HOUSTON — In the last few years Mark Sanchez and Brian Cushing have been friends, teammates and even roommates.

On Sunday they’ll become something new: opponents.
The former Southern California standouts and first-round draft picks will make their NFL debuts against each other when the New York Jets face the Houston Texans in the season opener Sunday.
When Sanchez takes the field against Houston, the fifth overall pick will become the first rookie to start at quarterback for the Jets since 1977. Cushing, chosen 15th, is expected to start at strongside linebacker for the Texans despite missing all four preseason games with a knee sprain.
Both are looking forward to the meeting.
“I think it’s special,” Cushing said. “It’s pretty cool. How many guys can say they’re playing against their quarterback, their roommate, in the first game of their NFL career?”
Coach Gary Kubiak has said Cushing probably can’t play the entire game after no preseason game work. Sanchez is certain his friend will be back to his old self when he’s out there.
“I expect him to play full speed because he always does,” Sanchez said. “He never takes downs off, so I don’t expect him to take a down off. I expect maybe a little smack talk.”
Cushing faced Sanchez for years in practice with the Trojans, but Sunday will be the first time he’ll be allowed to hit the quarterback.
“I’ll be excited,” Cushing said. “I’m just hoping that I get it. That’s all I’m concentrating on.”
Along with a new quarterback, first-year Jets coach Rex Ryan will make his head coaching debut Sunday. The longtime NFL assistant doesn’t think there’ll be any nerves for him come Sunday, simply excitement.
“It’s almost like a little chip on the shoulder,” Ryan said. “We’re not supposed to be that good. We’re supposed to finish, by the so-called experts, bottom of our division and all of that stuff. But the great thing is, we get to prove it. So ... on Sunday the Texans are going to face a good football team.”
Sanchez might know a little bit of what to expect from Cushing, but he’ll be seeing the rest of the Texans’ defense, namely Mario Williams, for the first time.
“He’s one of those guy who can change the course of the game with his play,” Sanchez said of Williams. “He’s physical. He attacks offenses. He busts up runs and he’s an amazing pass rusher. We need to keep a watchful eye on him and be smart when he comes free.”
Williams, the top overall draft pick in 2006, is the cornerstone of a defense looking to improve in its first season under coordinator Frank Bush. The unit also features middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and added left end Antonio Smith from the Cardinals in the offseason.
The entire group hasn’t played together this preseason, with Cushing injured and cornerback Dunta Robinson skipping camp in a contract holdout. He signed on Sunday and is expected to start, but the secondary could be missing safety Eugene Wilson, who hasn’t practiced since taking a crackback block from Brett Favre almost two weeks ago.
The Jets will be without linebacker Calvin Pace and end Shaun Ellis, who are serving suspensions. Ryan brought linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard from his tough Baltimore defense, and the Jets also added cornerback Lito Sheppard from the Eagles.
Kubiak said he’s studied Baltimore’s defense from last year, including the Ravens’ 41-13 dismantling of the Texans, to prepare for Sunday.
“He’s taken that scheme to New York and he’s taken a couple key players with him that know it very well in Bart Scott and the safety Leonhard,” Kubiak said. “They are very talented. The Jets were a couple plays away from being a playoff team last year and then you bring his defensive mentality, his football mentality to that team.”
Sunday, that defense will get its first test against an offense that ranked third last year. Matt Schaub has recovered from a sprained ankle and is surrounded by weapons in Andre Johnson, who led the league with 1,575 yards receiving, and Steve Slaton, who set a franchise-record with 1,282 yards rushing as a rookie.
“You’ve got best receiver in the game, Andre Johnson, and it’s funny because he hasn’t necessarily been on the national stage, but everybody knows it,” Ryan said. “What a tremendous talent he is. It’s going to be a great challenge for our defense, but it’s one that I think our guys, we’re certainly getting ready for it.”