For many Houston Texans, the fourth preseason game is a daunting time full of stress, uneasiness, and the want to be the best.
After Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, Houston’s four-heading general manager will have to ruin players’ days; they will cut from 90 to 53 roster members.
Through training camp and preseason ball, wide-eyed hopefuls have made their marks in their respective journeys to play pro football in 2019. For head coach Bill O’Brien, the fourth preseason game is a way to cap off those efforts made.
“Definitely comes into play, the fourth game,” O’Brien said on Tuesday after the team’s kickoff luncheon. “Like I said yesterday, I do think it’s a cumulative review, how they’ve done since they’ve been here, rookie minicamp, OTAs, everybody has practice squad eligibility.”
While some won’t make the roster, others will make the practice squad. O’Brien and the Texans view it as a place for developmental; after all, Texans great Arian Foster once used the practice squad to turn into a Pro Bowl caliber running back.
“The practice squad is very important to us. It’s not a scout team, it’s a group of guys that we think have a future with the franchise, have a future with the team,” O’Brien said. “So, when you put a guy on the practice squad, you’re saying that hey, someday that guy can be a roster player, and it may be sooner rather than later.”
The story of making the NFL varies from person to person. Some are No. 1 draft picks, others waited longer, and more heard their name passed over 256 times. But, if one makes it, how they make it doesn’t matter; they are in football’s most elite brotherhood, no matter.
As O’Brien emphasizes, “everybody’s journey to the 53-man roster is different. Some guys come from the practice squad, some guys are on there from Day 1.”
