WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V.a- It is hard to believe, but the NFL season is approaching quickly.
With about five weeks to go before the regular season kicks off on Thursday, September 4 with the Eagles and Cowboys, the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur is continuing its annual tradition of hosting an NFL team.
On Monday, August 4, the Houston Texans will arrive at the Greenbrier Valley Airport then head to White Sulphur Springs for a short four-day stay for a partial part of their training camp. It is the third time the NFL franchise has been to the Greenbrier.
Houston, who made it to the divisional round of the playoffs last season, will be looking for another postseason berth this year, and the optimism remains high to do so.
One early setback, however, is the health of receiver Tank Dell. In December of last season against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dell suffered a serious knee injury that will most likely sideline him for all of 2025, but the team has not ruled him out completely just yet. Still, with the time Dell is expected to miss, it takes away a huge weapon on the outside for third-year quarterback CJ Stroud.
Speaking of Stroud, as a rookie in 2023, he looked like he could be in the argument for the best signal caller in the game, but a slight sophomore slump (3,727 yards, 20 TDs, 12 INTs) last season tempered those expectations just a little. Now, with Dell out, he is down a favorite target, but Iowa State rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are expected to help ease some of the proverbial pain. Nico Collins comes back too after catching 68 passes for 1,008 yards, and seven touchdowns last year and even missed some games due to injury. Christian Kirk has big-play ability and can also help ease the loss of Dell after coming over from Jacksonville.
In the running back room, Houston may have the most recognizable group of running backs in the league, but again, health is the biggest concern. After getting Joe Mixon from Cincinatti last season, he rolled up 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns and solidified the Texan backfield. But a few months ago, he suffered an ankle injury, and it kept him from performing in OTA’s and minicamps and will also keep him out for at least the foreseeable future. Nick Chubb, another all-pro running back is on the roster but is also trying to rehab his way back onto the football field after a broken ankle suffered last season. Chubb spent multiple years in Cleveland and is familiar with the Greenbrier as the Browns trained there the last couple of years. Dameon Pierce will most likely get the bulk of the carries while the team waits on their two veteran stars to hopefully return to health.
The biggest position concern–injury or non-injury– on the team is the offensive line. What is known as the most important, yet less heralded spots on the field, most prognosticators are predicting that this could be what keep the Texans from reaching their ultimate goal which is a Super Bowl title. That’s not to say, however, that they cannot overcome it. Cam Robinson (LT), Laken Tomlinson (LG), and Tytus Howard (RG) are pretty much solidified in their starting roles and bring veteran presences and leadership to the unit. Jarrett Patterson and Jake Andrews are in a battle for the starting center position and second-round draft pick Aireontae Ersery out of Minnesota is expected to start at right tackle. While the coaching staff feels good about their big guys up front, some NFL writers have voted them as potentially the weakest line in the league, but it is definitely in wait and see mode right now.
At tight end, Dalton Schultz (53 rec, 532 yds, 2 TDs in ‘24) will return and Brevin Jordan will spell him when needed, and Jordan reportedly caught a long pass on their first day of training camp on July 23 which was encouraging to new offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
Caley is installing packages that fit Stroud’s strengths. He has “given the keys” to Stroud in hopes of him returning or even exceeding his 2023 rookie season.
**Look for the Texans DEFENSIVE Preview in Thursday’s WVDN**
