HOUSTON — Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins was ejected from practice Wednesday after getting into a fight with San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward.
First play with Texans receivers vs 49ers secondary, @DeAndreHopkins gets into a scrap! pic.twitter.com/lTrpuq6ZJe
— SportsTalk 790 (@SportsTalk790) August 15, 2018
Tempers flared while the two teams were running drills.
Ward knocked off Hopkins' helmet but Hopkins still caught the pass. That provoked a shove from Ward followed by a mini-throwdown.
Other players quickly swarmed in to break it up before any meaningful blows landed.
Hopkins earned an early shower from his coach, Bill O'Brien, but Ward remained on the field.
"Ridiculous. Just gotta move on. Ridiculous," O'Brien said after practice.
Early action between #49ers #Texans:
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 15, 2018
Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins fights Jimmie Ward, Hopkins kicked off field but shakes Ward’s hand on way out
Mike McGlichey MET Texans J.J. Watt. “Welcome to the NFL” pic.twitter.com/3DK8CfTK3p
#KHOU11 #Texans and#49ers tempers flare early during WR vs DB drills. DeAndre Hopkins apparently ejected from practicing pic.twitter.com/qRGYUJozEe
— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) August 15, 2018
Hopkins reportedly shook Ward’s hand on the way out.
Ward stayed on the field.
“If they do anything that would get them ejected in a game — (Niners coach) Kyle (Shanahan) and I have already agreed on that — anything that would get them ejected in a game will get them ejected from practice," O'Brien said Tuesday.
Photos: DeAndre Hopkins ejected after fighting at Texans Training Camp
Scraps aren't uncommon during joint practices. The Jets and Redskins came to blows multiple times at a joint practice Sunday.
The Texans and Redskins engaged in a major melee in Richmond, Va., three years ago, but O'Brien is still a fan.
“It’s good. I think it’s important," he said. "You’re going to get a lot of situational work, red area, third down, two minute, special teams, all the different special teams units will work. I love them."