Eleven practices into the 2026 NFL preseason and here we are. For the first time since that horrific loss in the AFC divisional round to the New England Patriots, the Houston Texans will play football at the renamed Reliant Stadium tonight, as the Los Angeles Chargers come to town. More accurately, the Texans’ backups, rookies, and fringe roster guys will take on that same layer of the Chargers’ roster.
As more and more teams eschew playing their frontline players in the preseason, preseason football games have become a polarizing topic. More and more teams are using joint practices with other NFL teams as the key avenue to get their frontline players the work they need. For what it’s worth, the Texans have joint practices scheduled with the Raiders next week and the Panthers the following week.
The main reason preseason games are polarizing for season ticket holders is that they have to pay list price to see games that involve wholesale and outlet mall level players. The reason they’re generally polarizing among fans is because they rarely involve players who will decide the trajectory of the actual season. Me? I like preseason football. I like watching guys chase their dreams, and I like trying to predict how the puzzle will ultimately fit together when it comes time to assemble a 53 man roster.
To that end, as someone who’s been at every training camp practice thus far, here are four players, all rookies, I will be watching closely tonight:
Marlin Klein, rookie tight end
When Nick Caserio drafted Klein with the 59th overall pick, there was a lot of head scratching occurring among Texan fans. Klein was viewed by most experts as a Day 3 pick, but the Texans saw fit to select him in the second round. There was no denying the physical traits, as Klein is a big, strong athlete. However, he wasn’t ultra productive in college at Michigan. So far, during camp, this looks like the Texans may have found a hidden gem. Klein has proven, thus far at least, to be a stout blocker and an underrated pass catcher, with some promising displays of run after the catch in camp.
Collin Wright, undrafted rookie cornerback
When I did my last 53-man roster projection in June, after OTA’s and minicamp, I actually put the undrafted Wright on my 53-man roster prediction. I admitted it was a reach, given Wright’s undrafted pedigree, but he fits a lot of what the Texans look for in their depth guys — smart, tough, dependable, team captain in college. Thus far, in camp, Wright has been more than just a heady, plucky Cinderella story. Wright has made plays, including an interception of C.J. Stroud at the last real practice on Monday. If Wright can show out on special teams, he has a great chance to make the team.
Lewis Bond, rookie wide receiver
Wide receiver is one of the more mysterious and (all of a sudden) crowded rooms on the team. The Texans have already shown that they’re betting on the same guys that were in there last season (aside from the veteran Christian Kirk, who walked in free agency). Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson are likely making the team. Tank Dell has begun doing team activities in practice. Justin Watson is a reliable veteran. That’s six guys. Bond, a sixth round pick out of Boston College, has been making plays from the time he arrived for rookie minicamp. You can tell from watching him, he was well coached in college. (NOTE: His college coach was Bill O’Brien.) Barring injury from any of the previously named players, I would guess the Texans will try to sneak Bond onto the practice squad and hope nobody picks him up, but if he plays like he’s practiced, Bond will give Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans something to think about.
Wade Woodaz, rookie linebacker
With the injury to veteran linebacker E.J. Speed in the spring, the third linebacker spot behind Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’o To’o has been wide open for the taking. Woodaz has really seized the opportunity in the first ten practices. A converted safety at Clemson, Woodaz was drafted to help on special teams, but he’s shown up in a big way running with the second team defense at practice every day. In fact, all of these players are pretty representative of this rookie class, where none of them have seemed overwhelmed or out of place.
