What about the reg season and playoffs: Will the Texans stay atop the AFCS? It starts…HERE. TODAY.

In separate interviews, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu share a similar viewpoint about not taking the Texans’ new receiving corps lightly. One more day…

Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talks Texans, Breeland, and tackling at Sept. 7 press conference (Video)
By KansasCity.com

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo talked with reporters about the Houston Texans’ new wide receivers, filling in for Bashaud Breeland, and defending the running game during a Zoom press conference on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020.

Spagnuolo: “The biggest challenge is probably that we really don’t know who the go-to guy is. We know what Fuller’s like, and Cooks they add to the mix. I’ve always felt Randall Cobb is a good football player. And you know, we don’t…without any film to go off of…not really sure where they’re headed in terms of what they’re going to put out there, but we’re going to have to figure it out quick. That’s part of the chess game in the first game of the season.”

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Tyrann Mathieu says Texans’ new receiving corps has ‘ability to wreck a football game’
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt from the article: Houston’s philosophy in 2020 is to surround quarterback Deshaun Watson with speedy talent in receivers Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, Randall Cobb, and Brandin Cooks and allow the two-time Pro Bowler to find the open man.

“They’re still a talented group,” Mathieu told Kansas City media on Sept. 7. “I think with or without DeAndre, I think they have the ability to wreck a football game. There’s still a lot of speed out there.”

As training camp neared, Mathieu said that Fuller was the toughest matchup he faced last year. But it is Cobb, who the Texans signed in free agency shortly after trading Hopkins, that has Mathieu’s attention.

Tick tock. Tick tock. Clock is counting down to Game Day. The Texans are keeping an eye on a 3rd QB. The first Texans injury report for the reg season: WR Brandin Cooks limited (quad).

The Texans are keeping an eye on a third quarterback
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt from article: Coach and general manager Bill O’Brien acknowledged the club is evaluating the third quarterback spot and could bring in someone, maybe even McGough.

“We certainly are looking at the quarterback market and what’s out there,” O’Brien said. “Alex is definitely on that list. We’ve had a great experience with Alex. Really hardworking guy. So, we’ll see what happens here after the game.”

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Texans-Chiefs Monday injury report: WR Brandin Cooks limited
By Mark Lane, TexansWire

Excerpt from article: The Houston Texans released their first injury report of the season ahead of their Thursday matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Texans had two players limited with hamstring injuries while receiver Brandin Cooks was listed with a quad issue. All five of the Texans’ players on the injury report had limited participation in practice.

72’ish hours until GAME DAY. Watson gets the extension we hoped for all off-season! What are your thoughts on the roster? How about 2 former Texans finding their way to Kliff’s Cardinals? No QB on the Practice Squad?? And, we’re technically at 54 instead of 53 on the roster–Update 4:00pm: Gareon Conley IR’d (ankle), roster now officially at 53.

Given the potential of players to contract the virus, the NFL further expanded the practice squad to 16 players, including eight total veterans, according to Sporting News’ Tadd Haislop.

As of about midnight, Sept. 6th, 2020, Houston has 14 players on the PS. This leaves the door open for BoB to add 2 more players. Will a PS QB be added, and will it be McGough or perhaps another QB BoB and Tim Kelly might have in mind? Who would you pencil into slots 15 and 16 for the PS?

53-man roster deadline: 3 p.m. Central Time. If you see a cut or a PS assignment, make a comment and link it or embed it. We’ll be tracking the cuts, and later on the Practice Squad roster. It’s all so very exciting, isn’t it?