How these 11 bubble gamers fared in Houston Texans’ loss to Carolina Panthers to finish preseason

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As a lot as DeMeco Ryans doubtless needed to see his crew win Friday, the Houston Texans’ preseason sport in opposition to the Carolina Panthers was extra like a remaining audition.

No starters performed, and a lot of the key reserves additionally sat in Friday’s 16-13 loss at Financial institution of America Stadium.  

Commercial

About 4 or 5 spots had been up for grabs, and several other gamers made impressions each good and unhealthy.

Here is how these bubble gamers fared: 

DE Sebastian Harsh

If there was one participant who helped his case, it was Harsh. He completed with three tackles and one sack. He ought to have been credited with one other and a pressured fumble. Nevertheless, the officers dominated the play an incomplete go. 

Harsh was additionally credited with a team-high 4 pressures. Harsh has been strong all through camp. It is unclear if this sport helped push him over Solomon Byrd, whom he’s competing with for one of many remaining spots. However he was one of many extra spectacular gamers. 

Commercial

DE Solomon Byrd

Byrd did not have a sack, however he was a continuing presence within the backfield. He had 4 tackles and two quarterback pressures. He had an harm scare within the fourth quarter, taking place briefly however was in a position to stand up. 

Byrd has been on the follow squad in every of the previous two seasons. He flashed within the first two preseason video games, with some phenomenal performs, however he additionally had some blunders in those self same video games. 

Wayne performed solely briefly however he had two catches for 16 yards. He is carried out sufficient to make the roster, but it surely’s doubtless a numbers sport. When the Texans made a commerce for Kayshon Boutte, that pushed Wayne down the depth chart. 

Commercial

If the Texans maintain six, he’d doubtless be the odd man out. In the event that they maintain seven, they might maintain him. 

Nevertheless, Tank Dell is the X-factor right here. If the Texans put Dell on injured reserve after their preliminary 53-man roster is about, they might re-sign Wayne in the event that they minimize him. Regardless, Wayne may discover his method on somebody’s roster primarily based on how he is performed. 

Watson ran simply eight routes and was focused solely as soon as. He did not document a catch. Watson has been regular all preseason and is an efficient special-teams participant. He signed a two-year cope with the Texans final yr. 

However like Wayne, it is a matter of numbers at receiver. Watson is at the moment on the surface trying in proper now. 

Smith carried out effectively in protection and did not do something to harm his standing. He has positioned himself effectively as of late to win the No. 4  cornerback job. Whereas Collin Wright initially had the sting on him, typically availability is the most effective capacity. And Smith has been accessible. 

Commercial

LB Jamal Hill

Hill had 4 tackles and a quarterback strain. He was additionally focused 4 occasions in protection and allowed solely two catches. One of many incomplete passes was a powerful deflection. Hill had his greatest sport of the preseason. And if something, he helped his probabilities. 

Andrews performed solely 5 snaps, and blocked effectively. But it surely’s arduous to think about him making the crew with the numbers the Texans have at heart. Evan Brown sat as a result of he is the presumed starter. And Keylan Rutledge will doubtless play guard and again up Brown. What hurts Andrews is the truth that he solely performs one place. 

Commercial

Patterson performed greater than 30 snaps and effectively into the fourth quarter, which is not usually signal for a participant making an attempt to make the roster. Patterson solely gave up one quarterback strain, however he hasn’t significantly stood out in any method. 

RB Owen Wright

Wright was a late addition to the roster this summer time, and has needed to fill in out of necessity due to the rash of accidents at operating again. He was OK on Friday. He had good moments and unhealthy. He had one pancake block and one quarterback strain that led to a sack. 

Crucial stat was Wright speeding for 34 yards on eight carries. His efficiency may not have been sufficient to make the crew. 

Commercial

WR Josh Kelly

Kelly is a major candidate to make the follow squad. The undrafted rookie has performed persistently sufficient to maintain him round, however not adequate to usurp any of the automated locks to make the roster. 

Kelly led all receivers with three catches for 36 yards. He had a landing within the joint follow with the Panthers earlier this week. 

Merriweather, who has been principally OK at camp, did not have his greatest day Friday evening. He had 5 tackles, but in addition missed two, and gave up 4 catches for 29 yards. 

He had a small probability to make the crew coming into the sport with Jaylen Reed being traded. However his play Friday doubtless harm his probabilities greater than it helped him.

Commercial

PANTHERS 16, TEXANS 13

Second Quarter

Hou_FG Fairbairn 38, 9:02. Drive: 4 performs, 8 yards, 1:37. Key Performs: Odum 16 interception return to Carolina 28; Rypien 8 go to O.Wright on Third-and-10. Houston 3, Carolina 0.

Car_FG Fitzgerald 30, 1:43. Drive: 7 performs, 22 yards, 2:18. Key Play: Trask 11 go to Moore on Third-and-4. Houston 3, Carolina 3.

Car_FG Fitzgerald 37, :15. Drive: 7 performs, 29 yards, 00:36. Key Performs: Miller 21 interception return to Houston 48; Trask 11 go to Franks; Trask 14 go to Moore. Carolina 6, Houston 3.

Third Quarter

Car_FG Fitzgerald 28, 7:12. Drive: 15 performs, 77 yards, 7:48. Key Performs: Trask 20 go to Reed; Trask 5 go to Ji.Horn on Third-and-8; Tyus 16 run; Trask 10 go to Washington; Trask 7 go to Franks on Third-and-1. Carolina 9, Houston 3.

Commercial

Hou_FG Fairbairn 47, 1:18. Drive: 13 performs, 36 yards, 5:54. Key Performs: Rypien 10 go to Pryor; Vaughn 3 run on Third-and-4; Rypien 3 run on 4th-and-1. Carolina 9, Houston 6.

Fourth Quarter

Car_Davis 1 run (Fitzgerald kick), 8:41. Drive: 15 performs, 65 yards, 7:37. Key Performs: Trask 8 go to Taylor on Third-and-3; Trask 11 go to Mitchell; Trask 13 go to Prieskorn on Third-and-4; Davis 2 run on 4th-and-2. Carolina 16, Houston 6.

Hou_Z.Jones 6 go from Rypien (Fairbairn kick), 3:25. Drive: 12 performs, 73 yards, 6:41. Key Performs: Rypien 7 go to Shepard on Third-and-8; Rypien 9 go to Pryor on 4th-and-1; Rypien 12 go to Sobkowicz. Carolina 16, Houston 13.

Commercial

___

___

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Houston, Vaughn 12-36, O.Wright 8-34, Rypien 4-11. Carolina, Tyus 10-41, Davis 11-34, Dillon 6-12, Ji.Horn 1-6, Trask 3-3, Etienne 1-2.

PASSING_Houston, Rypien 13-23-1-101, Mills 3-7-1-18. Carolina, Trask 19-28-1-147, Pickett 5-8-0-48.

RECEIVING_Houston, Kelly 3-36, Pryor 2-19, Sobkowicz 2-17, Wayne 2-16, Shepard 2-7, Vaughn 2-6, O.Wright 1-8, Z.Jones 1-6, L.Hansen 1-4. Carolina, Moore 3-34, Franks 3-25, Dillon 3-20, Tyus 3-13, Reed 2-37, Mitchell 2-15, Prieskorn 2-15, Taylor 2-11, Washington 1-10, Cooks 1-5, Ji.Horn 1-5, Metchie 1-5.

PUNT RETURNS_Houston, T.Smith 1-4. Carolina, Ji.Horn 2-2.

Commercial

KICKOFF RETURNS_Houston, Saunders 1-25. Carolina, Metchie 2-47.

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS_Houston, Odum 7-2-0, Merriweather 4-2-0, Bailey 4-1-0, A.Fisher 3-8-0, Hamilton 3-2-0, Codrington 3-1-0, Hill 3-1-0, Byrd 2-2-0, Johnson 2-2-0, Harsh 2-1-1, B.Corridor 2-1-0, N.Jones 1-3-0, J.Smith 1-2-0, Huzzie 1-0-0, S.Corridor 0-2-0, McDonald 0-2-0, Parish 0-1-0. Carolina, Njongmeta 5-2-0, Harrison-Hunte 4-1-0, Garcia 3-0-1, Nicholson 2-2-0, Simmons 2-1-0, D.Smith 2-1-0, Wallace 2-0-1, Funderburk 2-0-0, Corridor 2-0-0, Kuwatch 1-2-0, C.Jackson 1-1-0, Rochell 1-1-0, Gipson 1-0-1, Moon 1-0-1, Barrs 1-0-0, Cherelus 1-0-0, Incoom 1-0-0, Mwansa 1-0-0, Thornton 1-0-0, Gill 0-2-0, Malone 0-1-0, Ransom 0-1-0, Richardson 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS_Houston, Odum 1-16. Carolina, Miller 1-21, Ransom 1-3.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

Commercial

___

OFFICIALS_Referee Brad Allen, Ump Marcus Woods, HL Sarah Thomas, LJ Walter Flowers, FJ Anthony Flemming, SJ Chad Hill, BJ Tyree Walton, Replay Jim Van Geffen.

Subscribe

There’s extra to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe at this time for simply 25¢.

This text initially printed at How these 11 bubble gamers fared in Houston Texans’ loss to Carolina Panthers to finish preseason.