*Watch Texans TV on Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 3:30 p.m. CT for head coach Gary Kubiak's live press conference.
Jean Hangs On: Rookie undrafted free agent Lestar Jean caught a pair of passes on Monday night for a total of 53 yards. The first catch came at midfield, in traffic, as Jean hauled in a 26-yarder from T.J. Yates to move the Texans from their own 16 up to their own 42.
A drive later, Jean caught what looked like a 28-yard touchdown, but replay officials ruled that his knee was down. Hence, it became a 27-yarder and running back Chris Ogbonnaya punched it in for a touchdown a play later. On both catches, Jean displayed a good degree of concentration.
"I was just looking up to make a play," Jean said. "The guy grabbed my shoulder pad a little bit and he kind of turned me with the ball and I just made a play."
In all, Jean finished with a game-high 26.5 yards per catch, and he built on what head coach Gary Kubiak has termed is a "good camp."
West Texas Whirlwind: Outside linebacker Bryan Braman made things uncomfortable for the Jets' offense, finishing with a game-best six combined tackles, a sack-and-a-half, a forced fumble and three quarterback hurries. An undrafted free agent rookie from West Texas A&M, Braman mightily impressed Kubiak on Monday.
"He's been exceptional," Kubiak said. "He's a very gifted athlete…and he's got some ability so we'll see if we can channel it all in the right direction."
Leinart Shines: Texans backup quarterback Matt Leinart did a "good job," in the words of Kubiak on Monday night. The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner finished with 78 yards and completed eight of his 14 pass attempts. One interception came after a pass was deflected, but Leinart also threw the Texans' only touchdown pass when he connected with Ogbonnaya at the 7:45 mark of the second quarter.
"Let's remember he hasn't really played a lot of football in a long time," Kubiak said of Leinart, whose last game action came as a Cardinal in the 2010 preseason. "I thought he had some poise. He got hit a little bit and that's what he needs to do to get back in the fire and he's very capable of doing it."
Leinart started the Texans' first series of the second quarter and then exited after the first series of the third. He's enthusiastic about playing in this style of offense.
"I just like the concepts," Leinart said. "I like the way (Kubiak) calls plays. Obviously we have great personnel. We have great guys on the outside that can run and catch. We have a great offensive line and I just feel like it fits my style of play. It's similar to what we ran at USC."
Starter Matt Schaub was impressed by what Leinart did.
"He came in and played really well, distributed the ball, got rid of it," Schaub said. "Across the board, he did a great job, knew where he had to go with the football."
