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Minicamp for your Houston Texans kicks off today, which means we are mere weeks from the start of actual training camp. Last year’s full camp started on July 21st with the Hall of Fame game on august 4th – exactly two weeks of camp before the first "game" of the preseason. With this year’s Hall of Fame game on August 3rd, I would expect Texans camp to start anywhere between July 20th – July 25th. Mark your calendars. For now, however, we turn our eyes to minicamp. Andre Johnson grumpily skipping this mandatory yearly exercise will be the biggest story of the week, but there are a few other major topics to keep an eye on.
1. Who looks better between Case Keenum and T.J. Yates, and which one will get cut before camp next month?
2. Rookie guard Xavier Su’a-Filo graduated this past Friday and will finally be able to focus solely on football for the first time this offseason. How does he look against Death Row?
3. Does everyone make it out of these three days without any major injuries? No whammies, no whammies, no whammies.
4. How is Jadeveon Clowney progressing in his recovery?
5. Is Derek Newton still Derek Newton?
All of these questions and more will hopefully be answered between now and the end of minicamp on June 19th. This post will be updated continuously as more information trickles in from twitter and other outlets, so keep an eye on BRB throughout the day.
[UPDATE - 10:37 AM CT]
True. Fed up w rebuilding RT @Gil_Brandt: Why is Andre Johnson holding out? Wants to play for team w shot to go deep in playoffs, turns 33
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2014
Bill O'Brien will talk #Texans minicamp, soon, here... http://t.co/TnOw6Lkzux
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 17, 2014
Looks like another new sign is about to go up at NRG Stadium. #Texans pic.twitter.com/2ztQOZnhfo
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaro) June 17, 2014
[UPDATE - 1:29 PM CT]
#Texans 2nd rd pick Xavier Su'a-Filo has signed his contract.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) June 17, 2014
The letter of the day is "m" as in #Texans minicamp. pic.twitter.com/qRs7MwQi63
— Stephanie Stradley (@StephStradley) June 17, 2014
BOB just named Ryan Fitzpatrick starter. Now official. "He's had a good offseason".
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
O'Brien: He's had a good offseason. He's earned it w/his prep/accuracy/command at line of scrimmage. #Texans
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 17, 2014
O'Brien told team in 8 am meeting today. Said all 4 QBs have put in the work, but Fitzpatrick is the starter after earning it this offseason
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) June 17, 2014
O'Brien: Case, T.J., and Savage will be battling for #2. They just need more consistency. #Texans
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) June 17, 2014
"I don't know."-O'Brien on if #Texans will carry 2 or 3 QB's on roster this season.
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 17, 2014
O'Brien has spoken and texted with Andre Johnson. #Texans
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 17, 2014
BOB: Su'a-Filo "he had done of studying while he was away"
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
Rookie Xavier Su'a-Filo returned today for practice after finishing up his academic year at UCLA. #Texans
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) June 17, 2014
"You could tell he did some studying on his own." O'Brien on Su'a-Filo after seeing him on the field today. #Texans
— PDS (@PatDStat) June 17, 2014
O'Brien said he's not concerned about Andre Johnson catching up on his offense when/if he returns. #Texans
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 17, 2014
BOB: Ben Jones and Brandon Brooks have inside tracks on starting jobs. Xavier has "catching up to do"
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
DE J.J. Watt was back at practice today after missing Friday w/hyperextended knee. O"Brien said he looked good. #Texans
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 17, 2014
O'Brien says the last year's rookie class, Swearinger/Hopkins/etc, has shown improvement. #Texans
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) June 17, 2014
"That's between Andre and myself" BOB on what his conversations have been with Andre Johnson
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
Fitz: "guys in the locker room have really bought in"
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
Ryan Fitzpatrick, on being named starter today: We still have a long way to go before we step on the field and play Washington. #Texans
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) June 17, 2014
"I think this is going to be a really fun system to play in," Fitzpatrick on #Texans new offense.
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 17, 2014
Fitz: "I don't know Andre that well" "been a productive offseason getting to throw to" the guys who are in camp.
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
Fitzpatrick mentions the relationship he has built with Posey, Thomas and Bonner. #Texans
— PDS (@PatDStat) June 17, 2014
Fitz: "this is where I wanted to be...I wanted another chance to be 'The Guy'"
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
#Texans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said he's had good open communication w/ coach Bill O'Brien. Said team has done good job challenging them (QBs)
— AdamWexlerCSN (@awexler) June 17, 2014
Fitz; "my 4.95 or whatever it is 40 doesn't work as well here as it did at Harvard"
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
"He's a true professional from everything I've heard about him and everything I've seen of him," Fitzpatrick on Andre Johnson. #Texans
— AdamWexlerCSN (@awexler) June 17, 2014
Fitz:"important to get every rep I can" right now to work with the 1s
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 17, 2014
Su'a-Filo said if he had a problem understanding the playbook he would call Oline Coach Paul Dunn with questions. #Texans
— PDS (@PatDStat) June 17, 2014
LG Xavier Su'a-Filo 4 year deal worth $5.55 million with $3.96 guaranteed and $2.35 signing bonus.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) June 17, 2014
[UPDATE - 1:55 PM CT]
J.J. Watt came in with a piece of steak in his hands and was taking a bite out of it. It looked like a cookie. #newsyouneed
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 17, 2014
"I felt great. Friday was just a precaution."- J.J. Watt on his knee, and missing that practice. #Texans
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) June 17, 2014
My brothers rockin the bald eagle cut. Little things like this make the dog days of chemo better for me. pic.twitter.com/oRvNhHxbyL
— David Quessenberry (@DavidQberry) June 17, 2014
Got any news from the twittersphere that we missed? Throw it in the comments and we’ll put it up for all to see.