The Houston Texans are 13 practices and one preseason game into their 2026 training camp. There are only a couple weeks left, with about a half dozen practices, including joint practices with the Raiders and Panthers, and a couple more preseason games to go.
This past Thursday, in their 27-7 loss to the Chargers, the Texans played very few guys that factor into roster spot battles, so the practices we’ve seen so far probably capture greater importance into arguments over who and who doesn’t make the 53-man roster heading into Week 1 versus the Buffalo Bills. That said, now is a good time to level set, and go through the exercise of our next mock version of a 53 man roster.
So, let’s do this! As we embark on this upcoming week of camp, with the Raiders coming to town for a joint practice and game, here is one man’s opinion on what the 53-man roster would look like, if the season started today:
QUARTERBACK (2): C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills
Last season, the Texans carried three quarterbacks throughout the season, with Graham Mertz inactive each week as the emergency QB. Mertz tore his ACL against the Chargers on Thursday and the team signed Brett Rypien as the third string quarterback. I doubt they waste a roster spot on Rypien.
RUNNING BACK (4): David Montgomery, Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan, Noah Whittington
British Brooks’ broken hand and Jordan’s leg injury have opened up carries for the undrafted Whittington, and he’s looked good in camp, and ran well against the Chargers. Cade Stover’s snaps at fullback also infringe on a Brooks specialty. Brooks is a good special teamer, so Frank Ross may have some say over this room.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, Jared Wayne, Justin Watson
Time is running out for Tank Dell to be ready for Week 1. The team does have the luxury of putting Dell in injured reserve without having to use a roster spot on him. (They have up to two players they can do this with, by rule.) Dell would have to miss at least four games. Wayne has shown out in the preseason and deserves to make the team. Sixth round pick Lewis Bond just missed the cut, with hopes they can bring him back on the practice squad.
TIGHT END (4): Dalton Schultz, Foster Moreau, Marlin Klein, Cade Stover
Brevin Jordan’s knee injury in camp made the decisions with this group far less dramatic. Nick Caley loves using tight ends, so four making the team would be no shock. Stover is moonlighting as a fullback, as well.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Aireontae Ersery, Wyatt Teller, Keylan Rutledge, Ed Ingram, Braden Smith, Trent Brown, Evan Brown, Febechi Nwaiwu, Evan Brown, Blake Fisher
I’m going with ten offensive linemen, but this was the decision I agonized over the most — does Blake Fisher make this team? In the end, his ability to play both tackle spots (and play in jumbo packages in a pinch) made the decision for me, but I don’t feel strongly about it at all.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, Jadeveon Clowney, Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai, Logan Hall, Kayden McDonald, Dylan Horton, Mario Edwards
The tough cuts here were Solomon Byrd at defensive end and Naquon Jones at defensive tackle. I could easily wee the team keeping one of them and rolling with nine offensive linemen.
LINEBACKERS (5): Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To’o To’o, Wade Woodaz, Jamal Hill, Jake Hummel
Jake Hansen’s foot injury looks like it may not be season ending, but it appears he likely won’t be healthy by cutdown day. Hummel made some plays against the Chargers and is a potentially big factor on special teams.
CORNERBACKS (5): Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter, Jaylin Smith, Collin Wright, Alijah Huzzie
SAFETY (4): Calen Bullock, Reed Blankenship, Jaylen Reed, Kamari Ramsey
JALEN PITRE (1): Jalen Pitre
I’m grouping the full secondary together here. Ten bodies across the group feels about right. The one big variable is veteran M.J. Stewart, who’s been on the PUP list for the entire camp. I’d guess he will stay on the PUP list entering the season.
SPECIALISTS (3): Ka’imi Fairbairn, Kai Kroeger, Austin Brinkman
The only variable here is Kroeger, who has struggled for most of camp, but punted well in the loss to the Chargers. For now, they are rolling with him as the punter and holder on kicks.
