Ryan Mallett will get his chance with the starters against Denver (Getty).
The Texans welcome back former coach Gary Kubiak this weekend, as Kubiak the Broncos will head to Houston for their second preseason game. After making their debuts last week, both the Broncos and Texans will use the game to help evaluate talent on their roster before the first roster cut on September 1st.
The biggest storyline will be the quarterbacks in this game. There’s no question who starts for Denver, but expect to see extended minutes from Peyton Manning as he recovers from last season’s injuries.
The Hard Knocks Texans will send out Ryan Mallet as their starting quarterback Saturday, as head coach Bill O’Brien continues to evaluate who will take snaps for the Texans offense. Brian Hoyer started last week, and drove the Texans down for a touchdown on their opening drive. Mallet also played well, but this week will be given time with the first-team offense to prove he can lead them into Week One.
Here’s a look at everything you need to know:
Game Information
Peyton should once again see minimal game action against Houston (Getty)
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2015
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston TX
TV Channel: KTVD in Denver; KTRK in Houston. Click here for a full list of local affiliates
Live Stream: NFL.com
Odds: Houston (-1), Over/Under 41, via OddsShark.com
Broncos Player to Watch: Bennie Fowler
Bennie Fowler has turned heads in camp with some impressive catches (Getty).
Folwer has been popping up all over the field for the Broncos, making acrobatic catches and earning more playing time. The Broncos are pretty crowded at receiver, so Fowler won’t be relied on unless something happens to Demariyuos Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders.
But like other unheralded receivers, a strong performance from Fowler could help him secure a job for the season. And when the regular season comes around, Peyton has a solid history of making unknown receivers look great.
Texans Player to Watch: Keith Mumphery
Keith Mumphery, along with fellow Spartan alum Bennie Fowler, is competing for a job in the NFL (Getty).
Despite a completely different QB situation, Keith Mumphery is competing with a crowded group of receivers for a roster spot. DeAndre Hopkins and Cecil Shorts will start, and while Jaelen Strong has struggled in camp, he won’t get pushed down the depth chart for Mumphery.
Mumphery has had solid screen time in the first two episodes of Hard Knocks, and could develop into a fan favorite this preseason. If he scores this weekend and continues to win favor, he’s going to make it hard for Bill O’Brien to cut him loose.