Nineteen practices and three games, that’s the extent of what we as media covering the Houston Texans got to see at training camp. Add on OTAs and minicamp in the spring, the numerous meetings that take place daily, and the general observations on how players function on a human level, and they all add up to a collective body of work that results in a 53-man roster on cutdown day.
This season, cutdown day was on the Sunday afternoon following the third preseason game, a little earlier than normal, because the NFL opens the season a day earlier than usual, in Australia. Before we unveil the Texans’ 53-man roster, this is where we apply the caveat that this is the INITIAL 53-man roster. The roster is a fluid organism that morphs incessantly when players are injured or better solutions become available through other teams waiving or releasing players.
For now, though, here are your 2026 Houston Texans:
Quarterback (2): C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills
Running Back (3): David Montgomery, Woody Marks, British Brooks
Wide Receiver (5): Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, Kayshon Boutte, Jared Wayne
Tight End (4): Dalton Schultz, Foster Moreau, Marlin Klein, Cade Stover
Offensive Line (12): Aireontae Ersery, Keylan Rutledge, Evan Brown, Ed Ingram, Trent Brown, Wyatt Teller, Blake Fisher, Braden Smith, Febechi Nwaiwu, Jake Andrews, Nathan Thomas, Sam Hagen
Defensive Line (9): Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai, Kayden McDonald, Jadeveon Clowney, Sebastian Harsh, Mario Edwards, Logan Hall
Linebackers (6): Azeri Al-Shaair, Henry To’o To’o, Jake Hummel, Jake Hansen, Wade Woodaz, Aiden Fisher
Cornerback (5): Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter, Jaylin Smith, Tremon Smith, Collin Wright
Safety (3): Caleb Bullock, Reed Blankenship, Kamari Ramsey
Jalen Pitre (1): Jalen Pitre
Specialists (3): Austin Brinkman, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Kai Kroeger
A few thoughts on how this thing unfolded in the final hours of roster decision making:
Solomon Byrd getting waived is a bit of a gut wrencher
Byrd was a sixth round pick back in 2024, and undersized defensive end out of USC. In 2024 and 2025, he managed to stick around on the practice squad. In 2026, though, he’d shown up for spring activities looking ready to make the team. He flashed in training camp practices far more than your average backup, and in each of the three preseason games, he showed up on tape making a play or two. With a cluster of injuries at defensive end, it looked like he might make the 53-man roster out of camp for the first time. However, he suffered an ankle injury in the loss to the Panthers, and instead of making the team, was waived with an injury designation. He could get signed back and out on injured reserve, which would mean he’d draw an NFL paycheck for another season, but what looked like a promising outcome has become another gut punch for Byrd.
Brett Rypien getting waived is not
In the world that the Texans were planning at the outset of camp, second year signal caller Graham Metz was the team’s third string quarterback. The injury gods had other ideas, though, as Metz tore his ACL in the preseason opener against the Chargers. The Texans pivoted and signed Brett Ripken, who had some time in the building with Nick Caley when the two were with the Rams. In his main audition to make the team on Friday, Rypien pooped the bed, going 13 of 23 for 101 yards, a touchdown, and a game-ending pick. He also lost a fumble on a strip sack. The Texans moved on from Rypien, and now, presumably, will sift through the slew of quarterbacks undoubtedly better than Rypien to be their emergency QB.
Wide receiver room was wild
With Jayden Higgins getting shelved with an ACL tear for the season, and Tank Dell’s return moving at a glacial pace (and seemingly enduring a setback), the wide receiver room became one fo the most intriguing at cutdown time. In a minor surprise, the Texans chose to move on from veteran wide receiver Justin Watson and hang on to Jared Wayne. Tank Dell, to the surprise of very few, was our on injured reserve with designation to return later in the season. Rookie Lewis Bond was placed on waivers. It wouldn’t shock me if the Texans weren’t done looking for wide receivers. In the meantime, congrats to Wayne, who had a really good camp, and was able to overcome the psychological baggage of being the teammate that accidentally wrecked Tank Dell’s knee back in 2024.
With all of that in mind, what could the Texans still be shopping for?
Well, we got one answer to that question before rosters were finalized on Sunday afternoon, as they sent a 7th round pick next year to the Dallas Cowboys for offensive tackle Nathan Thomas, so obviously there is some concern, in the short term at least, over Braden Smith’s foot injury. The Texans held onto 12 offensive linemen, which is unusual. Equally unusual, only keeping three running backs, so I’d expect more movement at that position. Beyond that, they obviously need a third quarterback, who they would either keep on the 53-man roster, or sign to the practice squad. Also, there shouldn’t be any depth players at defensive end or linebacker feeling particularly safe in their jobs.
