HEAD COACH BILL O'BRIEN
How did DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney look in his first full practice of training camp?
"He did all right. He's been working. I know it's maybe a full practice but he's been out here. So, it was fine."
What's your plan for T Martinas Rankin as far as working him back in?
"As much as he can handle. He's full-go. He's ready to go. We'll just continue – we're not going to be 50 reps in one practice, but we'll bring him back. He'll come back as he can handle the workload."
Could T Martinas Rankin play in the game against the Rams on Saturday?
"Yeah, sure."
How is CB Kevin Johnson doing?
"Kevin's doing good. Kevin was in here today, doing better. Yes, he's doing much better."
Do you feel like you might have to bolster the cornerback position given the recent injuries?
"I mean we're talking about that. At the end of the day, we look at the waiver wire every day and we see what's out there, but you never bring in guys just to finish practice. You want guys that can come in here and have a chance to make the team, so that's what we're looking at."
What does T Martinas Rankin bring to the table?
"He's a rookie, so, not much, yet. But he's a very smart guy. We liked, obviously, things he did in college and we'll see how well that translates to the pros."
Do you anticipate playing any of your starters this week against the Rams?
"Yeah, I think some more guys will play in this game than have in the last two."
Will DE J.J. Watt play on Saturday against the Rams?
"I don't know yet. I don't know yet, but I could see pretty much anybody that's healthy, that's ready to go, could see some time in the game."
Did you see enough from DE J.J. Watt in the joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers to know that Watt is ready to go?
"Those practices, I think we ran 70 reps each day on offense and defense. So, you're talking about a bunch of reps and he was in there for a lot of them. He played well, so it was good to see."
Do you expect to have K Ka'imi Fairbairn back soon and what have you thought of K Nick Rose so far?
"I don't know. I don't know where Fairbairn's at (with his recovery). He's working hard to get back. He's a great guy, but we've got Rose in there now. Rose needs to make all of his kicks, just like everybody else needs to improve. Then we'll see where Fairbairn's at."
Did QB Joe Webb III's touchdown pass against the Texans last preseason stand out to you as a reason why you wanted to bring him in this offseason?
"Oh yeah, I think any time you watch a bunch of tape on a guy and then you ask other guys about the guy. How is he in the locker room? Those types of things. Joe's a great guy. Then, obviously, we saw some of the things he did on the field including the play you're talking about. He stood out to us. Joe can do a lot of different things. He brings a lot of value to the 90-man roster. Whether that translates to the 53-man, we'll find out, but Joe's been a real good guy to have around."
What's the process of bringing a player back from injury who's missed a lot of time?
"They're in all the meetings and they participate in the walkthroughs. I think that's a big part of being injured, is to really pay attention and understand what your job is so that when you get back out here, we don't have to be too concerned about your knowledge of assignments. It's more about just getting used to the speed of the game. I think we just bring them back. As long as they've been paying attention in meetings, they should be ready to go."
How cool is it to see S Andre Hal going through a pregame workout on the field?
"Andre Hal – you can't say enough about Andre Hal. He's what a Houston Texan is all about. He's been that way, he's a seventh-round draft pick, was a corner. We moved him to safety. He said, 'Whatever I need to do to make this team.' At that point, played a bunch of special teams. He's made big plays for us over the years and now he's had a slight setback, but he's working hard to get back. He's what this place is all about."
What have you seen from WR Will Fuller V this camp?
"He's had a good preseason. Really good route runner. I think he's added weight, which has helped him. He's stronger. It's helped his hands. His hands are stronger. I feel like he's got a great grasp of what we're doing and maybe we'll see him a little bit more on Saturday."
DE/OLB JADEVEON CLOWNEY
How do you feel being able to participate in a full practice?
"It was great. I'm happy to be back out here with my teammates and get ready for the season."
How special is it to be back out there?
"It's very special, man. It's been a long three weeks since training camp started. I'm just happy to be back out here with the guys and looking forward to playing the Rams."
Are you 100 percent healthy?
"Yeah, I'm pretty good. I'm good to go. I'm ready to go."
How does your knee feel?
"My knee feels great. It felt great. It's been feeling good."
Are you good enough to play on Saturday?
"Yeah. I'm good enough to play."
How important is it to get out there and get live plays?
"It's very important. It's very important to get out there and get some live plays because I'm going to be getting out there with the guys I'm going to be playing with during the season. We need to get our chemistry together and I haven't been out there with them, so, for me to get out there and get going, it'll be great for me."
How is it having Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel back?
"It's good. I like Romeo. Smart guy. He knows what's going on. He's been around the league for a long, long time. His defense works. It's proven to work. You just have to come out and execute the calls and the plays and make plays. So, I'm looking forward to it."
What do you think you and a healthy DE J.J. Watt and OLB Whitney Mercilus can do out there on the field?
"With them guys, the sky is the limit for this defense. We just have to come to play like we do – week-in-and-week-out every year and try and stay healthy. If we stay healthy, I don't see much bad going wrong with this defensive line and this secondary we put together. I'm excited about this team and this defense."
When you're on the field are you thinking about your contract or do you just focus on football?
"I don't really pay any attention. It's all about football and trying to win games – Super Bowl, that's the goal. All this working out during the offseason and training and getting in shape and eating healthy is all for one reason, and that's the Super Bowl. Not the money, just really about the Super Bowl. Like I said, I think the coaches did a good job putting our team together. They compete, put the right guys in the right situations and we can win with this team. We just have to come in every day and come and work, prepare right."
What do you think of rookie OLB Duke Ejiofor so far?
"He's good. He's going to be pretty good. He has a lot to improve on but from what he's shown, I think he can be good."
Do you want to be in Houston long term?
"Yeah, I do. I like Houston."
T MARTINAS RANKIN
What did it feel like to get back out there today?
"It felt great just getting back out on the football field. (It's) just like home so it felt great to get out there and be with the guys."
What has this process been like for you?
"My whole life I've battled adversity, so it was just another obstacle in my way but I didn't let it get in my way and I just kept pushing forward and I'm glad to be out here."
Are you where you want to be from a mental standpoint?
"Yes sir. I feel pretty confident. That did give me some time to really focus on the playbook, and that's really all I had to do. That part, I feel confident out here. I feel great. I'm glad to be back out with the rest of the team."
Has it been tough being patient during this process?
"You have to be patient in life. Sometimes life comes at you hard but you just have to take the punches and keep rolling."
How will it feel to play in your first NFL game?
"It'll feel great. It's a dream of mine. I always wanted to play NFL ball. The time is here and I'm just confident in whatever the coaches want me to do."
Are you more comfortable on the right or left side of the line?
"It doesn't matter to me. At the end of the day it's all football, so I just adjust to it and do what I have to do."
How do you feel about the possibility of moving inside to play guard versus staying outside at tackle?
"Like I said, for me, whatever the coaches need me to do, I'm always going to do it, whether that's playing outside or playing inside. It doesn't matter to me. I just like to play football. I just love the game."
What do you think you think you need to work on the most?
"Really, everything. All around just continuing developing mentally, physically, working on my technique, working on my hand placement, leverage, all that good stuff. It is what it is. Like I said, I'm just taking the punches life is throwing and I'm going to keep punching."
Have the veterans helped you with the transition to the NFL?
"Oh yeah. I talk to all the older guys a lot. I hang around them, trying to soak up their knowledge – guys like Nick Martin, Greg Mancz, Kendall Lamm, Julién Davenport, Zach Fulton, Seantrel Henderson. Everybody that's been here and had years in the league, I just try to take what I can and soak it up from them."
What do you hope to accomplish when you get on the field for the first time?
"I just hope to accomplish just getting better. Getting better every day so I can contribute to this team."
Have you had a chance to do some one-on-ones with DE J.J. Watt yet?
"No, I haven't. I'm looking forward to it. I know it's going to be a great challenge. That's one of the best players in the league right there."
