Saturday, August 9, 2025 11:00PM
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (KTRK) — The Houston Texans opened up preseason play in a 20-10 loss against the Minnesota Vikings on the road on Saturday afternoon on ABC13.
In Houston’s first exhibition game, the team played without a majority of their players, including star quarterback C.J. Stroud. Instead, Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills started for Houston’s preseason opener.
Concerning the Vikings, quarterback J.J. McCarthy made his return to the gridiron on Saturday after he missed his entire rookie season with a meniscus injury. Minnesota was also without star wideout Justin Jefferson and a multitude of players for the game.
In the first quarter, Vikings placekicker Will Reichard opened the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown to give Minnesota the early lead, 3-0. Midway in the first quarter, Houston responded after Mills connected with wideout Braxton Berrios for the 14-yard touchdown to give Houston the lead, 7 -3.
Early in the second quarter, Vikings’ Reichard made his second field goal after connecting on a 38-yard field goal to narrow Houston’s lead, 7-6. The Texans made a switch at quarterback with quarterback Kedon Slovis to replace Mills in the second quarter. Not to mention, Vikings replaced McCarthy with quarterback Sam Howell, who scored a touchdown with a one-yard run to cap a 94-yard drive late in the second quarter to give Minnesota the lead.
The Texans trailed the Vikings at halftime, 13-7.
Texans placekicker Ka’imi Fairbairn scored a 43-yard field goal in his first field-goal attempt of the game to cut the Vikings’ lead to just 13-10 in the third quarter. Houston made their third quarterback switch by inserting rookie quarterback Graham Mertz during the third quarter of the game.
Texans’ Mertz threw an interception with about 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter with Houston down 13-10. However, the Vikings decided on another QB switch-up in the fourth quarter with Max Brosmer, who connected with WR Myles Price for the three-yard TD to increase Minnesota’s lead, 20-10.
Overall, Houston struggled to get an offensive rhythm in the second half with a total of three interceptions for the rookie QB Graham Mertz.
The Texans will host Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers in their second preseason game at NRG Stadium on Aug. 16.
You can check out the rest of the Texans’ preseason schedule and the team’s schedule for the upcoming regular season.
Texans 2025 preseason schedule
All preseason games will be airing on ABC13.
Week 2: Saturday, Aug. 16 at 12 p.m. vs Carolina Panthers
Week 3: Saturday, Aug. 23 at 12 p.m. at Detroit Lions
Texans 2025 regular-season schedule
Week 1: Sept. 7 at Los Angeles Rams
Week 2: Sept. 15 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (MNF)
Week 3: Sept. 21 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 4: Sept. 28 vs Tennessee Titans
Week 5: Oct. 5 at Baltimore Ravens
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Oct. 20 at Seattle Seahawks (MNF)
Week 8: Oct. 26 vs San Francisco 49ers
Week 9: Nov. 2 vs Denver Broncos
Week 10: Nov. 9 vs Jaguars
Week 11: Nov. 16 at Titans
Week 12: Nov. 20 vs Buffalo Bills (TNF)
Week 13: Nov. 30 at Indianapolis Colts
Week 14: Dec. 7 at Kansas City Chiefs (SNF)
Week 15: Dec.14 vs Arizona Cardinals
Week 16: Dec. 21 vs Las Vegas Raiders
Week 17: Dec 28 at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 18: TBD vs Colts (Texans Flex Game)
ABC13 is the Houston Texans’ Official TV Partner.
