Houston Texans – Blog

Texans Injury Report: Friday

Texans
Out
WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) and FS Danieal Manning (ankle)

Probable
CB Jason Allen (knee), G Thomas Austin (knee), LB Connor Barwin (Achilles), LB Bryan Braman (Neck), G Mike Brisiel (Shin), T Duane Brown (Shoulder), G Antoine Caldwell (Ankle), FB James Casey (Chest), LB Brian Cushing (Knee), WR Derrick Mason (Finger), CB Sherrick McManis (Groin), C Chris Myers (Knee), LB DeMeco Ryans (Elbow/Hamstring/Wrist), RB Ben Tate (Ankle), WR Kevin Walter (Knee), T Eric Winston (Ankle)

Browns
Out
DL Auston English (knee), RB Montario Hardesty (Calf) and DB Dimitri Patterson (Knee)

Questionable
RB Peyton Hillis (Hamstring), LB Kaluka Maiava (Knee), OL Tony Pashos (Ankle) and DB Ray Ventrone (Hamstring)

Probable
LB Chris Gocong (Shoulder), OL Shawn Lauvao (Knee), WR Mohammed Massaquoi (Head) and DB T.J. Ward (Knee)

STATUS DEFINITIONS

Probable –                 (virtual certainty player will be available for normal duty)

Questionable –           (50-50 chance will not play)

Doubtful –                 (at least 75 percent chance will not play)

Out –                          (definitely will not play)

Battle Red Ticket Giveaway

Follow the Texans on Twitter this morning (here) and YOU might be the lucky winner of tickets to Sunday’s contest against Jacksonville.

If you’re Johnny-on-the-Spot, the ducats might be yours.

Good luck!

Autographs Tuesday

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub signed some autographs this morning at the Verizon Wireless store on Post Oak/San Felipe. We caught up with him afterwards and heard how it went, and what he thinks of the Raiders.

Tonight at 6 p.m. at the Go Texan Store on the south side of Reliant Stadium, safety Danieal Manning will sign for fans as well.

If you’re more of a J.J. Watt type of guy, then the defensive end will be at the Academy Grand Opening in Baytown tonight at 6425 Garth Rd, Baytown, TX 77521. That one also is from 6 to 7 p.m.

Scouting the Saints

The Saints are next up for the Texans, with a noon kickoff set for Sunday in the Superdome. Here’s a little  intel on the opponent in Week 3:

-Quarterback Drew Brees has thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions so far this season, with a white-hot 114.9 QB rating through the first two games.

-Brees is also in the final year of his contract.

-Defensive lineman Will Smith is back from suspension, and the team let go of running back Joique Bell to clear roster space for Smith.

-James Varney and Mike Triplett cover the Saints’ beat, and they popped up a quick video earlier today detailing some concerns for the Saints’ defense.

-Finally, check out the latest video up on neworleanssaints.com,  in case there’s trouble at the Superdome this Sunday.

Whataburger appearance tonight

From early reports, there is already a solid line of people at the Whataburger on Louetta in Spring.

Center Chris Myers is getting honored as Whataburger Community Service Player of the Month for August, and he was nominated by quarterback Matt Schaub. Myers will be there to sign autographs, but Schaub won’t be able to make it because of a family obligation.

These are always really cool events, and we’ll have a video up about it tomorrow.

Win prizes by naming preseason’s best

Even though Week 1 is in the books for the Texans, Royal Purple is lo0king back at the team’s 3-1 preseason mark and wanting to get YOU involved.

If you name the Texans’ 3 Royal Purple Rising Stars this preseason by texting “RP” followed by your answers to 88222, you might win.

The five (5) randomly selected winners and a guest will be guests at the Royal Purple Suite at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, TX for the Super Chevy event on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. Winners and guests will receive suite passes upon arrival at the venue and catered lunch and beverages in the Royal Purple suite. Winners will also be awarded one (1) certificate for a case of Royal Purple motor oil in the viscosity of their choice.

Here are the rules: http://bit.ly/qNqqL0

Williams on NFL.com’s ‘Cover 2′ podcast

Texans linebacker Mario Williams joined Steve Wyche and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com on their ‘Cover 2′ podcast today. (He comes on at the 42:45 mark of the podcast.)

He talked a bit about the new 3-4, and described one of the main differences from last season is the plan in place provided by new coordinator Wade Phillips.

“There’s more of an understanding of what’s going on,” Williams said. “I think last year we had a lot of times where we didn’t necessarily know what the next man was doing. I think this year its’ more of an emphasis on communication and knowing what’s going on. Being vocal. Putting all the pieces to the puzzle together. Focusing and being on one accord. I think that’s the biggest thing for us: having the d-line sync with the DB’s. The linebackers sync with the linemen.”

He also added that Phillips’ system will “definitely” provide more opportunities for “big plays and success”.

Williams was asked about the personal transition he’s going through, moving from defensive end to outside linebacker and he said that he’ s learned every day since the first practice of training camp, and that as long as he continues to work on the techniques that come along with playing that spot, “the coaches aren’t going to put me in a bad position.”

Brooks and Wyche got him talking about a couple of his teammates as well, and Williams heaped praise upon veteran linebacker DeMeco Ryans, as well as rookie defensive end J.J. Watt.

Ryans, he said, is the “general” of the defense, and “knows everything.” Williams went on to say that the inside linebacker can diagnose opposing teams’ routes, and plays, on the fly, and that he’s able to get his teammates in proper positions. He also described Ryans as a “technician”.

As for Watt, Williams said the first rounder is the one to keep an eye on, because of his immense talent and ability.

Recap of Ryans on NFL Network

Texans linebacker (and 2011 Spirit of the Bull Award winner) DeMeco Ryans just did a live interview on the NFL Network with Paul Burmeister.

The bulk of the 3+ minute q-and-a dealt with how the Texans plan to deal with a possible Peyton Manning-less Colts team this Sunday in the season opener at Reliant Stadium.

Ryans said that although there’s a “lot of speculation about Peyton” the Texans are preparing as if he’s going to play. He also emphasized that it’s not a big deal who lines up at quarterback, and that the defense has to worry about itself and not the opposition.

When asked about whether or not defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ game plan might be different if it’s Manning or backup Kerry Collins, Ryans smiled and said that he was happy he only has to “execute” plays and not call them.

Ryans also was asked about his achilles, and he responded by saying he’s “feeling good right now,” and that the “achilles is feeling great.”

Manning on the secondary

Free safety Danieal Manning has been around the block, so to speak. A member of the Bears since being drafted as a second-rounder in 2006, he played in five playoff games with Chicago, including Super Bowl XLIV.

After practice yesterday, he spoke with reporters for a few moments, and offered up a few tidbits of note.

He’s especially impressed with strong safety Glover Quin, saying the third-year defender is “like a quarterback back there,” and that he “knows everything that’s going on.” Manning went as far as saying that Quin could play in Hawaii sometime in the near future.

“I see a lot in Glover,” Manning said. “Glover has the potential that he can definitely be in the Pro Bowl if he can continue to work hard, listen to the coaches and stuff like that and at the same time trusting and believing in himself. He’s got all the tools.”

Fellow free agent signee Johnathan Joseph, according to Manning, brings a confidence and comfort level to the rest of the defense.

“If they play one-on-one, we can lock a guy down and guys can focus on other things on the field. We can take him and put him on one of their best receivers and the rest of the game all the other guys can do what we’ve got to do.”

Manning’s also seen a lot of mental growth in second-year corner Kareem Jackson.

“Right now it seems like his maturity level has picked up a lot. I don’t want to toot my own horn or Johnathan’s or anything like that, I don’t think we had anything to do with it. It was a long offseason, so he heard a lot of that talk and he had a chance to wake up and grow up a lot. What I see is a guy that wants to be a pro.”

Watch the Texans online

If you’re unable to catch the Texans’ final two preseason games (Saturday at San Francisco, Sept. 1 at Minnesota) on television, you can still catch them online.

This link courtesy of NFL.com has your viewing needs covered for $9.99.