John McClain has covered the NFL for 40 years. He is smart enough not to pick the Texans over the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Not everyone is so smart. Chronicle columnist Jerome Solomon picked the Texans in this episode of the Texans Sports Nation podcast. In a preview of the season-opening matchup, McClain says he believes the Texans will make a game of it, but he couldn’t bring himself to go against the Patriots at home. “I don’t pick any team to win in Foxborough,” McClain said. “Going back to 2001, I guess my winning percentage is probably in the 900s.” McClain is just about right, as the Patriots are 125-24 (.839) at Gillette Stadium, which opened in 2002, the year the Texans joined the NFL. The Texans have won 113 games at all stadiums combined. McClain shares insight to the Texans’ approach to the season and what they will have to do to be successful at New England and overall, details the new-look defense, discusses Jadeveon Clowney’s motivation for the season and gives the latest on the Texans’ overall health as they prepare to start their 17th season in the NFL, Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.

The Texans host the Cowboys on Thursday night at NRG Stadium. The game could be the last night in the NFL for many players. Jerome Solomon and John McClain discuss possible roster decisions as the Texans, and all other NFL teams, face a Friday deadline to trim down to 53 players from the current limit of 90.

What will be the saddest cut? Who is in a surprise battle for a job? What current second-year draft pick has no chance of making the team?

Jerome Solomon and John McClain discuss the Texans 16-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers from the press box immediately after the game. McClain said Deshaun Watson looks like he is ready to go after he engineered an 11-play, 79-yard touchdown drive in the lone series in which he played. Watson, who had completions of 37 and 22 yards, was 5-of-8 passes for 73 yards, with a touchdown and no interceptions. McClain gives a breakdown of other highs (Romeo Crennel’s second team defense) and lows (the running game) of the Texans’ second preseason game, and a preview of who should play in their upcoming trip to Los Angeles where the Texans will face the Rams.

With the preseason underway and the Texans now back in Houston for the continuation of training camp, things will pick up this week.

The San Francisco 49ers will be in town for a game on Saturday night at NRG Stadium, but just as importantly, they will come in a few days early for a pair of join practices with the Texans.

Chronicle NFL columnist John McClain joined me on a Texas Sports Nation podcast to discuss why he enjoys joint practices and what their value is to NFL teams.

McClain breaks down the Texans’ first couple weeks of preparation for the season, tells what stood out to him in the win over the Chiefs and takes a look at other happenings in the NFL.

Who will win the AFC South? Tune into this episode for John McClain’s pick.

Houston Chronicle columnist Jerome Solomon and Texans beat writer Aaron Wilson discuss the return of Romeo Crennel as defensive coordinator and the team’s other major changes.

Wilson also shares what he expects to see from the Texans in Thursday’s preseason opener at Kansas City, naming several young players fans should keep an eye on during the game.

They were not wearing leather helmets when John McClain started covering NFL training camps, but he has been around them since 1977, the only year that the Oilers held camp in Nacogdoches.

Unfortunately, McClain is unable to take in Texans training camp this summer because he was injured in a fall.

"I've always loved training camp," McClain said. "I'm bummed not being able to be there."

But that hasn't stopped McClain from covering the team and keeping up with everything going on at the camp, thanks to his connections with the team.

In this episode of the Texas Sports Nation podcast, McClain joins me via phone to talk about what his spies tell him is happening with the Texans, how Deshaun Watson and the offense will perform and players to keep an eye on this preseason.

Plus, he gives an update on his status and his thoughts on missing out on the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. McClain is a voter for the veterans committee, which selected former Oilers great Robert Brazile as its inductee this year.

Houston Chronicle columnist Brian T. Smith and beat writer Aaron Wilson recap the Texans' first week of training camp near The Greenbrier.

Is the offensive line going to drag down the 2018 team?

How are Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins looking?

What can we realistically expect from J.J. Watt after two lost seasons?

Smith and Watt go in depth discussing a team with explosive potential but serious question marks.

Houston Chronicle columnist Brian T. Smith and beat writer Aaron Wilson break down the first day of training camp for Bill O'Brien's 2018 Texans at The Greenbrier.

Deshaun Watson is healthy and already in full control of the offense. J.J. Watt also has a greenlight. And while Jadeveon Clowney spent much of the workout away from the main action, the initial day was an overall positive for a team coming off a highly disappointing 4-12 season.

The Texans' big names were back. And for the first time in a long time, O'Brien's squad was healthy.

Twitter: @ChronBrianSmith @AaronWilson_NFL @ChronTXSN

Houston Chronicle sports columnists Brian T. Smith and Jenny Dial Creech talk all Rockets, all the time in this week’s podcast. The red-hot Rockets are the best team in the NBA and boast the best player in James Harden.