The work continued on day two highlighted by a star's return and a special teamer standing out

11 observations from Texans training camp, July 26

@edclarke03/

A star returns

Texans star pass catcher DeAndre Hopkins made his return to the practice field just one day after the workouts started. He worked on some very specific drills during the workout. He practiced catching the ball from different body positions like squatting and leaning. He will be on a rep count for the Texans during camp.

Roby's run continues

Make it two days of impressive work in a row for new cornerback Bradley Roby. He ripped down a pass for a pick-six which Bill O'Brien claimed occurred because a pass catcher ran the wrong route. Roby didn't mind how it happened though, he took the ball the 70-plus yards for a score.

Speaking of pass catchers

This may be the deepest pass catching depth in history for the Texans. It feels like everyone can catch the ball well. We know about Hopkins and Will Fuller but Keke Coutee is the first real slot the Texans have had and the tight end room is loaded with every kind of tight end you would want. Deshaun Watson has a plethora of options to hit on the field.

The other Jordan

Jordan Thomas will get a lot of love during camp, as he should. But, don't forget about Jordan Akins. Though he had some plays Friday he might want back he had plenty of play maybe only he can make. Akins should be quite the chess piece for Bill O'Brien to move around the field. A few linebackers had a rough day trying to matchup with him.

Linebackers covering

Zach Cunningham and Dylan Cole are here for among other things their reliability in coverage. The duo showed again today how athletically gifted they are as they chased down tight ends and running backs. It will be imperative Cole stays healthy this season and give the team the much needed depth for that job.

A.J. Moore day

The special teams standout from last year had a strong day between the lines today. He was all over the place breaking up plays. He hauled in a long pass for an interception which really fired up the defense. He has plenty of opportunity while Justin Reid is out to add to his resume on defense.

Reid returns next?

While there is no timetable for Justin Reid to be activated for the team Bill O'Brien didn't seem concerned about his second-year safety's timeline. Reid was hit by a drunk driver before camp started and is currently on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. In his absence Jahleel Addae, most recently with the Chargers, has been getting a good amount of work.

AJ day 2.0

Backup quarterback A.J. McCarron diced up a few defensive sets. He rolled out a few times confusing defenders and extending a play just long enough for his players to come open. He threw a laser into the back of the end zone for a touchdown. He also isn't afraid to take a deep shot.

Pads come on Saturday

The team will have their first padded practice on Saturday. This is where more can be learned about the offensive and defensive lines. The list of most interesting players to be in pads tomorrow for me is as follows:

OL Tytus Howard

OL Max Scharping

OT Julién Davenport

DE Charles Omenihu

Play of the day

Fullback Cullen Gillaspia made the play of the day. He caught a pass in the corner of the end zone over his shoulder with a linebacker right on him in coverage. The defense protested saying the catch wasn't made in bounds. Gillaspia smacked into a storage shed finishing the rep but popped right back up.

Quote of the day

"We'll only keep him on the left side and he'll get his tackle reps."

Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien on rookie offensive lineman Tytus Howard.

BONUS: Hopkins on his Madden rating

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Report: Houston Astros eyeing someone to help clean up messy offseason

A lot was made of the Astros' decision to part ways with GM James Click after winning the World Series in 2022. At the time, there were rumors swirling about owner Jim Crane's interest in bringing back former Astros assistant GM David Stearns.

However, Stearns was under contract with the Brewers at the time, and wasn't available for the position even if the rumors were true. The Astros held off on hiring a new GM and made several head-scratching moves in free agency. Like signing 36-year-old Jose Abreu to a massive three-year contact worth almost $60 million.

Jeff Bagwell became the face of the Astros offseason, as he helped oversee the pursuit of Abreu in free agency. He's also taken some heat for the team re-signing Rafael Montero to a big contract. Fair or unfair, many blame Bagwell for Houston's disastrous offseason. Abreu is currently one of the worst hitters in baseball (6th worst OPS in MLB), and Montero has an ERA over 5.

Crane eventually hired current GM Dana Brown to lead the club moving forward. Here's where things get interesting. The Athletic is reporting this week that Stearns has been in contact with the Mets and Astros about a front office position. Houston currently does not have a President of Baseball Operations, so that could possibly be a role Crane is looking to fill.

Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss the Astros' reported interest in Stearns, and discuss how a new power structure could impact the team, and current GM Dana Brown.

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