Texans Set for Joint Practices With Panthers and Raiders Ahead of 2026 Season

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The Houston Texans will once again take part in multiple joint practices during training camp, continuing a trend under DeMeco Ryans that has become an important part of the team’s preseason preparation.

According to reports from Aaron Wilson and Jonathan Alexander, the Texans are scheduled to host the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of their Aug. 20 preseason matchup at Reliant Stadium before traveling to Carolina for joint practices with the Panthers ahead of the Aug. 28 preseason game at Bank of America Stadium.

Houston has become increasingly comfortable utilizing joint practices in recent years.

The Texans hosted the Carolina Panthers in Houston last preseason, held joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams in 2024, and also worked against the Detroit Lions during the 2025 preseason. Those practices have often provided more competitive and controlled reps than preseason games themselves, especially for starting players who may only play limited snaps in exhibition action.

The Panthers matchup once again brings the C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young storyline back into focus.

The two quarterbacks have been linked ever since the 2023 NFL Draft when Young was selected No. 1 overall by Carolina and Stroud went No. 2 to Houston. The two have known each other for years dating back to their high school recruiting days and have often spoken highly of one another publicly. Their careers will likely continue being compared throughout the duration of their time in the NFL.

This year’s practices being in Carolina instead of Houston could also provide a slightly different environment for the Texans late in camp. While Carolina will still be hot in August, the weather conditions should at least be somewhat milder than the intense Houston heat players deal with daily throughout training camp.

The Raiders practices also present several intriguing storylines.

Las Vegas enters the season with first-time head coach Klint Kubiak, the son of former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. That family connection naturally creates some familiarity with Houston, while Kubiak’s offensive background also carries similarities to many of the wide zone and play-action principles Texans fans became accustomed to during the Gary Kubiak era.

There is also added intrigue surrounding Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.

C.J. Stroud has openly discussed his admiration for Brady in the past, while Brady himself has spoken positively about Stroud’s game and development early in his NFL career. If Brady were to attend practices in Houston, it would undoubtedly become a major talking point around camp.

Fans will also get an early look at Las Vegas rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Seeing Mendoza operate against DeMeco Ryans’ defense during competitive practice settings should provide an entertaining measuring stick for both sides before the preseason game itself.

For Houston, these practices are less about wins and losses and more about sharpening execution before the regular season begins.

Joint practices allow teams to work situational football, test depth, evaluate young players, and gain exposure to unfamiliar schemes in a more controlled environment than live games. Under Ryans, the Texans have consistently emphasized competition and physicality throughout camp, making these sessions an increasingly important part of the organization’s preseason process.