The Houston Texans held their rookie minicamp May 11-12 and there were rookies who looked ready to go while others could use a little more practice.
Admittedly, the results over the course of one may weekend do not make or break a career, let alone even a rookie season. However, some rookies were able to raise their stock during their orientation to the NFL world. Here are a few studs and duds from Houston’s rookie minicamp.
stud: te kahale warring
The third-round tight end from San Diego State demonstrated his athleticism and why the Texans decided to go tight end in the third round for the second straight season. Warring presents a big target for quarterback Deshaun Watson, and he was able to manifest that talent over the weekend. Now, the challenge will be for Warring to keep up the momentum and truly challenge his teammates for a role and work on his blocking.
dud: cb lonnie johnson
It is pretty bad when even your new coach is stopping drills to make sure you understand how hard you’re breathing. The explanation is simple: Johnson has been training for what Bill O’Brien refers to as the “Underwear Olympics,” the NFL combine and pro days. Johnson hasn’t been in football shape, and it showed when he was unable to execute the correct footwork or was burned a few times. The former Kentucky Wildcat will have a chance to redeem himself over the course of the next few weeks with organized team activities and mandatory minicamp.
stud: wr johnnie dixon
The 5-11 wideout from Ohio State played against Power 5 talent for his career. So, it is no surprise that he would show out against a bunch of his peers. Nonetheless, Dixon has built a nice foundation to catch receivers coach John Perry’s attention. The Texans had a nice undrafted free agent addition in 2018 with Vyncint Smith. Could Dixon be the next? For Dixon to even have a chance to make the final 53-man roster, it will have to take a series of availability issues on the parts of Will Fuller and Keke Coutee, or a massive drop off from Smith.
dud: de charles omenihu
So much was said about how the fifth-round pick from Texas was such a steal for the Texans. It may take more than a rookie minicamp for the beast from Rowlett to show up. With the Achilles injury to outside linebacker Duke Ejiofor, Omenihu will need to show defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel that he has another edge defender in waiting now that the second-year linebacker is lost for 2019. Omenihu still has a bevy of offseason practices and training camp to get back to studly status.
stud: ot tytus howard
The coaching staff threw a ton of information at their first-round draft choice, and the former Alabama State offensive tackle handled every bit of it. What Howard demonstrated more than his strength or agility or any physical trait was his football intelligence. If Howard is to assume the starting left tackle job, he is going to need to be able to recognize the edge defender’s intent. If Howard can keep it up by pairing his smarts in the classroom with his talent on the field, complemented by full availability throughout the offseason, he should be a competent enough solution come Week 1 at New Orleans.
dud: lb chase middleton
It’s pretty bad when you get cut after rookie minicamp in favor of a two-year veteran who has figuratively been living out of his suitcase. Nonetheless, the former Georgia State linebacker wasn’t able to do enough to stick around for the Texans’ offseason program. Now, the beginning will have to hit the reset button in another NFL city.
