NEWS » but his heavy lifting is beginning to wear him down.

HOUSTON -- Brock Osweiler is comfortable in Houston and ready to show the Texans they were right to invest $72 million in him.The quarterback, who started just seven games in his four-year career before the Texans lured him away from Denver with that huge contract, has looked good in preseason. On Sunday, hell get his first test when the Texans host the Chicago Bears.My confidence continues to grow every single day, he said. It definitely grows every single time I step on the game field because you cant really replace anything with game reps, so the more Im able to (practice) this offense, the more comfortable I become with it.Coach Bill OBrien is beginning his third year in Houston after building a reputation as a quarterback guru with New England and in his time at Penn State. Last season, he was forced to use four quarterbacks because of injuries and inconsistent play.Despite the revolving door at quarterback, Houstons 9-7 record was good enough to win a weak AFC South and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2012. But Brian Hoyer threw four interceptions in a 30-0 wild-card loss to Kansas City and sent Houston looking for an upgrade at the position.OBrien believes he found it in the 25-year-old Osweiler, who started the last seven regular-season games for the Broncos last year before being benched for the playoffs in favor of Peyton Manning. The coach loves the work ethic of his new quarterback and raved about the 12-hour days he has routinely put in so he could master the offense.Hes come in here and done exactly what weve asked him to do, OBrien said. Hes worked extremely hard ... in order to understand our offense basically like a coach does, you have to put in a lot of time. He has certainly done that.Some things to know about the 2016 Texans:WATT WILL PLAY IN OPENER: J.J. Watt will play in the season opener after missing all of training camp and the Texans four preseason games after back surgery. Watt returned to practice on Monday for the first time since surgery to repair a herniated disk in July, and coach OBrien said after practice that he would play. Watt, the NFLs Defensive Player of the Year in three of the past four seasons, hasnt missed a game in his five-year career. The defensive end also sat out the entire preseason in 2012 because of an elbow injury and returned for the season opener.OFFENSIVE LINE SHAKEUP: The offensive line took a hit when second-round pick Nick Martin, who was expected to start at center, had season-ending ankle surgery. Greg Mancz, a second-year player who appeared in three games last season, took over on a line that will be without veteran left tackle Duane Brown (quadriceps surgery in January) when the season begins. Brown was also activated from the PUP list Saturday, but isnt sure when hell be able to return. Despite the injuries, OBrien is confident in the unit.I really like that group of guys, OBrien said. I think they practice hard. They take it very seriously. Football is very important to them, so I know theyll work hard to get better.HELP FOR HOPKINS: Top receiver DeAndre Hopkins was third in the NFL with 1,521 yards receiving despite dealing with near-constant double teams. The Texans looked to take some pressure off Hopkins by choosing Will Fuller in the first round of this years draft and adding former star Ohio State quarterback-turned-receiver Braxton Miller in the third round. OBrien has been impressed with their development throughout camp and said the pair will both get plenty of playing time in the opener.Hopkins has been hard on the pair and loves how theyve responded.We demand the best out of all the rookies, Hopkins said. Especially, in that receiving group, I demand the best out of you.CLOWNEYS GOAL: The Texans are looking for a breakout season from outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney after he failed to make an impact in his first two NFL seasons. Clowney, who was the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, has been plagued by injuries since he was drafted. He got plenty of work this preseason and impressed coaches with his development. He knows the key to success this season is simple.Just want to stay on the field all season, he said. Thats it.----AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Denzel Ward Womens Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Denzel Ward Browns Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-Nick-Chubb-Jersey/ . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Sione Takitaki Browns Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Greedy Williams Browns Jersey . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. BATON ROUGE, La. -- Antonio Blakeney scored 26 points as LSU defeated Southern Mississippi 78-61 on Tuesday.Blakeney, who missed nine of his 11 field goal attempts in the Tigers season-opener against Wofford, made 9 of 14 from the field, including 3-of-3 3-pointers.LSU (2-0) took a 12-point lead into halftime. Southern Miss scored the first eight points of the second half to make it 37-33 but Blakeney scored five points during a 13-5 run that made it 50-38 with 13:14 left and the Golden Eagles trailed by double figures the rest of the way.I come out and be aggressive, whether it is taking a shot, passing the ball or getting a rebound, Blakeney said. Its key for my teammates to space the floor, believing in me to make shots. We have guys who can do things offensively and defensively. We have no one who cannot do a certain thing.Brandon Sampson scored 11 points while Wayde Sims and Duop Reath added 10 points apiece for LSU. The Tigers shot 54 percent from the field, including 9 of 16 from 3-point range.USM was excellent in terms of its speed and athleticism, LSU coach Johnny Jones said. They were able to drive the ball to the rim and they hit some early shots on the perimeter. We were glad to go in with the halftime lead. We did a good job holding them to under 40 percent shooting in the first half.Quinton Campbell led Southern Miss (1-1) with 14 points. Michael Ramey added 13 points and Tim Rowe scored 11. The Golden Eagles, who shot just 39 percent, were 4 of 24 (16.7 percent) from beyond the arc.I cant be disappointed in our effort, Southern Miss coach Doc Sadler said. We get it to five (40-35) and weve got a chance. Then, we give them two straight opportunities for easy baskets. We were going to have to make some 3-point shots. We missed an awful lot of 3-pointers, open shots. Thats where they beat us.BIG PICTTURELSU: For the fourth time in Johnny Jones five seasons as coach, the Tigers have won their first two games of the season.dddddddddddd LSUs best start under Jones came in his first year when it began 6-0.USM: The rebuilding job for Golden Eagles coach Doc Sadler is going to take some time. Southern Miss has won just 12 times in Sadlers first 54 games. The Golden Eagles one victory this season came against Tougaloo, a NAIA team.FILLING UP THE STAT SHEETOnly twice last season did Blakeney score more than 26 points in a game. He scored 32 points against Florida and 31 points against Mississippi State. Blakeney made more than nine field goals just once last season: 11 against Mississippi State. He had a career-best six assists and grabbed five rebounds Tuesday night.TOUGH NIGHTSouthern Mississippis Raheem Watts had 15 points and nine rebounds in the opener against Tougaloo. LSU kept Watts under control as he finished with only nine points and four rebounds. He was 4 of 16 from the field, including 0-for-7 on 3-pointers.HOT-SHOOTING STARTLSU has shot higher than 50 percent from the field in each of its first two games. The Tigers made 52 percent of their field goal attempts in the opener against Wofford and 54 percent Tuesday night. LSUs 3-point shooting was more accurate against the Golden Eagles as it made 56 percent. The Tigers connected on only 29 percent of their 3-points against Wofford. LSU had back-to-back games of 50 percent shooting on four occasions last season.UP NEXTLSU: The Tigers will go for a sweep of their season-opening home stand when they play host to North Florida on Friday.USM: The Golden Eagles will return home for a game against Division II Union (Tenn.) on Friday. ' ' '