Texans have feisty practice, Dameon Pierce, Christian Harris ramping up to practice, unofficial depth chart released

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – The temperatures are distinctly cooler in West Virginia, especially compared to the torrid Texas heat.

Tempers boiled over, though, Tuesday morning at The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center as the Texans had a feisty, competitive practice.

Minutes after an altercation between tight end Cade Stover during which he shoved safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson after being tackled to the ground after a reception and words were exchanged, Dalton Schultz got into a fight with safety Russ Yeast.

The veteran tight end got angry with Yeast after being knocked to the ground with a shoulder shot. Schultz got up and threw the football in frustration. Schultz then tackled Yeast in retaliation before the skirmish was broken up. The remainder of the practice went on without further incidents.

A year ago, Schultz got into an altercation with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

This time, it was another defensive back.

The Texans have a road preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday. Yes, the Texans look like they’re ready to play against another team instead of pounding on their teammates day after day.

“We have a really competitive team,” Ryans said. “That’s my takeaway from our camp thus far. That’s how it should be. I’m excited just to see these guys go play against someone else. It is that time of camp where it’s going to be a little more chippy.

“You’re going to see fights and scuffles happening. You get tired of hitting the same person. You get tired of going against the same schemes over and over again. It’s that time for us to go play a game.”

Ryans didn’t seem concerned about the flareups, putting it all into perspective.

There’s a line between competitive and dangerous. The Texans walk that fine line.

“It happens,” Ryans said. “Guys are going to go on the ground. We try our best to make sure guys are staying up and making sure we’re safe as possible. But I get it, its football, guys are going to go to the ground. Sometimes you just can’t control that.

“For me as a head coach, it’s no cheap shots. It’s doing things that you wouldn’t do in a game. If it costs you a penalty in a game, that’s not what we’re teaching out here. It’s just a matter of trying to stay as safe as possible, but also trying to play with the edge, trying to play fast and physical as well.”

Chubb impresses

The offense was dominated Monday.

They made progress Tuesday.

At the start of practice, running back Nick Chubb ran for nearly 30 yards as he broke free into the secondary. It was arguably Chubb’s best run of camp.

Chubb broke his foot last season, one year after suffering a major knee injury with the Cleveland Browns. Now, the four-time Pro Bowl running back is working to try to regain his old form.

“Nick has been consistent,” Ryans said. “He’s done a really good job. I see a very physical runner when he has the football in his hand. He does a really nice job in protection schemes and of staying square, picking up the blitzes from the defenders. He’s just all around solid, consistent. He’s gotten better every day that he’s been here.”

Unofficial depth chart released

The Texans released their unofficial depth chart in advance of the Vikings game.

There weren’t too many real surprises.

Although returning starting center Jarrett Patterson is listed with the first-team offense, Jake Andrews has taken the majority of the snaps with the s starters.

Cam Robinson, who suffered a relatively minor leg injury Monday and watched practice Tuesday, is the starting left tackle. Laken Tomlinson is the left guard. Tytus Howard is the right guard. And rookie Aireontae Ersery is the starting right tackle.

With Joe Mixon still sidelined, Chubb is listed as the starting running back. The backup is Dameon Pierce, followed by Dare Ogumbowale, Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan, J.J. Taylor and British Brooks.

Rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins, who’s made some impressive contested catches, is an immediate starter.

The starting linebackers are Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’o’To’o.

The primary backups are Jake Hansen and Christian Harris ahead of E.J. Speed and Nick Niemann.

The depth chart isn’t that serious to the Texans, but they’re required by the league to file one.

“[Senior director of communications] Omar [Majzoub] gives it to me, and I just say, let everybody have it, tear it up and everybody make a big deal of who’s where, because it’s unofficial,” Ryans said.

Harris, Pierce ramping up to practice.

Texans linebacker Christian Harris and running back Dameon Pierce are ramping up to practice.

Both players were in full pads and worked on a side field with a trainer.

Pierce passed his physical Monday and was activated from the physically unable to perform list.

Harris missed the entire offseason with a strained calf that kept him out for the majority of last season.

They could practice as soon as Wednesday.

“Christian and Dameon, they’re champing at the bit to get out here,” Ryans said. “I have to hold those guys back, because they’re ready to go. They want to practice, they want to be out here, and they’re definitely making a lot of progress. They’re in a really great spot.

“It’s cool to see them out in their pads finally. I know it’s great for them. Anytime you’re on the side, you’re rehabbing, those type of things, mentally you want to get back out with the guys. So, today was a big day for them to get back out here, go through some of our walk-through periods, put the pads on. It was a great day for them.”

Ryans emphasized that there’s plenty of time to get Harris ready for the season.

“It’s not a challenge getting Christian back,” Ryans said. “It’s just a matter of him being in a good spot where he can come out and play well. He’s been dialed in. He’s been in a ton of meetings, a ton of walk-throughs on the side, even though it hasn’t been live, full-speed reps.

“It’s just a matter of getting back into playing football. So, there’s no challenge there.”

Having Pierce back gives the offense a tackle-breaking presence with some breakaway speed. He doubles as a productive kickoff returner.

“Dameon has played a lot of good football in his career,” Ryans said. “He’s made those home run plays. He’s done it as the kick returner. So, he’s just a well-rounded player who it’s not new for him.

“The game isn’t too big for him. When the lights are on, Dameon, we know he can go out and perform well. So, whenever that time comes for him to get back out there, it’s just exciting to see him out there.”

Versatile rookie

A natural left tackle who was named the Big Ten Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year at Minnesota, Aireontae Ersery is winning the starting job at right tackle.

With Cam Robinson sidelined, Ersery flipped to left tackle as Tytus Howard replaced him at right tackle with Laken Tomlinson at left guard, Jake Andrews at center and Ed Ingram at right guard.

“Tae has done a really good job over at left tackle,” Ryans said. “We bumped Tytus out to right, just mixing it up as much as possible. That’s not the only position. We move the guys around at linebacker, defensive line. Guys are moving all over the place just to see what can guys handle.

“That’s the point of camp. We wouldn’t be able to do this any other time throughout the season. So, I put a lot on guys mentally in camp to see what they can handle.”

Jaylen Reed update

Texans rookie safety Jaylen Reed is expected to miss roughly three weeks after injuring his ankle at practice last Friday, per league sources.

A sixth-round draft pick from Penn State, Reed intercepted three passes last season and had 98 tackles. He was named second-team All-Big Ten Conference. Reed was having a strong camp before the injury, including a pick-six interception.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com