(SportsRadio 610) - Texans rookie linebacker Christian Harris returned to the practice field 16 days ago and Saturday afternoon, the Texans activated the former Alabama standout, who is set to make his NFL debut in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
Harris had been rehabbing a hamstring injury suffered during training camp, which kept him out of the entire preseason.
The 21-year old Harris hasn’t played a down of football since recording three sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble in Alabama’s 33-18 National Championship game loss to Georgia this past January.
Head coach Lovie Smith said this week that while it’s been a slow process to get Harris up to speed and ready for game action, he’s looking forward to seeing him on a game field.
“We like the skill set, the talent of a young player. You have to keep that in mind. It’s his first game in a long period of time,” Smith said. “I think he has grown as much as you can grow without practicing. He’s smart. He’s put in the time. Now you have to have that first game. We have to get him out there and let him start playing.”
It’s unclear how the Texans will use Harris in his debut. Smith said the rookie is being asked to learn just one spot in the linebacker core.
“Position flexibility with a young player is almost impossible to do that. We’re trying to get him up to date on one position,” Smith said. “That’s the chore in itself, to do that an awful lot goes into. Most people I hear say, ‘Put him out there and let him run around and make plays.’ It’s a little bit more to it. We’re trying to get him up speed on one position is what we’re trying to do right now.”
The Texans have brought Harris along slowly, and linebacker coach Miles Smith said a few weeks ago the process has been intentional.
Harris, who benefitted from a mental standpoint, being able to watch from the sidelines to acclimate himself to the defense and position-specific dynamics, is now ready to show why he was drafted in the third round as the eighth linebacker off the board.
Harris could get his feet wet on a special teams unit before he sees his first snap on a defense.
With Christian Kirksey and Kamu Grugier-Hill having been the two regulars in the linebacker core, Harris could be worked into the rotation with second-year pro Garret Wallow.
With Harris being activated, the Texans had to make a corresponding move to fit him on the roster.
The Texans placed third-year defensive end Jonathan Greenard on injured reserve. Greenard has 1.5 sacks and is leading the defense in tackles for loss with five in four games this season.
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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