HOUSTON -- The Texans are wrapping up rookie minicamp today, though this final session is not open to media. They have 16 undrafted rookies and 16 tryout players, and it's likely there will be some shifting between those groups before the training camp roster is set.
I'll leave you now with 10 more notes and observations from this weekend's camp.
There are two tryout players who I think made a case for themselves to stick around. One is Ross Travis, a tight end out of Penn State, so you know Bill O'Brien is very familiar with him. He's one of three former Penn State players who got tryouts with the Texans this week. Travis is 6-foot-6, 235 pounds and used his size well.
The other tryout player who made a case to be signed was Le'Vander Liggins, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound defensive back from Louisiana Tech. I mentioned him yesterday as a player who did well.
Kurtis Drummond is a safety out of Michigan State who some thought would be drafted. He made a leaping interception during a late 11-on-11 drill. Drummond is here as an undrafted free agent signee, not a tryout player, but I'd keep an eye on him as the offseason progresses. He might have a chance to make the Texans' 53-man roster. And yes, that is a way too early projection.
Tryout quarterback Kevin Rodgers launched a pass for Jaelen Strong during those same 11-on-11s. The pass sailed past Strong, who collided with fellow draft pick cornerback Kevin Johnson as it did. Behind them, taking advantage of the situation, was tryout safety Corey Moore, who picked off the pass.
O'Brien revealed that James Rouse, the defensive end out of Marshall, suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Friday's practice. "That’s a tough deal," O'Brien said. "What a great kid. I just met him, but nice kid. ... Life does not end when you blow your Achilles out. It’s a tough blow, but I told him, ‘Hey, when you wake up this morning, you got to figure out how you’re going to rehab it and get going here.'"
Some tidbits about Rouse: According to his college bio, Rouse tore his left Achilles tendon during spring practices in 2012. This time it was his right Achilles tendon. Rouse also had a back injury in 2011 and because of those two situations was granted a sixth year of eligibility. The extra two years in college meant that Rouse got his degree in criminal justice two years ago and started working on a masters after that. He told me he wants to be a U.S. Marshal because he likes the idea of hunting down the worst criminals or fugitives. And, yes, he loves Law and Order. O'Brien isn't sure if the Texans will keep a space for Rouse, but he said he thinks Rouse will have an opportunity somewhere.
Last year the Texans brought in Rice kicker/punter Chris Boswell as an undrafted rookie. This year's candidate is Will Johnson, from Texas State. Johnson handled punting and kicking during rookie camp and seemed to have a pretty strong leg on his punts.
O'Brien said virtually all the players in rookie camp came in out of shape, so we asked him which ones didn't. "I would say that the long snapper was in good shape," he said. "He looked to be in pretty good shape."
O'Brien praised the work of the eight first- and second-year players who had been with the team prior to this offseason. Former Texas A&M receivers Travis Labhart and EZ Nwachukwu were among those and they've talked about how much further along they are now. It's Nwachukwu's third offseason with the Texans and Labhart's second. "It’s mind-boggling how much more info you know," Labhart said. "Knowledge is power, so the more you know, the easier things are. It’s like having the answers to a test, you’re just going to circle it if you know the answer."
Sixth-round pick Christian Covington's mentality aligns with O'Brien's message to rookies: "At the college level, you think you know what up-tempo is against offenses but you have no idea really until you hit the pro level. That’s something that we’re all having to go through come this rookie camp. It’s something we’re all striving towards overcoming throughout the camps to come later on throughout this whole journey and process."
