(SportsRadio 610) - The Texans are less than a week away from officially opening the preseason in Foxboro against the Patriots on Thursday, Aug. 10.
With fans on hand to watch practice for the third time this camp, they may have witnessed the next phase in the so-called quarterback competition.
Here are some observations and takeaways from day eight of camp:
CJ Stroud got first-team reps again. It was the first time all camp he’d started with the first team on back-to-back days as he and Mills had been rotating.
In fact, he was the only one to get those reps all practice long on Friday. Mills worked exclusively with the two’s and Case Keenum with the third team.
Just about every day at practice, wideout Nico Collins has made a play, usually on a deep ball.
During the early portion of practice during a team period, Stroud gave Collins a chance to do it again but slightly overthrew Collins, who was in single-coverage with Steven Nelson on him.
Moments later, Davis Mills threw an interception to safety MJ Stewart.
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Mills did show good pocket presence today, escaping pressure and sliding up into the pocket to make some good throws otherwise.
Aside from the pick, it was a solid day at the office for him running with the two’s.
After Keenum ran a series with the third team, Stroud took the first opportunity to connect with Collins after missing him down the left side earlier.
This time, with Shaq Griffin in coverage on Collins, Stroud threw a perfect ball to Collins, whose grab drew oooh’s and ahhh’s from the fans in attendance.
Stroud has run with the ball a few times this week and pulled one down in practice today for a solid gain. As he scampered out of bounds, he and his carpool partner Jalen Pitre exchanged a little competitive trash talk. That was fun.
Stroud, who had his best day of camp on Thursday after throwing a combined three interceptions between Monday and Tuesday's workouts, threw another one Friday.
Linebacker Denzel Perryman sat down in zone coverage and read Stroud the whole way. He had an opportunity to catch a second one moments later, but didn’t.
That drew the ire of linebacker coach Chris Kiffin as Perryman made the tackle instead of undercutting the route and playing as aggressively as Kiffin would have liked to see.
Receiver Robert Woods, who’s had a couple of veteran rest days already in camp, was looking good in the early team period Friday. He had a couple of good catches before the TD pass to Collins.
Rookie receiver Xavier Hutchinson continues to make plays. He’s just been so darn consistent, he’s a hard guy to miss on the daily.
Rookie offensive lineman Juice Scruggs had his first full day of running with the first team at center. Scruggs was thrown into the fire Thursday after Scott Quessenberry went down with a torn ACL/MCL in the latter portion of practice.
By all indications, Scruggs practiced well. With the Texans' first preseason game around the corner, the next few days are very important for him to get good-quality reps and development some chemistry with the first team.
Linebacker Jacob Martin has been very vocal on the sideline. Martin, drafted by the Seahawks in 2018 is on his second stint with the Texans.
With Christian Kirksey missing practice today and dealing with a reported hamstring injury, it’s prime time for another linebacker to step up. Special teams ace Blake Cashman has looked good at the position thus far, making two interceptions earlier in the week.
With veterans Cory Littleton and Denzel Perryman signing this offseason to go along with second-year player Christian Harris and this year's fifth-round selection, former Alabama standout Henry To’oTo’o also in the mix and getting important reps, Kirksey could find it tough sledding to make the roster, as the Texans could save around $5 million if they cut by cutting him.
Jared Wayne, a rookie receiver out of Pittsburgh, had a couple of really nice catches today. Both came via the second team with Davis Mills running the unit.
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