Dolphins at Texans: Can Houston 'Fight' Help in Preseason Game 2?

A skirmish between Christian Harris and Devin Singletary left coach DeMeco Ryans pleased due to the intensity and competition level in practice.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans had their first skirmish during Day 13 of training camp at the Houston Methodist Training Center. ... which will matter even more if they show the same "fight'' this weekend against the visiting Miami Dolphins in preseason Game 2.

"To see scuffling in training camp, I would say, 'Finally,'" coach DeMeco Ryans said. "We actually see some guys – that’s what training camp is about. Sometimes you get tired of hitting the same guy over and over again, right? It’s linebackers, running backs, they’re going to thud up a lot in practice."

A completion from quarterback C.J. Stroud to running back Devin Singletary gained a few yards during 11-on-11. Before Singletary had a chance to run out of bounds, Christian Harris hit Singletary in a way that Singletary found offensice.

Harris and Singletary engaged in a shoving match before teammates broke up the dispute.

Ryans described the moment as "a little edgy and chippy" due to the players' competition. But Harris' hit on Singletary was a testament to the intensity the defense played with Sunday morning.

Even though it's "only preseason,'' with jobs on the line, that intensity will come in handy in the 3 p.m. Saturday meeting with the Dolphins, one of the darlings in the AFC when it comes to playoff contention. Same with physicality in general, of the sort Ryans' defense put on display on Sunday.

The defense executed big hits while making plays on the ball. Defensive backs Steven Nelson, Derek Stingley Jr. and Jimmie Ward each dropped an interception. A big hit by Nelson resulted in a Noah Brown fumble, which led to the 11th takeaway of training camp.

"It’s a part of camp – you see it – it’s not the worst thing to happen because it just shows that guys truly care about what they’re doing," Ryans said. "They want to be really good at it. It’s just two really good competitors going at each other – which I don’t have a problem with."

Good. Next step? Show that Houston is also a "really good competitor'' when it comes to the Dolphins.

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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