And then, there was one.
The Houston Texans return to NRG Stadium following a joint practice on Thursday with the Los Angeles Rams. They’ll look to close the preseason with a third consecutive win while heading into Week 1 as a roster on the rise.
Could starters like C.J. Stroud, Danielle Hunter and others play in front of fans this week? Perhaps. Last year in the preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints, starters played two series before heading to the sidelines and eventually Week 1.
Names like Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil are expected to rest and wait to debut in the regular season. Others, like rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter, would benefit from seeing extended reps past the first quarter.
Since it’s unknown if starters will see the field, here are 10 Texans players on defense who are trending up and fans can’t wait to see them make headlines in front of the home crowd.