The Houston Texans are set to conclude their preseason with a game against the Carolina Panthers, which will take place in Charlotte. This matchup follows a joint practice held earlier in the week, where the Texans had the opportunity to see the Panthers in action.
Despite the significance of this final preseason game, head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that no starters will participate. This decision continues a trend observed in the Texans' previous two preseason games, where key players, including quarterback C.J. Stroud and the starting offensive line, had limited playing time. In fact, the starting defense has not yet taken the field in any preseason game.
Ryans indicated that the starters would be rested, likely due to their recent practice against the Panthers, which provided them with valuable experience. Additionally, the Texans have faced injury challenges, with several players suffering significant injuries in recent days, prompting caution regarding their top contributors.
As a result, the Texans will rely on their backup players, including quarterbacks Davis Mills and Brett Rypien, to lead the team against the Panthers. This game will serve as a final opportunity for these players to showcase their skills ahead of the final roster cuts, which will determine the 53-man team for the upcoming regular season.
