Texans fall to Chargers
By Elwyn Henderson
The Houston Texans kicked off their 2026 preseason schedule Thursday night as they hosted the Los Angeles Chargers at Reliant Stadium in Houston. A very small crowd attended the meeting with a crowd estimated at fewer than 10,000 on hand.
Los Angeles won the coin toss and elected to receive to begin the game. No starters for either team played even to start the game and that could have something to do with why so few people were in attendance. The preseason always seen mostly rookies getting a lot of playing time so the coaches can see who proves worthy to make the final 53-man roster on cut down day.
Trey Lance started at quarterback for the visiting Chargers and did an admirable job of moving his unit down the field in their first possession. The visitors moved down to the Houston 16 and on 4th down Cameron Dicker booted a 34-yard field goal to put LA up 3-0 with 9:37 left in the opening quarter. The drive was 11 plays, 58 yards and took 5:23 off the first quarter clock.
Following the kickoff after the field goal the ball was returned from 1-yard deep in the end zone out to the Houston 25. Davis Mills brought the offense out for
their first possession of the night.
Mills hit Marlin Klein on a 31-yard gain to set the Texans up with a first down at the Chargers 36. Facing a 4th and 1 Houston kept the offense in to try for a first down to keep the drive alive. A Mills pass intended for Klein fell incomplete but LA was called for pass interference, giving the drive new life at the 18. On 3rd and goal from the 5 Mills hit Jared Wayne in the end zone for a TD with 3:51 left in the quarter. The extra point kick by Chris Freeman was good and Houston went on top 7-3. The drive was 11 plays, 75 yards and took 5:46.
The two teams exchanged punts as the first quarter came to an end. When the second quarter began Houston had the ball at their 33 and Graham Mertz was in at quarterback, having entered the game on the Texans second possession before their punt.
The Texans were forced to punt the ball on the possession and LA took over on their 33 after the punt. Lance led his team on an 8-play, 67-yard TD drive that consumed 4:28. The score came on a 7-yard run by Amar Johnson with 10:32 left in the first half. Dicker added the PAT and the Chargers led 10-7.
The ensuing kickoff was returned up to the 35 and the home team went back on the offensive again. The offense moved inside the 10 and faced a 4th and 1 and a quarterback sneak by Mertz was just short of the line to gain and the ball turned over on downs to the Chargers.
The Chargers finally got a drive going before the 2-minute warning and looked to be certain to come away with points but Kamari Ramsey intercepted a Lance pass and returned it 42 yards down to the LA 48 and Houston had one final chance to add points before the half.
The first two plays of the possession went backward to the Houston 48. On 3rd down Mertz ran the ball down to the 43 but injured a knee and with 2 seconds left in the half Freeman came in to attempt a 61-yard field goal. The kick was no good and the half ended with the visitors still leading 10-7 and the Texans set to receive to begin the second half.
The only scoring in the third quarter was a 48-yard field goal by Dicker with 5:16 left in the quarter. The final quarter began with the Chargers up 13-7 and they 
had the ball on their 38 with a 1st and 10.
A 55-yard pass play put LA on the Houston 1 after a roughing the passer penalty and on the next play Amar Johnson ran into the end zone for a TD with 13:43 left in the game. A 2-point conversion run by Johnson was good and Los Angeles put the game away, leading 21-7. The drive was 10 plays, 81 yards and took 4:39 off the clock.
Things really got sloppy for Houston on their next possession and a fumble and recovery set up the Chargers at the Houston 21.
On 3rd and goal Devonte Ross caught a 3-yard TD pass from DJ Uiagalelei with 10:08 left in the game. The PAT attempt was wide left but the Chargers were up 27-7. The short drive was 5 plays, 21 yards and took just 2:34 off the fourth quarter clock.
There was no further scoring and the visitors walked off the field with the 27-7 victory.
When he faced the media after the loss Coach DeMeco Ryans was asked the style of play he had wanted to see in the game and made it clear he was NOT pleased with what he saw.
“The style of play that I wanted to see, I wanted to see us play physical, and I did not see that the entire game. There were some glimpses of us playing physical, but the Chargers, they out physicaled us the entire game. It was not our brand of football. When I speak of playing our style, that’s a physical brand of football, and that was not up to par tonight.”
Davis Mills who started at quarterback after most of the starters were held out of the game also had a short presser. The Mirror asked him his thoughts on getting a lot of playing time after Mertz was injured in the second half.
“First off, hate it for [QB] Graham [Mertz]. I’ve been there. I had some knee injuries in the past in high school and college. I’m wishing him the best. It’s a long road to get back to recovery and get back to normal. He’s a good player, a great guy and I know he’ll come back stronger. Starting off with that. It’s the reality of the game. I wasn’t initially expecting to go back in, but something happens that’s out of your control, I want to go back in there and compete with my guys, my teammates, spread the ball around and let a lot of the young guys make plays and showcase themselves to try to make the roster.”
Houston will most definitely go out and find a third quarterback to help with offensive duties for the rest of camp and the preseason. There is no way Stroud and Mills can play two more preseason games and get all the action.
The Texans return to Reliant Stadium next Thursday, August 20th when they host Fernando Mendoza and the Las Vegas Raiders in a 7 PM preseason game. Houston will then go on the road the following week for their final preseason game when they travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers.
