With plenty of physical action expected the next two days, the Texans worked out a little shorter, in shells, on Monday morning in the rain. Here are a few observations from the day's practice.

1. The rain made the tight cut field a little slick as a handful of players slipped down in coverage or on routes throughout the day. Nothing concerning in the slightest, but the rain did make many run for cover in the Texans Radio tent.

2. Newly signed Bruce Ellington was a player I really liked coming out of South Carolina a few years ago. He eventually became a Texan as he was signed over the weekend as injuries continued to plague the receiver corps. He's battled injuries himself over the past few years but when he's healthy, he's lightning quick in and out of his cuts and dy-nam-MIC with the ball in his hands. Today, he saw plenty of time out on the field as he's trying to learn the offense. He still made some plays out in space as he got open and sped with the ball after the catch.

3. He's wearing No. 12, which has been worn by three different Texans since June. Also, newly signed receiver Germone Hopper will wear No. 16. The former Clemson product sat out the 2016 season, working in a family friend's barbershop. He participated in San Francisco's rookie minicamp a few months ago and was signed on Sunday by the Texans. Both guys have a lot of ground to make up, but with three practices and two games in the next 12 days, they have plenty of opportunity to make some plays and get some attention.

4. C.J. Fiedorowicz started the day with a tremendous one hand catch on the sideline during 1-on-1s against the linebackers and safeties.

5. Not to be outdone, Wendall Williams came up with a stellar one hander deep down the field for a touchdown in 1-on-1s against the defensive backs.

6. Both offense and defense mixed and matched units throughout the day to give each other a number of different looks.

7. Tom Savage and Deshaun Watson both picked up big gains scrambling out of the pocket during team drills. Savage isn't the tree sloth that most people make him out to be; he can run when pressed and today he was.

8. J.J. Watt and Brian Cushing doused Mike Vrabel with a Gatorade bucket of liquid to celebrate the latter's birthday. Nothing like a cold shower after a relatively chilly day of practice.

9. Receiver Dres Anderson seems to be getting more comfortable by the day and he can motor when he gets the ball in his hands with some room to run. He caught a crossing route over the middle and he took off like a shot.

10. The offense tried to catch linebacker Dylan Cole in coverage on running back Akeem Hunt; however, the rookie knocked down the pass over the middle.

11. In team drills, Deshaun Watson ran for a touchdown for the only score of the day. I can't think of any other plays that went for a touchdown, but there weren't a lot of drives on a shorter practice day.

12. Kicker Kaimi Fairbairn elicited a huge cheer from the players after he knocked home a deep field goal. I was down on the other end, so I didn't see how long it was, but I know there was something on the line. Players don't react to made field goals in practice, or in games, for the most part but when Fairbairn buried the kick in the net, there were cheers from the players.

Tomorrow, the Patriots will join in on the Greenbrier fun, competing against the Texans for the first of two days of practice here in West Virginia. They'll conclude the week of work in Houston, as the Texans host the Patriots at NRG Stadium for the first home preseason game of the year on Saturday night. There's little doubt that the players are all looking forward to seeing someone different and mixing it up with the defending World Champions on Tuesday. See ya then, everyone.