Texans starting lineup changes
Garrett Graham will start at tight end for Owen Daniels.Earl Mitchell will start at nose tackle for Shaun Cody.

Bears inactives
17 WR Alshon Jeffery
18 WR Dane Sanzenbacher
70 G/C Edwin Williams
75 DT Matt Toeaina
88 TE Brody Eldridge
91 DT Amobi Okoye
95 DE Cheta Ozougwu

Bears starting lineup changes

THE WIN…

• Improved Houston’s all-time preseason record to 17-25, 8-13 on the road and 6-5 in preseason openers.

• Improved the Texans’ preseason record against Carolina to 1-0.

• Improved Houston’s record in preseason games against NFC South opponents to 6-9 all-time.

• Improved head coach Gary Kubiak’s career preseason record to 14-11 and 5-2 in preseason openers.

TEAM NOTES

• The Texans outrushed the Panthers, gaining 174 yards on the ground to Carolina’s 61.

• The Texans outgained the Panthers overall, 375 to 137. The Texans defense limited Carolina to 12 first downs.

• The Texans dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 37:41.

• The Texans’ starting defense forced a three-and-out in each of their first two series of the preseason, holding the Panthers offense to one yard of net offense on the two drives.

• The Texans defense recorded two takeaways, an interception and a fumble recovery. The two takeaways along with a fumble and an interception by the offense gave Houston an even turnover margin in the game.

• The Texans defense registered eight total sacks, with six different players accounting for them.

• The Texans’ starting offense drove 65 yards in nine plays for a field goal on its first possession of the preseason, capping the drive with a 20-yard field goal from K Shayne Graham.

• The Texans rushed for 174 yards in the game, marking the fourth time in three years under offensive coordinator Rick Dennison that the Texans have rushed for more than 170 yards in a preseason game.

• The Texans led 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, were tied at halftime, 13-13, and led after three quarters 23-13.

• The Panthers won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES

• QB John Beck finished the night 4-of-6 for 46 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 89.6. Beck engineered the Texans’ first touchdown drive of the night, an 11-play, 61-yard march in the third quarter.

• OLB Bryan Braman sacked Carolina QB Jimmy Clausen for 5-yard loss early in the fourth quarter. It was his first sack in the preseason and the defense’s fifth of the night.

• K Randy Bullock capped the Texans’ scoring with a 52-yard field goal in the fourth quarter following the two-minute warning. Bullock was 2-of-2 on the night with the 52-yarder and a 21-yarder in the second quarter.

• ILB Tim Dobbins sacked Carolina QB Derek Anderson for a 7-yard loss in the second quarter. It was Houston’s third sack of the first half.

• Dobbins teamed with OLB Whitney Mercilus to sack Carolina QB Jimmy Clausen for a 9-yard loss in the third quarter. The sack gave each of them 1.5 for the game.

• K Shayne Graham was perfect on both of his field goal attempts, hitting from 20 yards in the first quarter and from 37 yards in the third quarter.

• RB Jonathan Grimes scored the Texans’ first offensive touchdown of the preseason on a 3-yard run in the third quarter. The score came as the result of an interception and capped an 11-play, 61-yard drive.

• WR Trindon Holliday returned a first-quarter kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. It was the second kickoff return for a score in team preseason history. WR Reggie Swinton had a 102-yard return for touchdown in 2005 at Dallas (8/27/05). Holliday finished the game with 182 total return yards, including 159 in kickoff returns.

• OLB Whitney Mercilus registered the first sack of his career when he dropped Carolina QB Derek Anderson for a 4-yard loss in the second quarter.

• Mercilus teamed with ILB Tim Dobbins to sack Carolina QB Jimmy Clausen for a 9-yard loss in the third quarter. The sack gave each of them 1.5 for the game.

• OLB Jesse Nading sacked Carolina QB Jimmy Clausen for a 5-yard loss in the fourth quarter. It was the sixth sack of the night for the Texans defense.

• FS Troy Nolan intercepted a pass on Carolina’s opening drive of the third quarter, setting up an eventual touchdown. It was his third career interception in preseason play after he had two picks in the 2011 preseason.

• OLB Brooks Reed registered a sack for a 10-yard loss on Houston’s second defensive series.

• QB Matt Schaub finished the night 3-of-6 for 52 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He led three drives: a 9-play, 65-yard scoring drive; a 1-play, 11-yard drive that ended with a fumble; and a 2-play, 12-yard drive that ended with an interception. His final passer rating was 40.3.

• QB T.J. Yates led a 16-play, 68-yard drive in his first action of the night. The drive was capped by a 21-yard field goal from K Randy Bullock.

• Yates completed 8-of-12 pass attempts for 89 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 88.5.

• Texans scratches included DE Jared Crick, ILB Brian Cushing, LB Keyaron Fox, ILB Omar Gaither, NT Ra’Shon Harris, WR Jerrell Jackson, WR Andre Johnson, WR Bryant Johnson, DE J.J. Watt and ILB Greg Williams.

Pleasant, an undrafted free agent from Oregon, was previously mentioned by general manager Rick Smith as a player the Texans had contemplated drafting. Marciano seconded that notion, and then some.

“We’ve got Eddie Pleasant, who we really liked,” Marciano said in response to a question about UDFAs who could make an impact on special teams. “We thought we were going to draft him. That’s another story for another day, but we had him and his card was picked; we were ready to take him. I already gave him a nickname. His name is ‘The Missile.’ He seeks in on the target and he just takes off and hits it. He’s a very, very exciting player. I’m excited about him to come in and see what he can do.”

Pleasant (5-10, 211) was a three-year starter at Oregon, starting his career as a linebacker and emergency running back. He didn’t play safety until his junior year with the Ducks but blossomed as a senior in 2011, recording 61 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed en route to first-team All-Pac 12 honors. He posted a 4.63 40-yard dash, 33.5-inch vertical jump and 22 bench press reps of 225 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Texans currently have eight safeties on the roster: 2011 starters Danieal Manning and Glover Quin; 2011 contributors Troy Nolan, Quintin Demps and Shiloh Keo; 2011 practice squad player Torri Williams; and undrafted rookies Pleasant and Desmond Marrow (Toledo).

Four safeties were on the Texans’ active roster on opening day in 2011 (Manning, Quin, Nolan and Dominique Barber). There could be room for five this year, since the Texans had seven cornerbacks in Week 1 last season and now have only six corners on the roster. It’ll be a tough group to crack, but it certainly sounds like Pleasant has a legitimate chance.

We’re taking a round-by-round look at the players who have been drafted by the Texans since their inaugural season in 2002. In particular focus are the picks made since 2007, Rick Smith’s first draft as Texans general manager.

Bold denotes made Texans’ active roster that season
*Denotes finished 2011 season on an NFL roster
#Denotes Pro Bowlers

Texans seventh-round draft picks
2011: Cheta Ozougwu, LB, Rice (254 overall)
2011: Derek Newton, T, Arkansas State (214 overall)*
2010: Dorin Dickerson, WR, Pittsburgh (227 overall)*
2009: Troy Nolan, S, Arizona State (223 overall)*
2008: Alex Brink, QB, Washington State (223 overall)
2007: Zac Diles, LB, Kansas State (218 overall)*
———————————————————————————
2006: David Anderson, WR, Colorado State (251 overall)*
2005: Kenneth Pettway, LB, Grambling State (227 overall)
2004: Raheem Orr, LB, Rutgers (210 overall)
2004: Sloan Thomas, WR, Texas (211 overall)
2004: B.J. Symons, QB, Texas Tech (248 overall)
2003: Curry Burns, SS, Louisville (217 overall)
2003: Chance Pearce, LS, Texas A&M (233 overall)
2002: Greg (Stylez G) White, LB, Minnesota (229 overall)
2002: Ahmad Miller, DT, UNLV (261 overall)

Troy Nolan didn’t make the active roster as a rookie because he was on injured reserve, but he has been a contributor for the last two seasons. That makes four out of six seventh-round draft picks under Rick Smith who have made the team. Diles (30) and Nolan (6) both started games for Houston.

Only Nolan and Newton are still on the Texans. Nolan is the Texans’ top backup at safety, while Newton could be the Texans’ top backup at tackle (swing tackle) in his second season.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Limited Participation in Practice
G Mike Brisiel (Ankle), TE Owen Daniels (Hand/Knee), WR Andre Johnson (Knee), CB Johnathan Joseph (Hip), S Troy Nolan (Ankle)

Full Participation in Practice
LB Mister Alexander (Shoulder), CB Jason Allen (Thumb), LB Bryan Braman (Neck), DE Tim Bulman (Calf), FB James Casey (Knee/Foot), NT Shaun Cody (Knee), TE Joel Dreessen (Knee), CB Sherrick McManis (Ankle), C Chris Myers (Knee), LB Brooks Reed (Knee), RB Ben Tate (Shoulder), T Eric Winston (Calf), QB T.J. Yates (L. Shoulder)

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Limited Participation In Practice
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (Thigh), LB Jameel McClain (Knee)

Full Participation In Practice
WR Anquan Boldin (Knee), LB Dannell Ellerbe (Head), CB Jimmy Smith (Head), G Marshall Yanda (Chest), S Tom Zbikowski (Head)

HOUSTON TEXANS

Limited Participation in Practice
G Mike Brisiel (Ankle), TE Owen Daniels (Hand/Knee), WR Andre Johnson (Knee), S Troy Nolan (Ankle)

Full Participation in Practice
LB Mister Alexander (Shoulder), CB Jason Allen (Thumb), LB Bryan Braman (Neck), FB James Casey (Knee/Foot), NT Shaun Cody (Knee), TE Joel Dreessen (Knee), CB Sherrick McManis (Ankle), C Chris Myers (Knee), LB Brooks Reed (Knee), RB Ben Tate (Shoulder), T Eric Winston (Calf), QB T.J. Yates (L. Shoulder)

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Limited Participation In Practice
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (Thigh)

Full Participation In Practice
WR Anquan Boldin (Knee), LB Dannell Ellerbe (Head), CB Jimmy Smith (Head), S Tom Zbikowski (Head)

• Kubiak said that defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ impending interview for the Tampa Bay head coaching job will not be a distraction. Phillips will interview Friday evening, after players and coaches have already gone home and finished their preparations for the week.
• Tight end Owen Daniels “does have a hand issue” but “it’s not going to keep him from playing.” Kubiak said Daniels, who was injured against the Bengals on Saturday but returned to the game, is “fine” and will be back on the practice field on Wednesday. “That’s nothing that’s going to hold him back,” Kubiak said. “He will be ready to go. It’s not an issue from that standpoint.” It was reported Sunday that Daniels might have a broken right hand, but Kubiak said he’s still in an evaluation process.
• The Texans entered Saturday as healthy as they had been in a long time, and they made it through the game with no major issues. Wide receiver Andre Johnson (hamstring) had a play count in the mid-40s and “came out of the game fine.” Right guard Mike Brisiel (fibula) played about three quarters before getting fatigued but “should be even better this week.” Rookie outside linebacker Bryan Braman “should be ready to go” after leaving Saturday’s game with an injury. Free safety Troy Nolan (ankle), who was inactive on Saturday, “has an excellent chance to be ready to contribute this week.”
• Kubiak on what the Texans need to do differently against Baltimore this time around after losing 29-14 at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 6: “Well, they closed and we didn’t. When you look at the game, I think it was a 14-10 or 14-13 game late in the third quarter and then they made big plays in the pass game in the fourth quarter. We had opportunities offensively and didn’t make them in the fourth quarter.”
• Kubiak was asked how he has dealt with the Texans being tagged as underdogs. “I think it’s kind of been our situation since we’ve lost some key players, especially since we had our quarterback situation,” Kubiak said. “I think a lot of people have said there are a lot of things we can’t do. We’ve had to go to work and try to prove them wrong, so to speak. That’s been part of our motivation as a football team and will continue to be that… Regardless of how tough our situation is – this is a tough one this week, a tough place to play, a great football team – we know if we play our type of football then we’ll have an excellent chance to win. We’re staying focused on that.”

Texans inactives
7 QB Jeff Garcia
15 WR Jeff Maehl
26 CB Brandon Harris
33 FS Troy Nolan
61 G Thomas Austin
66 T Andrew Gardner
88 TE Garrett Graham

Texans starting lineup changes
None

Bengals inactives
26 S Taylor Mays
31 S Robert Sands
52 LB Dontay Moch
60 G Otis Hudson
73 OT Anthony Collins
85 WR Armon Binns
98 DT Nick Hayden

Bengals starting lineup changes

HOUSTON TEXANS

Questionable
CB Jason Allen (Back/Full), LB Bryan Braman (Neck/Limited), S Troy Nolan (Ankle/Full)

Probable
G Mike Brisiel (Ankle/Full), G Antoine Caldwell (Ankle/Full), FB James Casey (Knee/Full), NT Shaun Cody (Knee/Full), TE Owen Daniels (Knee/Full), TE Joel Dreessen (Knee/Full), RB Arian Foster (Knee/Full), WR Andre Johnson (Hamstring/Full), WR Bryant Johnson (Thigh/Full), CB Johnathan Joseph (Achilles/Full), CB Sherrick McManis (Ankle/Full), C Chris Myers (Knee/Full), T Derek Newton (Hip/Full), S Glover Quin (Ankle/Elbow/Full), T Eric Winston (Calf/Full), QB T.J. Yates (L. Shoulder/Full)

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Doubtful
S Taylor Mays (Hamstring/DNP), LB Dontay Moch (Illness/DNP)

Probable
DT Geno Atkins (Achilles/Full), HB Cedric Benson (Foot/Full), C Kyle Cook (Foot/Full), S Chris Crocker (Knee/Full), QB Andy Dalton (Illness/Full), DE Jonathan Fanene (Non-Injury/Full), DE Frostee Rucker (Shoulder/Full)

G Mike Brisiel (Ankle), TE Owen Daniels (Knee),

HOUSTON TEXANS

Limited Participation in Practice
CB Jason Allen (Back), LB Bryan Braman (Neck), G Mike Brisiel (Ankle), TE Owen Daniels (Knee), S Troy Nolan (Ankle)

Full Participation in Practice
G Antoine Caldwell (Ankle), FB James Casey (Knee), NT Shaun Cody (Knee), TE Joel Dreessen (Knee), RB Arian Foster (Knee), WR Andre Johnson (Hamstring), WR Bryant Johnson (Thigh), CB Johnathan Joseph (Achilles), CB Sherrick McManis (Ankle), C Chris Myers (Knee), T Derek Newton (Hip), S Glover Quin (Ankle/Elbow), T Eric Winston (Calf), QB T.J. Yates (L. Shoulder)

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Did Not Participate in Practice
DE Jonathan Fanene (Non-Injury), S Taylor Mays (Hamstring), LB Dontay Moch (Illness)

Limited Participation in Practice
DT Geno Atkins (Achilles), QB Andy Dalton (Illness), DE Frostee Rucker (Shoulder)

Full Participation in Practice
HB Cedric Benson (Foot), C Kyle Cook (Foot), S Chris Crocker (Knee)