Latest news with #SuperBowl-caliber
Fox Sports
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 Houston Texans Preseason Schedule: Dates, Times, TV Channels
National Football League 2025 Houston Texans Preseason Schedule: Dates, Times, TV Channels Published Aug. 4, 2025 3:41 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link The Houston Texans enter the 2025 NFL preseason looking to build on a 10–7 season in 2024, winning the AFC South and earning a wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers before falling 23–14 to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round. As Houston aims to push deeper into the postseason in 2025, here's a complete look at the Texans' 2025 preseason schedule, including dates, times and TV channels. Houston Texans 2025 Preseason Schedule Check out the team's preseason schedule below: Jalen Hurts ranked ninth in NFL's Top 10 QB list behind Justin Herbert and Jayden Daniels | The Facility James Jones explains why it is "awful" to rank Jalen Hurts the ninth-best QB in the NFL behind Justin Herbert and Jayden Daniels. How will the Texans do this season? Ben Arthur predicts that the Texans will finish the year at 9-8. Here's Arthur: "The Texans' Super Bowl-caliber defense has gotten even better this offseason with the addition of former Eagle C.J. Gardner-Johnson , who had six interceptions last season. But Houston's offense is still filled with question marks. Its revamped offensive line looks underwhelming on paper, and, outside of Nico Collins , quarterback C.J. Stroud is expected to lean heavily on rookie receivers. That could mean some tough sledding with a first-place schedule, against opponents like the Bills and Bucs at home and the Chiefs, Rams and Ravens on the road. The Texans should be the team to beat in the AFC South once again, but they remain a step below true contention in the conference." share Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
02-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
C.J. Gardner-Johnson believes Texans have a 'Super Bowl-caliber' team
If anyone knows what a championship-caliber roster looks like, it's C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The newest member of the Houston Texans' secondary spent the last three seasons playing in the NFC Championship and a pair of Super Bowls. In 2022, he led the Eagles in interceptions but came up short in the big game against Patrick Mahomes in Glendale. The following season, his Detroit Lions couldn't excute a late-quarter drive against the San Francisco 49ers out west. Last season, after inking a three-year deal to return to Philadelphia, Gardner-Johnson once more impacted the Eagles' defense throughout the regular season, once again helping the NFC East franchise make it to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The difference? Philly finished the job and then some against Mahomes in the Chiefs for their first title since 2017. All three teams were good enough to hoist up a Lombardi Trophy. So, when asked how good the Texans were entering the new season, Gardner-Johnson made it known there's a championship culture on the sidelines. 'This is a Super Bowl-caliber team,' Gardner-Johnson said of Houston's roster. 'You've got guys who go out there and show it week in, week out.' It's not shocking to hear Gardner-Johnson speak highly of his new team following a trade this offseason. When he arrived in the building back in April, his motto for the season was "championship or nothing," for the team that thought his services were needed. That's the goal for the back-to-back AFC South champs entering Year 3 under DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud. The Texans have won 10-plus games in each of the past two years, but it's accumulated to is pair of divisional round appearances against the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a touchdown-plus loss. Ryans, who played for Houston in its first-ever playoff games, knows what type of talent is needed to make it to the Super Bowl. He coached it in San Francisco before returning to the Texans in 2023, meaning he too believes Gardner-Johnson's impact is much more than just a name on the roster. "You're adding a Pro Bowl, All-Pro caliber player with a Super Bowl pedigree who's done it at a high level and brings others along with him. He's a true leader by example and by talking. He does a really great job of motivating guys, getting guys to go.' Houston's secondary could be the backbone of the roster this fall. Headlined by All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., the Texans' back five have been the talk of training camp after winning most of their one-on-one battles in team drills over the past weeks. It's not just Stingley, who's locked into a long-term deal through 2030 after becoming the highest-paid cornerback this offseason. Second-year cornerback Kamari Lassiter looks more fluid in coverage and physical near the line of scrimmage. Fellow 2024 draft pick Calen Bullock has made at least one "wow" play in practice each day since pads came on last Monday. But Gardner-Johnson could be the spark to take them over the top. Jalen Pitre said one can notice a difference in both attitude and ability in practice with No. 23 joining the roster. "Just to add another guy who's gonna do the same thing is not gonna do anything but continue to uplift us and continue to motivate us. I'm thankful that he's on our team and he's going to continue to motivate, push and inspire all of us, offense and defense. He's for sure a dog."
USA Today
31-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
C.J. Gardner-Johnson says facing Texans' WR room is 'like the Daytona 500'
How talented is the Houston Texans' wide receiver room going into the 2025 season? Just ask C.J. Gardner-Johnson how he feels after every practice. If you wanted speed, the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back can attest it resides at NRG Stadium. "It's like the Daytona 500," Gardner-Johnson said Wednesday. "We're running fast every play. Everybody fast. All the cars are competing for first place. We've got a fast receiver corps. I'm going to be honest, it's probably one of the fastest corps I've ever seen. But they're a dynamic group with different skill sets. They're diverse." Last season, the Texans were poised to have a trio of talented pass-catchers as the foundation for a Super Bowl-caliber roster. Nico Collins, fresh off a 1,000-yard season, was expected to be the go-to target while rookie Tank Del seemed to be an ideal speed threat to throw in on the outside. Add in the arrival of Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs and everything seemed to be trending upward. Then came the injuries. Collins missed five games with a hamstring injury in the heart of the season. Diggs, who voided the final three years of his contract, suffered a torn ACL in Week 8 and missed the rest of the campaign. Dell missed time early on and eventually was carted off after hauling in a touchdown pass from Stroud in Week 16's loss against the Chiefs. He's expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season because of recovery. In his place, the Texans added former Jaguars starter Christian Kirk. Collins, who is one of the best size/speed combinations at the position among league targets, once again leads the way as Stroud's security blanket. Kirk, who is entering a contract season, could be on the league's top slot receivers should he return to 100 percent health. In his last healthy season, the former Texas A&M standout had 1,108 receiving yards as the No. 1 weapon in the AFC South. Houston also used two of its first picks on the Iowa State duo Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins, a 6-foot-4, 214-pound target, has similar size and testing numbers to Collins and been impressive in drills. "Smooth receiver," defensive back Jalen Pitre said of Higgins. "Like you said, he's very tall and very long, but he has every route in his arsenal. So, you definitely got to play him honest. Then, obviously, like we all would guess, when it's up in the air, he's going to go and get it. So, he's a great playmaker for us to have. I'm excited about what the future holds for him." Noel, who totaled over 1,900 receiving yards during his last two seasons in Ames, is only 5-foot-10, but he's a very explosive route-runner who can win in space and with athleticism. He led all combine wide receivers in the broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches) and tied for the lead in the vertical leap (41.5 inches). "Jaylin's already ahead of the curve just with the way he prepares and, you know, who he is as a person and as a player. Like I said, he prepares really well," Kirk said. "He's smart. And so, you know, for him, it's just, you know, going out there and playing fast, which I struggled with as a rookie." After a disappointing second season for Stroud, the Texans' offense was overhauled in the offseason. It's clear Houston loved its speed threat, so that's what fans should expect to see on Saturdays.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The fatal flaw Green Bay Packers must address in training camp
The post The fatal flaw Green Bay Packers must address in training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Green Bay Packers are no longer a team rebuilding around a young quarterback. They're hunting hardware. They snuck into the postseason in 2024 and gave the 49ers a scare in the Wild Card round. Now, the Packers enter the 2025 NFL season with higher expectations. That also comes with far less margin for error. Jordan Love's breakout campaign erased any doubts about his future under center, and head coach Matt LaFleur has returned with one of the most complete offensive units in the NFC. However, for all their growth and momentum, there's a looming concern that could unravel it all. As the pads come on and the battles begin in training camp, one flaw stands out like a blown coverage on third down: the cornerback room. Urgency Fueled the Offseason, Questions Remain Do the Packers finally have a Super Bowl-caliber roster? General manager Brian Gutekunst seems to believe they do. His offseason moves backed that up with quiet conviction rather than headline-grabbing splashes. He reinforced the interior offensive line with veteran guard Aaron Banks and added versatile corner Nate Hobbs to help stabilize a reshuffled secondary. They also used a rare first-round pick on wide receiver Matthew Golden out of Houston. That gives Love a potential long-term WR2 alongside Christian Watson. Still, Gutekunst has made it clear that the team wasn't about flashy moves. He emphasized that they about chasing stars. Their moves were all about chasing championships. Of course, results don't come without talent at key positions. And in today's NFL, few positions are more important or more exposed than cornerback. Fatal Flaw: A Secondary in Flux Here's the brutal truth about Green Bay's cornerback room. It is, at best, unproven. At worst, it is dangerously thin. The departure of Jaire Alexander, once the heart of the Packers' pass defense, was a bombshell. That's even if it felt inevitable after a prolonged contract standoff. Eric Stokes, another former first-rounder, followed him out the door. What's left is a mix of high-risk projections and raw youth. Hobbs, of course, was the team's biggest free-agent addition at the position. He is penciled in as a starter, but he's missed 13 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. He has also bounced between nickel and outside roles. Keisean Nixon, a standout returner, now enters camp as the team's No. 1 corner. That says less about Nixon's ceiling and more about how little Green Bay has to work with. Carrington Valentine flashed potential in limited snaps last year. He has impressed in offseason workouts, but cornerback is a position known for volatility from year to year. Then there's seventh-round rookie Micah Robinson. He is a long, athletic prospect with upside. That said, he didn't face top-tier competition in college and will now be asked to contribute early. And if that's not shaky enough, no other cornerback on the current roster played a single regular-season snap last year. That's a risky proposition in a conference filled with elite receivers. Hafley's Hands Are Full Enter new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. He's a DB guru whose college defenses routinely churned out NFL-ready talent. Hafley's influence on the unit is already being felt, particularly with how the Packers plan to use their safeties to support the corners. Xavier McKinney, another offseason signing, gives them a rangy presence in the back end. However, who lines up next to him is very much up for grabs. Rookie Javon Bullard could see snaps as a nickel corner or strong safety hybrid. Evan Williams has also received praise for his play recognition and physicality. The plan seems to be to get the five best defensive backs on the field, even if that means unconventional alignments. Hafley will mix and match based on opponent and game script. However, schemes only go so far. At some point, someone needs to cover Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, or CeeDee Lamb—one-on-one, downfield, with the game on the line. Right now, it's unclear if anyone on this roster is truly equipped to do that consistently. Training Camp Will Define the Ceiling So what must the Packers accomplish in training camp? They need to figure out who can cover. The offense is ready and defensive front is stout. The safeties are versatile. But if cornerback play doesn't stabilize in July and August, Green Bay's title aspirations could be undone by one fatal flaw. All eyes will be on Hobbs' durability, Nixon's growth, Valentine's consistency, and whether Bullard or Williams can mask weaknesses on the outside. Hafley's system is built on aggressiveness and tight coverage. These are traits easier drawn up than executed without reliable corners. Camp is where the depth chart will be carved. Matchups in joint practices, preseason reps against live bullets, and situational drills in 11-on-11s will all factor into determining who gets the first crack in Week 1. Looking Ahead Because if the Packers can't figure out their cornerback rotation now, they'll be figuring it out in real time. And they will try to do it while trying to keep pace in a loaded NFC. The Packers are ready to win. But if they don't shore up their cornerback room in camp, they might not even survive the gauntlet of their regular-season schedule, let alone make a deep playoff run. Championship windows don't stay open forever. And sometimes, all it takes is one crack in the glass for everything to fall apart. Related: Packers' Matt LaFleur reveals Nathaniel Hackett's return, with a twist Related: The $432.6 million boom Packers just reported
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Micah Parsons' intensifying contract dispute puts Dallas Cowboys in crucial decision-making moment
The Micah Parsons contract standoff with the Dallas Cowboys has become one of the 's biggest storylines, and it's showing no signs of slowing down. Parsons, widely recognized as one of the league's most dominant pass rushers, is the centerpiece of the Cowboys' defense. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Yet, his long-term future in Dallas remains clouded by stalled contract talks that have both fans and analysts sounding alarms. Dallas Cowboys face crucial turning point in Micah Parsons' standoff Tension between Parsons and the Cowboys has grown after team owner Jerry Jones downplayed fan chants demanding a new deal for the star linebacker. Jones pointed out that the chants were far quieter than last year's 'Pay CeeDee Lamb' campaign, signaling that the front office isn't feeling pressured to meet Parsons' demands, at least not yet. This stance has only fueled speculation that Parsons could consider holding out to make his message heard. NFL insider Adam Schefter has even suggested the negotiations have taken a 'personal' turn, with Dallas feeling blindsided after talks seemed close to completion before breaking down. Parsons, on the other hand, reportedly believes the deal should have been finalized long ago. Why Cowboys can't risk losing their defensive cornerstone The Cowboys' defense runs through Micah Parsons. With unmatched speed and versatility, he's already established himself as a generational pass rusher capable of wrecking games and leading a Super Bowl-caliber unit. Yet, if the front office continues to drag its feet, the situation could spiral into a holdout or even long-term damage to the team's relationship with its defensive cornerstone. Currently, Parsons is set to play under his fifth-year option worth $24 million for the 2025 season if no extension is reached. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Reports suggest the Cowboys may already have a 'take it or leave it' offer on the table, which raises the stakes as the season approaches. A prolonged standoff could disrupt team chemistry and put Dallas in a difficult position ahead of a critical playoff push. FAQs Why haven't the Dallas Cowboys signed Micah Parsons to a long-term deal yet? The Cowboys and Micah Parsons remain far apart in contract negotiations. Reports suggest the team has made an offer, but talks have stalled, with both sides feeling frustrated. Dallas may be waiting to see how the market evolves before finalizing a mega-extension. Could Micah Parsons hold out if the Cowboys don't meet his demands? A holdout is possible if no deal is reached before the season. NFL insiders have speculated that Parsons could skip team activities or training camp to put pressure on the Cowboys to finalize a contract. How important is Micah Parsons to the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl chances? Parsons is the cornerstone of the Cowboys' defense and one of the NFL's most dominant pass rushers. Losing him to a holdout or free agency could severely impact Dallas' ability to compete for a Super Bowl in 2025. Also Read: Cowboys running out of time to secure Micah Parsons As training camp and the season draw closer, the spotlight is firmly on Jerry Jones and the Cowboys' front office. Locking in Micah Parsons isn't just a contract matter; it's about keeping their defensive leader and protecting their Super Bowl chances. The longer this standoff lasts, the greater the pressure on Dallas to get a deal done.
