There is a little bit of buzz surrounding the Houston Texans as they head toward training camp this year. After some tumultuous seasons filled with embarrassment for how they handled head coaching searches and the Deshaun Watson situation, things seem to be turning around for the franchise.
Former standout linebacker and most recently the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, DeMeco Ryans, was hired as the team’s new head coach. He and general manager Nick Caserio have been on the same page about how to get the organization back on track.
The Texans selected who they hope turns into their next franchise quarterback, C.J. Stroud out of Ohio State, with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They made a bold move to acquire the No. 3 pick from the Arizona Cardinals and used that selection on star Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson.
Those two players provide them with building blocks on both sides of the ball to hopefully lead their respective units for years to come. While they will garner the most attention, that duo is far from the only players to keep an eye on this year.
Another player to watch for in training camp and throughout the 2023 season is linebacker Christian Harris. Harris flew under the radar during his rookie season as the Texans weren’t very good in 2022, finishing the season 3-13-1.
Alas, he was a true standout once he was able to get on the field following an offseason of injuries. Healthy and with a stronger supporting cast around him, Mike Jones of The Athletic believes he is the Texans’ breakout candidate for the upcoming season.
After missing the first five games of the season, Harris was very productive over the last 12, making 11 starts. He had 74 total tackles, six tackles for loss and one sack while playing 89 percent of the defensive snaps.
The 2022 second-round pick out of Alabama looks to be a big part of the Texans’ plans defensively. He should remain in a nearly every down role for the team and is a plausible breakout candidate given the experience that he gained as a rookie and that he now gets to learn from a talented former linebacker in Ryan as his head coach.
While the rebuild is still in the early stages, things are certainly looking up for the Texans. Having young players such as Harris littering the roster is a big reason why.
