The Houston Texans are set to face the Carolina Panthers in their final preseason game, but head coach DeMeco Ryans has confirmed that no starters will participate in the match. This decision comes after the Texans had a joint practice with the Panthers earlier this week, where the first-unit offense and defense had the opportunity to work against a different team.
In their previous two preseason games, the Texans' starters have seen minimal action. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back Woody Marks played just one drive last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, while the starting offensive line has only participated in a total of two drives across both games. The starting defense has yet to take the field during the preseason.
Ryans indicated that the team will continue with their conservative approach, opting to field backups instead. This strategy may stem from the Texans' satisfaction with their joint practice performance, as well as concerns about injury risks. The team has already faced several significant injuries, including those to wide receiver Jayden Higgins, offensive tackle Braden Smith, and defensive ends Dylan Horton and Ali Gaye.
The Texans will conclude their preseason slate against the Panthers at 6 p.m. CT on Friday. The backup quarterbacks, likely Davis Mills and Brett Rypien, will lead the offense as the team prepares for the upcoming 53-man roster cuts ahead of the regular season.
