Preseason Week 3 is finally upon us. As these meaningless games finally start to reach their climax, many players are facing the task of doing all they can with just two weeks to go to stake their claim to make either the Houston Texans or another NFL roster.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at three of the current Texans who could do with a good outing on Saturday against their in-state rivals the Dallas Cowboys.
1. OT Roderick Johnson
There has been much debate since Johnson’s strong performance against the Detroit Lions last weekend that he deserves a go as the starting left tackle over veteran Matt Kalil. While Kalil has been named by Bill O’Brien as the Week 1 starter, he also remains sidelined per the “coach’s discretion.”
Johnson has looked vastly improved compared to when he entered the NFL in 2017 as a fifth-rounder to the Cleveland Browns. A position of much disagreement this summer, left tackle seems the most uncertain as they enter the year, despite it being one of the few that O’Brien has actually said is already decided. However, it seems unlikely that another strong game or two this preseason couldn’t do the trick and sway the coach’s mind.
Johnson needs to show that he can be consistent, and is not just a flash in the pan, a strong game against a good Cowboys defense would help this.
2. WR Vyncint Smith
Entering this preseason, Smith was widely pegged as a potential breakout player this year, including by myself. However, thus far he has done little to catch the eye, and more importantly, to differentiate himself from the likes of undrafted rookies Johnnie Dixon, Tyron Johnson, or fellow veterans Steven Mitchell and DeAndre Carter.
A 31-yard touchdown reception against the Lions will have helped push his cause, but Johnson and Carter, in particular, have impressed so far, with both also having shown their abilities on special teams. This may prove to be the deciding factor as O’Brien has always pushed the importance of anyone not listed as a starter needing to be versatile enough to contribute elsewhere.
3. P Trevor Daniel
In 2018, Daniel displaced veteran Shane Lechler to win the starting position. And just one year later, it seems that Daniel himself may be in danger of losing his roster spot. While he did impress as last season went on, veteran Bryan Anger was brought in this training camp and has so far split the reps evenly with Daniel, at three punts apiece through Week 2.
Daniel has landed two inside the 20-yard line which is one more than Anger, but the newcomer has punted an average of 40.3 yards with a long of 52 yards, while the second-year undrafted free agent has averaged 38.3 with a long of just 40 yards. If Daniel is to keep his place this season, he must differentiate himself somehow. Otherwise, O’Brien may well choose to go for the player with vastly more experience and a leg that is just as capable.
