HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� Two decades ago, DeMeco Ryans and Gary and Klint Kubiak spent a lot of time together on the Houston Texans practice fields when Ryans was the team鈥檚 star linebacker and Klint鈥檚 dad coached the team.
On Tuesday, the three were all back on those same practice fields with Ryans coaching the Texans, Klint coaching Las Vegas and Gary looking on as Houston and the Raiders held a joint practice ahead of Thursday鈥檚 preseason game.
鈥淚t was real easy working with Klint,鈥� Ryans said. 鈥淚鈥檝e known Klint since he was a teenager when he was out here with his dad at practices鈥� so just really cool talking to him, catching up. It was easy to schedule practice. Very like-minded in our approach to the game.鈥�
Kubiak, who is in his first season as the Raiders鈥� coach, acknowledged Tuesday鈥檚 full circle moment but didn鈥檛 allow himself much time to think about it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a blessing to get to coach in the NFL and to come back here where my dad coached and where I saw so many practices it was a really cool feeling,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut very quickly erased all those feelings and just got right to practice. So, I鈥檒l think of the warm and fuzzy stuff later.鈥�
Also watching the two-hour practice in Houston was Raiders鈥� minority owner Tom Brady and Texans鈥� Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson.
It was a big practice for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, who got extensive work with the first-team offense against Houston鈥檚 starters.
鈥淚 wanted to see him going against the Texans 1s,鈥� Kubiak said. 鈥淭hat was our plan all along. I thought he did some good things.鈥�
Mendoza had a great long throw to Brock Bowers early in practice but also had an interception returned for a touchdown by Jalen Pitre.
鈥淥verall, it was a positive day,鈥� Mendoza said. 鈥淭here were plays that I loved and plays that I wish I had back. But in reality, that鈥檚 a lie I don鈥檛 wish I had them back because it鈥檚 a growing experience.鈥�
Houston star defensive end Will Anderson was impressed with Mendoza.
鈥淎 ton of respect for him,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淚 loved his energy. I loved the way he was cheering his O-line on, cheering his team on. He鈥檚 going to be a really great quarterback in this league.鈥�
Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins got plenty of work in too and also had an interception returned for a touchdown by a Houston defense that was among the best in the league last season.
鈥淚t was a good challenge,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou feel their rush. They do a good job pursuing and playing fast.鈥�
There was a small dustup involving Las Vegas defensive end Maxx Crosby and some Texans but other than that the teams got along Tuesday, which both coaches were thankful for.
鈥淥verall, with joint practices, the main thing is you鈥檙e just trying to get work in and get each other better without it turning into a melee,鈥� Kubiak said. 鈥淚 thought our guys were very mature. 鈥�
The Texans had a good showing from their running backs on Tuesday with Ryans raving about their work after Woody Marks scored two touchdowns.
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud was happy with the work of his team against the Raiders.
鈥淚t went great,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 thought we made a lot of plays. Of course there鈥檚 always things to clean up. We moved the ball very well, ran the ball great, threw the ball great. Overall we had a really good day.鈥�
Las Vegas offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson didn鈥檛 practice Tuesday and Kubiak said he doesn鈥檛 expect him to play Thursday after he left Monday鈥檚 practice with an injury.
Houston receiver Jayden Higgins left practice Tuesday with an injury and Ryans said he was being evaluated for a leg injury.
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