Early in Texans training camp, head coach DeMeco Ryans wasn’t seeing the kind of spice he’d like. That changed recently, and the Houston leader couldn’t feel better about it.
Running back Devin Singletary and linebacker Christian Harris got into a scuffle during practice recently, after the two had a hard collision. The two got into a shoving match, per Click2Houston.com, but things could’ve gotten even more physical had teammates not stepped in.
On the surface, you wouldn’t think that’s a good look. But Ryans was actually excited to see a little fire and emotion from his players.
“To see scuffling in training camp, I would say: ‘Finally,’” Ryans said. “That’s what training camp is about. Sometimes you get tired of hitting the same guy over and over again, right? It’s linebackers, running backs, they’re going to thud up a lot in practice. And of course, we want to be safe, we want to make sure we keep guys up, but also, it’s going to get a little edgy, it’s going to get a little chippy, that’s how I want to play.
“I want to play with an edge. I want to play with a chip on our shoulder, but we still have to play within the rules. So, it’s a part of camp. It’s not the worst thing to happen because it just shows that guys truly care about what they’re doing. It’s just two really good competitors going at each other, which I don’t have problem with.”
Training camp fights aren’t uncommon in the NFL. As Ryans eluded to while speaking with reporters, players are hitting each other continuously for weeks. Tempers are going to flare at some point.
And Ryans wasn’t alone in his excitement for the spice. Fellow Texans linebacker Blake Cashman said it added a little fuel to the fire.
“That energy, it becomes contagious,” Cashman said. “I think today the defense was feeding off of that and you can just see the intensity. Guys flying around, maybe hitting a little harder, and that’s what you want in a defense.”
Houston played its first preseason game of 2023 on Thursday, taking on the New England Patriots. The Texans earned a 20-9 victory.
Singletary carried the ball five times for 14 yards in the game. Harris recorded a solo tackle.
Houston still has the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints remaining on the preseason schedule. The Texans open the year against the Baltimore Ravens.
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