TEXANS/COWBOYS BEGIN WORKOUTS TODAY

HOUSTON TEXANS – @ WHITE SULPHER SPRINGS, WVA

The Houston Texans will open training camp on Thursday morning with quarterback Deshaun Watson and defensive end J.J. Watt "cleared and

ready to go," according to general manager Brian Gaine.

Both players are coming off serious injuries that forced an early end to their 2017 seasons and put them on injured reserve.

Throughout the Texans' spring workouts, Watson and Watt both said they were optimistic that they would be ready for the regular season.

The other biggest question for the Texans will be, can they put together an offensive line that can protect Watson.  The O-Line was a glaring weakness for the team in 2017.

EXHIBITION OPENER: Thursday, 8/9, Texans @ Kansas City, 7:30

DALLAS COWBOYS, TODAY – @ OXNARD, CALIF.

Are the Cowboys closer to the 13-3 team that had the best record in the NFC in 2016 or the 9-7 team in 2017 that missed the playoffs?

They lost Jason Witten to retirement and released Dez Bryant, but believe they have the core of a team in place that can make the playoffs for the third time in five years.

This figures to be the most important season of Dak Prescott’s young career, with the Cowboys eligible to sign him to an extension for the first time after the 2018 season.

He will be asked to do more without Witten and Bryant, and he needs to show he can make the passing game go.

EXHIBITION OPENER: Thursday, 8/9, Cowboys @ San Francisco, 9:00