Wednesday marked the first day that NFL players placed on the various reserve lists between the cut to 53 active-roster players and the beginning of the regular season could return to practice, and six players from Alabama high schools and colleges did.

Among the players returning to practice were:

· Defensive end Mario Addison (Tarrant, Troy), who is on the Houston Texans’ reserve/injured.

· Linebacker Christian Harris (Alabama), who is on the Houston Texans’ reserve/injured.

· Linebacker Monty Rice (James Clemens), who is on the Tennessee Titans’ reserve/physically unable to perform.

· Running back Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Alabama), who is on the Washington Commanders’ reserve/non-football injury.

· Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing), who is on the Cincinnati Bengals’ reserve/injured.

· Safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson), who is on the San Francisco 49ers’ reserve/injured.

MORE NFL:

· BRIAN ROBINSON JR. ON HIS FIRST PRACTICE SINCE BEING SHOT: ‘JUST A BEAUTIFUL DAY’

· FORMER SAMFORD STAR MAKES ‘UNBELIEVABLE PLAY’ FOR UNBEATEN EAGLES

· FORMER ALABAMA PREP STANDOUT WINS NFL WEEKLY AWARD

By returning the players to practice, the teams opened a three-week window during which they will need to be returned to the active roster if they are going to play this season.

When that happens for three of the players, they will become eligible to make their NFL debuts. Taylor-Britt was a second-round choice and Harris and Robinson were third-round selections in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Houston coach Lovie Smith said players who have missed time have some catching up to do, particularly rookies. In Harris’ case, he also missed most of training camp.

Harris is returning from a hamstring injury.

“All of those training camp practices, four weeks of practice, they matter, and you get better each time you practice,” Smith said. “Is he behind? Absolutely. Our game is a little bit harder than to just jump right in and play the entire game. As far as when, you don’t know that. We’ll see how it goes. Right now, he came off the injury list, and we’ve had one practice. I haven’t even had a chance to evaluate the video. Give us a little time to see exactly where he is. As soon as he’s ready to go and he can function and have an opportunity to have success, he’ll be out there. …

“We’ll start the process. On exactly when a rookie is ready to play, we’ll see that. There’s nothing else really to say besides that. Remembering back on what he did at Alabama or what he did in OTAs, just doesn’t help an awful lot. He’s healthy now, in the best shape he can be. Mentally, he knows a lot more because of being able to observe, but it’s a little bit more than that. I’m excited about him eventually getting out there.”

In contrast, Smith expects Addison to be ready to play sooner than Harris. Returning from a thigh injury, Addison has 11 seasons of NFL experience.

“Mario has played in the league for a long period of time, so he’s a little bit more advanced with being able to play quicker,” Smith said. “We can always use help with a good pass rusher, a good defensive end to play. He’s healthy now. Again, the process has started. Hopefully, sooner than later he’ll be out there.”

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.