On Friday night, the Texans take on the Steelers in their second 2024 preseason game. A week ago on Thursday, Houston was behind Chicago in the Hall of Fame Game when late-third-quarter thunderstorms called the game. Here are five things to catch when the Texans and Pittsburgh play in Acrisure Stadium starting at 6 p.m. CT.

First Heaven? – At Pittsburgh, a number of starters, including quarterback C.J. Stroud, may make their preseason debuts. They might also not.

Last week in Canton, most of the first team players were rested. Head coach DeMeco Ryans intimated that a large number of starters would take the field in Pittsburgh, however he would not specify who would play against the Steelers.

“You’ll see our ones go out and get reps this week versus Pittsburgh,” Ryans stated.

As a rookie last season, Stroud started two series in the opening preseason games against New England, all four first-half series against the Dolphins the following week, and two series in the preseason finale at New Orleans. He played center for a total of forty-three preseason snaps.

Bobby Slowik, the offensive coordinator, was vague when he expressed his expectations for the second-year signal caller—and, indeed, for all Texans—this season.

Slowik remarked, “I just want to see him grow.” Everyone has a great deal that they can continue to work on and grow better at. It could be something significant that impacts the offense as a whole or something tiny that is exclusive to each player.”

2) Piercing on the ground: Last Thursday, the Texans displayed a peculiar stat on the ground. Throughout the game, four different ball carriers had rushes of seven yards or more; nonetheless, Houston’s average per carry was a mere 2.6 yards. Joe Mixon, the running back, hasn’t worked out since July, and Dameon Pierce didn’t participate in the Bears game.

Including Pierce in the mix might help improve the previous week’s yards-per-carry average, and Slowik has been pleased with Pierce’s performance thus far in training camp.

Slowik remarked, “He is putting his head down and working.” “He has made huge strides from where he was at last year and what he has grown in and what he has shown he is trying to do.”

When Pierce suffered an injury early in December 2022, he was on track to have a rookie season of 1,000 yards. He has outlined his goals for 2024 after failing to live up to his expectations in 2023.

“Personally, that’s playing fast, that’s being explosive, that’s being a playmaker, that’s being a high caliber running back in this League like I have been, like I have shown flashes of,” Pierce stated. “But now the challenge is being consistent in that aspect.”

3) Catching Fire: Against Chicago, the passing game was fruitful. It took a total of 25 plays for the Texans to score a touchdown and set up a field goal thanks to the leadership of quarterback Davis Mills. Additionally, Mills completed 102 yards on 10 of 13 throws. After Mills, Case Keenum completed a 7-of-9 passing effort for 78 yards and a touchdown. Six different Texans concluded the game with 20 or more receiving yards.

tense conclusion Tank Dell, Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Dalton Schultz were the wide receivers who did not participate in the Hall of Fame game. But one, some, or all of them might be on the field in Pittsburgh, providing the quarterbacks of the Texans with a reliable weaponry.

4) New defenders: The Texans defense will see some action from some new faces, in keeping with Ryans’ claim that the team will play more reps.

Three Texans players haven’t on the field yet: cornerback Kamari Lassiter, defensive end Danielle Hunter, and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. But Pittsburgh could see a change in that.

Over his eight NFL seasons, Hunter has amassed 87.5 sacks. With all that expertise, he is quite clear about what he wants to get out of the preseason games.

“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 stated. “I’m just derusting from the winter break. Simply walk outside and play quickly.”

Al-Shaair and Ryans have a past together; prior to 2023, the former coached the latter in San Francisco as an assistant and defensive coordinator. The youthful, seasoned linebacker has impressed the head coach of the Texas Texans.

“Azeez has done a great job of leading our football team,” Ryans stated. “Every day, he infuses energy. Not just on defense, I know that everyone on our team senses Azeez’s enthusiasm, and I’m happy with where he’s at.”

5) Return rate: Jawhar Jordan, Johnny Johnson, and Steven Sims recovered kickoffs under the new rules, while J.J. Taylor and Myles Bryant each returned a punt against the Bears.

Special Teams Coordinator Frank Ross wants the guy returning a punt or a kickoff to stay “true to your style of running” and not try to be someone he isn’t.

“There are some general rules of thumb of how you run,” Ross stated. “But everybody has to run to their style and we have to do a good job of accentuating those when we design the return for them.”

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