Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson isn't overthinking things as he prepares for his first game on Sunday at New England since a season-ending knee injury last November.

The key to being successful this year is simple.

"Really just one thing Bob Griese Jersey ," he said. "Be me. That's it."

That approach helped Watson excel immediately as a rookie last season when he took over for Tom Savage at halftime of Houston's season opener.

He made six starts after that and finished with 1,699 yards passing and 19 touchdowns before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in practice in early November.

His performance was a revelation for a team that has dealt with years of disappointment and inconsistency at quarterback, with the lowlight coming when the team signed Brock Osweiler to a $72 million contract in 2016 and traded him after just one tough season.

This will be Watson's second trip to New England after he and the Texans came up just short in a 36-33 loss there last year. Watson, who was the 12th overall pick in last year's draft, threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, but what he remembers most about that game are the two interceptions he threw.

"We had the opportunity to put the game away and we didn't," he said. "Left too much time for Tom Brady. The interception I threw early on in the game. That was pretty much it."

Coach Bill O'Brien wasn't surprised that Watson handled himself well in the tough environment in New England after he starred for Clemson while leading the Tigers to a national championship in the 2016 season.

"From the time that he arrived here ... he had really good poise, very smart guy Jim Kelly Jersey ," O'Brien said. "This guy had beaten Alabama in the national championship game in front of 100,000 people on national television and almost did it the year before. I don't think there was ever going to be any stage too big for him."

Though Watson's rookie season was cut short, his injury didn't end his learning and development. He was at the stadium almost every day, watching film and talking to coaches and players to try and get better.

"When you get injured as a rookie, that's a tough deal," O'Brien said. "He approached it in a very professional manner. He got his rehab done. He would study tape. He's been with us out on the field ever since the offseason program started on April 18. He's worked diligently to get back to where he is right now."

Star receiver DeAndre Hopkins has dealt with a revolving door at quarterback, including playing with four different ones last season, since he was drafted in 2013. After what Watson did in limited work last year O. J. Howard Jersey , Hopkins can't wait to see what's next for the 22-year-old.

"I'm very excited," Hopkins said. "I think everybody is, not just myself. He's shown improvement, he's matured a lot since last year."

Watson isn't concerned about his surgically repaired knee holding up after performing well after having the same surgery on the other knee in 2014.

He looked good in limited action in the preseason, but questions about his health will remain until Sunday when he plays a full game for the first time in more than 10 months.

"(I) don't worry about it," he said. "I trust my preparation that I've put in, trust the rehab and the things I did over the summer to get back to this point and just go out there and cut it loose."

The NFL players’ union has filed a non-injury grievance on behalf of free agent safety Eric Reid.

The NFLPA cites one team appearing ”to have based its decision not to sign a player based on the player’s statement that he would challenge the implementation of a club’s policy prohibiting demonstration” during the national anthem.

League policy does not prohibit demonstrating during the anthem. Referring to the labor agreement with the league, the union notes that NFL rules supersede any conflicting club rules.

The union also says ”at least one club owner has asked pre-employment interview questions about a player’s intent to demonstrate. We believe these questions are improper Lance Alworth Jersey , given league policy.”

That team reportedly is the Cincinnati Bengals.

Considered one of the top safeties in the league, Reid played out his contract with San Francisco last season. He has been a strong supporter of former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who in 2016 became the first player to kneel during the anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

Kaepernick wasn’t signed for the 2017 season following his release in San Francisco. Reid continued the quarterback’s protests.

Reid last week filed a collusion claim similar to one filed by Kaepernick last year. The union announced Monday that it filed its grievance and was seeking an arbitrator to hear the case.

Kaepernick deposed several league owners and executives, including Commissioner Roger Goodell, in his grievance. Reid is using the same attorneys as Kaepernick.

When NFL owners met in March, they didn’t hold lengthy discussions on anthem protocol. But they are expected to do so at their spring meetings in Atlanta on May 21-22.

In March, Goodell was asked about Reid, one of the better players at his position in the NFL Anthony Averett Jersey , not having a job.

”I’ve said this repeatedly to you: The 32 teams make individual decisions on the players who are going to best help their franchises,” Goodell said. ”Those are decisions they have to make. They do that every day in the best interest of winning. Teams make those decisions. I’m not directly involved with that.”

Last month, Kaepernick praised Reid for continuing to make a stand for social justice when the quarterback was presented an Amnesty International award in Amsterdam.

”Eric introducing me for this prestigious award brings me great joy,” Kaepernick said. ”But I am also pained by the fact that his taking a knee, and demonstrating courage to protect the rights of black and brown people in America, has also led to his ostracization from the NFL when he is widely recognized as one of the best competitors in the game and in the prime of his career.”

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