Texans beat Vikings in preseason match
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Rookie DeAndre Hopkins caught a 34-yard touchdown pass in Houston's 27-13 victory over Minnesota Friday night at the Metrodome.
The Vikings showcased their rookie wide receiver, too, during a flashy first half by Cordarrelle Patterson.
Hopkins, the 27th overall pick in the draft, had four receptions for 52 yards. Patterson, taken two slots later, caught four passes for 54 yards and returned the opening kickoff 50 yards.
Christian Ponder connected with Jerome Simpson for 15 yards right after that, but when he went back to Simpson on the next play the throw was a bit high and bounced off Simpson's hands and into Shiloh Keo's for an interception.
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Ponder, entering a critical third season for his future as Minnesota's quarterback, only took those two snaps.
BROWNER IN RING OF HONOR
Joey Browner, who spent nine seasons in Minnesota roaming the defensive backfield and cementing his place in Vikings lore as one of the best defensive players to ever wear purple, will join many of the franchise's best players in the Ring of Honor.
Browner will be inducted into the team's ring at halftime of their game against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 27, putting his name next to standouts like Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Carl Eller and Paul Krause. For a player that made six Pro Bowls and is remembered as one of the best safeties of his generation, it's where he belongs.
"The Ring of Honor is something that is very special because there are very few of us that are in there," Browner said on Friday night before the Vikings opened the preseason against the Houston Texans. "To be with people like Fran Tarkenton and Jim Marshall ... Chris Doleman, Cris Carter, John Randle, it's just a great honor."
Browner will be the 21st player to be inducted. He played for the Vikings from 1983-91 after he was drafted out of USC in the first round. He made six straight Pro Bowls, and his No. 47 jersey became a symbol for toughness and tenacity. Widely regarded to have some of the strongest hands in the league, Browner often used the horse-collar tackle, a technique that is illegal in the game today.
