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I knew this one was going to be tough. This late in training camp. About to go on a trip to Charlotte on Tuesday. Eight thousand degrees HOT outside. Coming off of an off day as well. As such, it wasn't too surprising that head coach DeMeco Ryans wasn't totally pleased with the workout at the Houston Methodist Training Center. Yet, there were a few moments that stood out on the day, so let's get to my last Harris Hits from Houston for the 2026 preseason (yes, I'll have plenty of them from Charlotte on Wednesday).
Red Zone Seven on Seven Gave Us Two Touchdowns and Two WOW Interceptions
Seven on seven, Red zone edition, started well for QB C.J. Stroud. He hit RB David Montgomery on a smart checkdown on the first down and then ripped a fastball to WR Jaylin Noel for a TD on the next play.
But, the catch of the day may have been by a defensive player and it happened on play number three. Attempting to find TE Foster Moreau in the end zone, Stroud threw high to the 6-4 TE, but Pro Bowl LB Azeez Al-Shaair SKIED in the air to snatch the interception. That was a WOW play to say the least.
QB Davis Mills' first attempt was successful as well. He threw a ball low and away from the defender at the goal line to WR Lewis Bond. The rookie from Chicago went down to get it and secure it with a wonderful catch for a TD. I loved Bond fighting to maintain his inside leverage on the DB who knew it was an inside route. If Bond didn't fight to stay inside the DB, Mills would never have been able to throw that pass…but he did and it became a TD as a result.
Three plays later, QB Brett Rypien threw a corner ball to newly acquired WR Zay Jones, but CB Bryce Hall made one heck of a pick in that corner. After he leapt in the air and landed, he threw up his right hand/arm to show that he secured the pick, somehow, some way. That was a tremendous catch, to say the least.
ZIP! C.J. Stroud and Xavier Hutchinson Went To Work in Team Period
ZIP! On the first play of the first team period, Stroud threw a DART to WR Xavier Hutchinson. The sound in my head of that throw was ZIP - just a ball ripped out of Stroud's hands to X for the completion.
Two plays later, Stroud saw a heavy pressure look, but he beat the pressure throwing hot to WR Jaylin Noel. As the Texans were in a move the ball period, that happened on third down and was a successful answer to the defense's pressure look. SO, SO, SO glad to see J Noel back in full action today.
The next play/throw was odd, but it left me shaking my head at Stroud. He got pressure from the defense but he stood in the pocket as long as he could. Instead of firing a missile to Hutchinson over the middle, he threw a change up with just a tad bit of air under it. Somehow that forced CB Jaylin Smith to misjudge the ball and allowed it to float into the hands of Hutchinson for another completion.
It was a DAY for Hutch, minus one pass that he would like to have back - a concentration drop a little later in the workout. A few plays later in the team period, he ran one of the most wicked double moves and it turned into a deep touchdown connection from Stroud. The fourth-year QB made sure to sprint down to the end zone to meet his guy after such a great double move that got him wide open.
Nickel Jalen Pitre made a great play, timing his strike to knock away a pass intended for Noel. He dove over the top without interfering and knocked the ball to the turf.
I thought one of Stroud's best throws on the day was one that was nearly a third down catch for a first down and then was nearly an interception. Neither TE Dalton Schultz nor LB Azeez Al-Shaair were able to snatch the ball out of the air, but Stroud put that ball right on Schultz in between three defenders. But, Schultz wasn't able to corral it and tipped the ball up in the air where Al-Shaair had a shot at it. Alas, the ball went home lonely, falling aimlessly to the turf.
Davis Mills Heated Up Fast and Threw Some Absolute DIMES
Mills then made one of the throws of the day, if not THE throw of the day. He had WR Justin Watson on a deep dig, over the top of the linebackers, underneath the safeties. But, with how far Watson was down the field, Mills had to layer that ball with some sauce on it, over the linebacker, just into Watson's belly. He did that beautifully.
I like watching RB Owen Wright run the ball. He's a fun watch and he had a great run behind a great G Febechi Nwaiwu block on the next play.
Then, Mills hit WR Jared Wayne on a backshoulder fade that was beautiful. Mills hadn't gotten off to the best start, but heated up fast. In so doing, he threw some absolute DIMES in those later team sessions.
The Heat Was On, But Derek Stingley Jr. Still Went Diving in August
I noted how hot, tiring it was on the field and it was evident on the players' faces, but this is where I tell you how much I can appreciate CB Derek Stingley Jr. Because he was closest to me, I could see how much the heat was having an impact on him (and all the other DB/WR running all over creation). But, when Stroud challenged him on a speed out coming out from the shadow of his own goal post, Stingley Jr. DOVE over the top of Hutchinson for a PBU. The best in the NFL showed why he is on that play - not only was it an impressive break on the ball, but just the fact that he DOVE over the top to make a play IN A PRESEASON PRACTICE?!? That's a DUDE.
Two Minute Work Put a Bow on Camp in Houston
In the two minute situation, Stroud led the offense down and was able to pick up a chunk play on a catch-and-run play to WR Nico Collins. He hit Collins on a deep in route and Nico took off sprinting for a big play. K Ka'imi Fairbairn knocked one home from 53 yards out for a FG to end the situation.
Then, Mills took over his two minute situation. After a couple of drops and an errant completion to start the drill, Mills rolled to his right after pressure got in his face. He spied WR Jared Wayne coming back to the ball from the other side, but that's a hard as heck throw…back across his body with Wayne on the move. But, Mills put that ball on the 8 and the 9 for a first down gain. That throw then set Mills on fire.
He hit TE Foster Moreau on an out route to stop the clock. He then hit Wright on the sideline for the first down. Next, he lasered one to WR Daniel Sobkowicz on another out route on the far sideline to stop the clock.
Then, another rookie WR Treyvhon Saunders, who had dropped a couple of passes earlier, made a wonderful catch on an in route, snatched that sucker too for a first down. A potential sack from DE Ali Gaye only slowed the train for one play.
On the final play, Mills made perhaps his best throw - a backshoulder ball to Moreau down the seam. That is an incredibly difficult throw to make and Mills put it perfectly behind the LB Aiden Fisher and right in a spot where only Moreau could make the catch.
Alright, that's going to do it for the Hits in Houston, but we've got plenty of them coming from Charlotte on Wednesday. See ya then, everyone!!
