Injuries are an unfortunate part of training camp and preseason in the NFL. For the Houston Texans, Bill O'Brien's goal for their first preseason game is to come out of the game healthy. The Texans will begin their preseason against the Green Bay Packers.
Via John McClain in the Houston Chronicle:
“Let’s come out of it healthy,” O’Brien said. “It’s hard to do that. Guys are playing hard. It’s a competitive contact sport, but we want guys to be healthy.”
As O'Brien alluded to, football is a competitive contact sport, so injuries are to be expected. Controlling the severity and the number of injuries will be a focus for all teams as they prepare themselves for the regular season.
Article Continues BelowTo most coaches, playing in meaningless preseason games can be a hassle. Especially when injuries become a possibility to their key contributors.
Throughout this week, the Texans and Packers held joint practices that became animated between the two teams. On the first day of their joint practice, Lonnie Johnson delivered a huge hit on Packers tight end Jace Sternberger and celebrated over him.
That didn't sit well with the Packers players as both sidelines cleared as the teams got into a brief scuffle. As a result, O'Brien sent Johnson to the locker room. The Texans head coach knew he had to act before things became even more escalated.
Tempers tend to flare in joint practices as two opposing teams are itching to hit someone in a different jersey. The Texans and Packers will have a chance to go full-speed at one another under the bright lights at Lambeau Field on Thursday night.