Preseason games are done, but the work is only beginning. Finally, the preseason is over. The last few games will wrap up this weekend and then teams immediately roll into trimming the rosters. The only people who will be stressing as much as those players on the roster bubbles will be the front offices. Not only do they have to finalize any cuts, but they will be scouring all means of communication (wires, social media, phones, etc) to find those critical depth pieces to fill out the final roster (53
on the active roster (up to 48 suited players + 5 inactive for the actual game) and up to 17 practice squad players) before the start of the regular season. For the Texans, while they’ve made some moves due to injury (more later), they will frantically build roster depth. Given the emphasis on special teams and trying to solidify depth, especially along the lines, these moves could have some actual game impact.
Where the value is: The preseason game counts for far less now than in the past. Those looking for clues about the potential fortunes of a franchise should look at the joint practices. The reports coming out of the Carolina/Houston sessions showcased a dominant Houston defense, to a degree that Carolina coach Dave Canales lost track of basic counting. It also noted that the offense, with Stroud, Collins, and Montgomery, could move at-will against a competent Carolina defense. Reports from other joint practices seemed to validate the optimistic reports about Houston’s offense. Granted, Houston’s preseason slate didn’t include the top tier contenders, but the Panthers were a playoff team last season and Las Vegas improved from whatever last year was. Overall, while there is not much to say about the games themselves, the practices auger well.
The Injury Demons have a new Houston home: For any fans of the Houston Astros between 2023-2025, you might have wondered if someone unleashed an ancient curse that sprang forth demons that would ravage the team with injuries. The butchers’ bill for the Astros was quite painful and extensive. In 2026, the injury demons seem to have left them alone. They just moved to a different part of the city. While there have been no shortage of dings, scraps and bruises as Texans’ players get into game shape, there has been a rash of rather substantial injuries. You had the first preseason game when QB3 Graham Martz suffered a season-ending ACL tear in game action. The following week of practice saw Houston lose a significant offensive weapon, as WR Jayden Higgins tore his ACL. Then Dylan Horton was lost due to a torn Achilles. Just this past week, major free agent pick-up OT Braden Smith left practice in a cart due to a foot injury. Joining him for medical examination would be backup DL Ali Gaye, who was brought in to cover for Horton. Throw less severe, but no less disruptive injuries to Jaylen Noel (hamstring) and Wade Woodaz (thumb), and the Texans are dealing with some roster attrition.
This has already forced emergencies moves by the front office. The loss of Higgins and Noel, along with the slow reintegration of Tank Dell, drove Houston to sign two veteran WRs in Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones, along with trading for Kayshon Boutte from New England, at the cost of Jaylen Reed and a 2028 7th round pick. While Smith won’t miss as much time as his last season with the Colts, he will not return to the line for a few weeks. Higgins was supposed to provide Stroud another receiving weapon. Horton and Gaye were not projected starters, but both figured to see time as part of the DL rotation. We are not talking cursed-by-an-electric-substation 49ers-level of injury, but this is not great. It is early and players like Smith, Noel and Woodaz should be back, but for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, this not how you want to break camp.
Time Helps: Brett Rypien may not make the final roster. Given that Houston only had four total QBs in camp and Mertz is out for the season, the team will at least want another arm with some experience with the squad. While not making people think of his uncle Mark during his 1991 MVP season, Rypien did play better in this game (13 of 23, 101 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). The failures of the final drive rest more with a porous Oline vs. Rypien himself. Having more reps with the squad helped him vs. the limited hours he had last week. While no one is under any illusions that playing Rypien will be a great thing for Houston, having him as an emergency QB on the roster wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
FUN WITH NUMBERS:
2003: The last time the Texans had a winless preseason. Preseason records, pride among certain types of workers. However, it is worth noting that this 0-3 preseason is only the 2nd time in the Texans’ 25 years of existence that the squad did not log a preseason win. You have to go all the way back to 2003, when the then-second year squad went 0-4. That team would finish 5-11. Even in the worst of the worst-case scenarios, Houston should expect to finish with more wins than that, and definitely more wins than this preseason.
10: Total second half points scored in Houston’s preseason games. When Fairbairn hit a 47-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the 3rd quarter, it marked the first second-half score for Houston this entire preseason. The Rypien 6-yard TD pass to Zay Jones marked the first second-half TD for the squad this preseason. Yes, most of the players at this point in the contest are likely off to other jobs after this weekend, but for those players that Houston might look to for depth, it isn’t the biggest endorsement for their being meaningful contributors to the roster.
GAME BALLS:
While there were some stand-out players, like DE Sebastian Harsh (3 total tackles (2 solo), 1 sack/1TFL) and George Odum (11 tackles (7 solo), 1 PD, 1 INT), in light of the pending roster cuts, we will be extra generous with game balls and hand those out to those players who come Sunday night will no longer be on the Texans roster, and for up to 25% of those cuts, likely the last time they put on the NFL jersey of their dreams.
SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTENING TO PANTHER’S GM DAN MORGAN DRONE ABOUT HIS ROSTER MOVES ON REPEAT WHILE WORKING ON MAKING DAVID TEPPER LOOK LIKE A NICE GUY
Panthers’ GM Dan Morgan: Maybe he is shaping up to be a good GM, but don’t let that man ever talk in an extended interview, or if you do, issue a warning about not operating heavy machinery if forced to listen.
Houston’s Play in Inclement Weather: Being a warm weather team that plays primarily in a domed stadium, Houston is going to have some disadvantages when it comes to playing in weather. That bore out in a rainy game. Yes, both teams had issues with ball security, but it was especially apparent that Houston had issues with dealing with the weather (4 turnovers and multiple other fumbles). Given that brutal weather like cold can impact key Houston players, whatever the team can do to account for that is a must.
