Texans to Play Offensive Starters vs Steelers in Preseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers will get a serious test in their first preseason game this Friday night against the Houston Texans, as Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters on Monday that he will be playing his starting offense in the game at Acrisure Stadium.

Friday’s preseason game will be the 2024 debut for the Steelers, but the Texans already have one game under their belt, after playing the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Thursday. In that game, none of the Texans top skill position players like quarterback C.J. Stroud, wide receivers Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs, tight end Dalton Schultz or running back Joe Mixon participated.

On Monday, Ryans said that his first-team offense will get the call against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

“I think everybody needs the opportunity to go to the ground a couple times in a game, get up, dust yourself off and know you’re good,” Ryans said on Monday. “You just have to go through and play live reps of football before live action comes in September. So you’ll see our ones go out and get reps this week versus Pittsburgh.”

Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (8) in action during the first quarter of an NFL football game against Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 in Houston, TX. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)

The Texans’ offense gave the Steelers a hard time in their 2023 matchup, scoring 30 points on Teryl Austin’s unit, tied for the most the Steelers gave up in a game last year. Stroud was 16 of 30 for 306 yards and two touchdowns, while Collins torched the Pittsburgh secondary to the tune of seven catches for 168 yards and two scores.

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They’ve gotten even better since then with the additions of Diggs in a trade with the Buffalo Bills and Mixon through free agency.

In addition to getting a strong test from one of the AFC’s best offenses, the Steelers will also be getting a look at one of the deepest wide receivers units in the NFL. The wide receiver-needy Steelers could partner with the Texans in a trade, as Houston has a deep wide receiver corps, with former high draft picks John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson outside of the top four.