Texans Training Camp: Things Kick Off Friday

Texans training camp will open Friday, July 30 as the team begins its ninth season of NFL football aiming for its first playoff birth. Here are some notable tidbits:

-The Texans don't have an open training camp, meaning you have to media credentials to attend besides the designated open dates. Fortunately, tomorrow is one of those days. You'll need a ticket to attend festivities, but they are free and can be picked up on The Mothership. The first four practices will all be open, as well as Thursday, Aug. 5 and Saturday, Aug. 7. You can get a better look at what goes on there for the fans here.

-These will be two-a-days. Judging by the times given on the open practices, I'd guess that 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. is the morning session. ABC-13 reports that the afternoon session starts at 3 p.m., though it is not available to the public.

-Here's a piece from Alan Burge at the Examiner about what to expect while you attend training camp practices.

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TEXANS OFFSEASON RECAP

 

GONERS:

CB Dunta Robinson (Atlanta)

G Chester Pitts (Good luck in Seattle, pal)

RB Ryan Moats (Vikings)

QB Rex Grossman (Redskins)

S Brian Russell (Chronic badness)

S John Busing (Giants)

T Ephraim Salaam (Oldness)

DT Jeff Zgonina (Oldness)

RB Chris Brown (Thank goodness)

LB Khary Campbell

S Nick Ferguson

LS Bryan Pittman

G Tutan Reyes

TE Michael Gaines

 

NEWCOMERS:

G/C Wade Smith (4 years, $12 million, $6.25 million guaranteed)

K Neil Rackers (2 years, $4.1 million, $350,000 guaranteed)

LS Jon Weeks (undisclosed)

LB Danny Clark (undisclosed)

TE Derek Fine (undisclsed)

FB Justin Griffith (undisclosed)

 

ROOKIES:

CB Kareem Jackson (1st round-20th, 5 years, $16.3 million maximum, $10.35 million signing bonus)

RB Ben Tate (2nd-58th, signed, terms unavailable)

DT Earl Mitchell (3rd-81st, 4 years, $2.578 million; $788,500 signing bonus)

LB Darryl Sharpton (4th-102nd, 4 years, $2.324 million; $534,940 signing bonus)

TE Garrett Graham (4th-118th, 4 years, $2.27 million; $480,100 signing bonus)

CB Sherrick McManis (5th-144th, 4 years, $1.982 million; $192,000 signing bonus)

G Shelley Smith (6th-187th, 4 years, $1.894 million; $104,070 signing bonus)

WR/KR Trindon Holliday (6th-197th, 4 years, $1.886 million; $96,600 signing bonus)

WR Dorin Dickerson (7th-227th, 4 years, $1.843 million; $53,615 signing bonus)

LB Isiah Greenhouse (undrafted)

S Nick Polk (undrafted)

CB Pierre Singfield (undrafted)

DT Malcolm Sheppard (undrafted)

S Torri Williams (undrafted)

DE Mitch Unrein (undrafted)

T Cole Pemberton (undrafted)

T Steve Maneri (undrafted)

Thanks to Mac's Football Blog for compiling the master list of rookie signings.

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NFL ROSTER CUTDOWN DAYS:

August 31: Cutdown to 75 players

September 4th: Cutdown to 53 players.

September 5th: Practice Squad players can be officially signed, maximum of 8 players.

 

PRESEASON SCHEDULE:

Saturday, August 14th, @ Arizona, 8 p.m.

Saturday, August 21st, @ New Orleans, 8 p.m.

Saturday, August 28th, vs. Dallas, 8 p.m.

Thursday, September 2nd, vs. Tampa Bay, 8 p.m.

Stop by our Texans blog, Battle Red Blog, for daily updates on training camp and more.