Rookies Show Promise In Texans' Preseason Win

When you open the preseason with a 26-7 win, a number of things probably went well. That was the case Saturday night at Green Bay for the Houston Texans, who saw a numbner of promising performances across that board.

Included were the showings of many of Houston's young players, especially rookies. That's key since the Texans didn't utilize their rookie class much last season.

Given the Texans' murky quarterback situation, there was much interest in the play of rookie quarterback Davis Mills. The third-round pick showed flashes – plenty of arm strength – but was wild at times and made some questionable decisions by throwing into crowds. 

The Stanford product finished his NFL debut 11-of-22 passing for 112 yards and one interception. That's a decent start for a QB that could be in a critical role this season.

Fellow third-round rookie Nico Collins had a quiet night at wide receiver, but showed up when it mattered. The wide receiver turned his one target into a 24-yards completion.

Many are excited to see how rookie Brevin Jordan develops, and the tight end made one catch for 11 yards.

Second-year running back Scottie Phillips was Houston's leading rusher with 13 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown in Houston's run-heavy offensive scheme. He added four receptions for 23 yards. 

Phillips, undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2020, saw limited game time until late in the year. He showed Saturday what he might offer going forward with an impressive 25-yard run to cap the third quarter.