Critical observations you need to know about from Houston Texans OTAs

TEXANS OTAS

Houston Texans CJ Stroud
The Texans are back in action! Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images.

The Houston Texans are back on the field for voluntary OTAs, and it sure is nice to see one face in particular. Tank Dell is already participating in on-field drills after suffering a gunshot wound to the leg just a few weeks ago.

After the incident, Texans CEO Cal McNair said Dell would take a while to get back to where he was in his broken fibula rehab before suffering the gunshot wound. Clearly, Dell is ahead of schedule, and that's a great thing for QB CJ Stroud and the rest of the offense.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke about Tank Dell's return.

Notable absences

The biggest addition of the offseason, Stefon Diggs, is not present at OTAs. Tytus Howard, Laremy Tunsil, and Shaq Mason are not in attendance either. Let's keep in mind, these workouts are voluntary, but it would have been great to see Diggs show up to build chemistry with Stroud.

Speaking of building chemistry with Stroud. The Texans' most productive receiver last season, Nico Collins, is on the field preparing for a huge contract year.

All Collins really has to prove this year is that he can stay healthy. He recorded 1,297 receiving yards and 8 TDs over 15 games in 2023.

He hasn't made it through a season healthy over his three-year career. Hopefully he bucks the trend in 2024. If he does, he likely will receive a contract extension similar to Colts receiver Michael Pittman. A three-year, $70 million deal with $46 million in guarantees. If he remains healthy, he'll get that money from someone, whether it's the Texans or another team.

Especially if Diggs leaves after the season when his contract expires.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.

There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.

Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.

Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.

He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.

Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.

Key moment

The home run by Peraza.

Key stat

It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.

Up next

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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