NFL Insider Gives 'Holy Cow' Update on Houston Texans

After catapulting into the NFL playoffs last season with a seven-win improvement over 2022, the Houston Texans will not catch many fans or opponents off guard in 2024. Still, the question remains: Just how good will they be in DeMeco Ryans' second season as head coach?

Talking to "The Dan Patrick Show" on Tuesday, Aug. 20, The Athletic's Dianna Russini revealed the Texans are the team that has most impressed her during her NFL training camp tour.

"Holy cow," Russini exclaimed to host Dan Patrick. "I knew they were good when I showed up. I left like — and look, I went on a day when everyone told me C.J. (Stroud) was unbelievable. But I was just watching going 'Who is going to stop them?'"

The Texans' revamped culture under Ryans, including stars showing regular-season emotions during the preseason , is a major driving force behind Houston's recent takeoff.

"This is tiny, but this is important and its been told to me by many people it's important in the big grand scheme of things," Russini added. "When they make good plays during the preseason ... the way the starters are running down into the end zone and showing that support. Because what that is, that's culture. ... I felt it when I was there."

"Stefon Diggs told me this has just been refreshing for him," Russini added. "He's growing up. He reflects on some of his younger years and just knows he made some mistakes and is ready now to really try to be the best at his position."

Houston won 10 games last season for just the fifth time since the franchise entered the NFL in 2002. It only won 11 games combined between the 2020 and 2022 seasons, during which the organization cycled through four head coaches.

Related: Camera Catches C.J. Stroud Going Nuts on Sideline During Texans-Bears Game