DeMeco Ryans reiterates plan to play Texans’ starters against Steelers despite banged-up offensive line

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio – DeMeco Ryans indicated he’s not altering his stated plan to play the majority of the Texans’ starters Friday night in a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Although the Texans are not expected to have Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil available as he hasn’t practiced yet at training camp while ramping up from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery along with right tackle Tytus Howard who got hurt in practice this week, that doesn’t mean they’ll hold out Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud and other first-string players.

The Texans are expected to start rookie Blake Fisher, who allowed zero pressures in his NFL debut against the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame game, at left tackle next to left guard Kenyon Green, center Juice Scruggs, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Nick Broeker. New Texans offensive lineman Cameron Erving, signed to a one-year, $1.2 million deal with a $985,000 salary cap figure under the veteran salary benefit, is expected to see his first action with the team. Erving can play tackle or guard.

Starters are expected to play sparingly, in most cases. Stroud and other players are expected to play a few series.

“No, it doesn’t change at all,” Ryans said. “We keep going with our offensive line. We’re always moving guys around, having guys play different positions, so it doesn’t. Whoever’s available and ready to go, they’ll be out there for preseason.”

Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs didn’t practice Wednesday, one day after getting dinged at practice while being covered by safety Jimmie Ward. It is not regarded as serious and Diggs was at practice Wednesday in street clothes catching passes with teammates.

Howard, likewise, is not hurt badly and is expected to be back relatively soon after leaving practice under his own power, being examined in a blue medical tent and then leaving the field in a golf cart for further treatment. Howard has a relatively minor knee injury.

“Tytus is good,” Ryans said.

Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, the Morton Ranch graduate signed to a two-year, $51 million free agent deal, is looking forward to getting into a game situation.

“I’m just looking to go out there and just apply the defense that I’ve learned going against my opponent with my keys that I’ve learned,” Hunter said. “Just getting the rust off from the offseason. Just go out there and playing fast.”

Not practicing in addition to Tunsil, Howard and Diggs: offensive guard Kendrick Green, who underwent surgery last season for a torn meniscus and is wearing a leg sleeve, offensive lineman Deiter Eiselen, cornerback Kamari Lassiter (ankle), cornerback Jeff Okudah, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), tight end Brevin Jordan, offensive tackle Charlie Heck (plantar fasciitis), nickel Desmond King, running back Joe Mixon (quadriceps), linebacker Christian Harris (calf), defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr., tight end Teagan Quitoriano (strained calf), wide receiver Noah Brown (strained shoulder) and suspended defensive lineman Denico Autry (performance enhancing drug violation).

Lassiter and Anderson’s injuries are not regarded as long-term, Brown is close to returning, as is Mixon, per league sources. Harris is expected to return later in the preseason and get ready for the Colts game, per a source.

Wednesday marked the Texans’ final practice at The University School, the alma mater of general manager Nick Caserio, a former standout quarterback at nearby John Carroll University.

“Being here in Cleveland, I think we’ve had, really four really good days of work,” Ryans said. “I was telling some guys, like I felt like we finally had real camp. Just how efficient we were offensively. Defensively, being where we’re supposed to be. It felt like real camp practices. So, I was happy to get the work in. I think we accomplished a lot by being here.”

During the practice sessions, The University School coaching staff and players were in attendance and met several Texans players and coaches.

“Any time you step on a high school campus again, I think the nostalgia kicks in and we all go back to, ‘Man, I remember my high school field,’” Ryans said. “You just start to think about how it was on those Friday nights playing in high school. It takes us all back to – and what I truly believe in, when you were playing for the pure joy for the game, the fun of the game and I hope our guys were able to recollect on that and bring up some old memories for them being out there at the high school today. We’re very appreciative of University School for having us here and they’ve done a great job of hosting us.”

Ryans is pacing the Texans through their progression until a Sept. 8 season-opener on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, with the Texans having started training camp in the middle of July before the rest of the NFL.

“Yeah, we’ve been rolling in camp for a while now,” Ryans said. “It seems like a long time and I look ahead like, ‘Wow, we still have a good amount of time to go, probably a month left before the true regular season kicks off. So, when we look at reps, I’m monitoring reps every day. I’m seeing where we are, keeping track of it just making sure we’re smart with how we’re loading our guys with the reps and making sure we’re peaking at the right time because when you start camp as early as we have with the Hall of Fame game, I don’t want guys to come in and we’re peaking at preseason Week Two.

“That’s not the time to be at your peak. So, we’re always monitoring it and our sports performance staff, they’ve done a great job of being on it as well. So, just working with them and we’re all in sync with making sure at the end of the day, making sure we take care of our guys the right way. Just want to be as healthy as possible going into the season.”

NOTES: Fisher played 21 snaps against the Bears and didn’t let anyone get close to backup quarterback Davis Mills, who threw a touchdown pass and completed 10 of 13 passes. “He’s coming along well,” Hunter said of Fisher. “I remember before last game, I talked to him before the game and I was like, ‘You’re going to do just fine.’ Going up against this defense, whether it’s me, Will and whomever, he’s been doing a pretty solid job. I think he’s done great. ... Ryans is encouraged by how rookie running back Jawhar Jordan is progressing. “Jawhar had a run that we think we could’ve done a better job of finishing and running the ball,” he said. “So, now I see how he’s running the ball in practice. He’s done a great job this week. Probably his best week of camp so far.” ... Pro Bowl alternate cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. batted away a C.J. Stroud pass intended for Nico Collins. ... Wide receiver Tank Dell and Stroud connected in the back of the end zone for a crisp touchdown. ... Wide receiver John Metchie III caught a touchdown on a Tim Boyle strike. He also had a dropped touchdown and another mishandled throw. ... Stroud found Collins for a touchdown on a one-handed catch.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com