Welcome to the ninth year of the Houston Texans Rosterology. The longest-running article series on the site is back again to document the process of crafting the team’s initial 53-man roster. The Texans have been at OTAs this week, which gives us insight into the team’s initial depth chart and how the team plans to use some of their new additions.
At the onset, this is the deepest roster I’ve ever had the pleasure of covering. I recall entering training camp in 2021, I only thought there were 40 roster-worthy
players on the entire 90-man roster. This year? I have 63 players worthy of the 53-man roster. A truly incredible improvement.
Similar to how NCAA Basketball’s Bracketology works, I’ll update the below with the Last Four (players) in the roster, the first four out, the biggest riser, and biggest faller. I’ll update this series every other Tuesday until the final 53-man roster is announced on Sunday, August 30th.
- Note: Rookies are in bold and UDFAs are italicized
Last Four In:
Alijah Huzzie, nickel
Naquan Jones, DT
Jamal Hill, LB
Brevin Jordan, TE
First Four Out:
Justin Watson, WR
Jarrett Patterson, OC/OG
Cade Stover, TE
Marte Mapu, LB
Biggest Riser: Dominique Robinson, DE
The free agent defensive end holds a lot of weight in the room right now. He is the backup behind Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter even though he has only had a rotational role in his time in Chicago. Considering how productive Derek Barnett was in the same role last year, Robinson has high expectations and big shoes to fill. The Texans are demonstrating immense patience and trust in the new DE in a critical role by not adding another player to compete against him.
Biggest Faller: Jarrett Patterson
Patterson has started 21 games over the past three seasons, but was thrown to the wolves when Houston drafted Kelyan Rutledge and Febechi Nwaiwu in the 2026 NFL Draft. Patterson’s lack of strength and power have limited him in the run game, and he struggled to protect Stroud throughout his career. Houston may quickly be looking to move on from the former sixth round pick.
Offense (25)
Quarterbacks: 2
C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills
CUT: Graham Mertz
Analysis: I predict Houston will only keep two QBs on the roster and designate Mertz to the practice squad with the intention of elevating him up to the roster as the emergency QB throughout the season. Mertz’s development in year two and another season removed from his ACL tear will be an interesting talking point. With Mills facing the last year of his contract, can Mertz present enough of a case to eventually assume the backup QB role?
Running Backs: 4
David Montgomery, Woody Marks, British Brooks, Jawhar Jordan
CUT: Noah Whittington, Josh Pitsenberger, Evan Hull
Analysis: The Texans abstained from adding to this position in the draft. That saved Jordan’s role as the third RB… for now. He will compete with undrafted rookie Noah Whittington for the last roster spot. Whittington is a bowling ball and better fit for the new running scheme. Look for Whittington to earn reps throughout camp.
British Brooks has waded through injury and multiple blocking schemes throughout the past two seasons. However, there are reports that TE Cade Stover could be switching to fullback. If that’s the case, the entire RB room could be upended. A lot of moving pieces in this room, but OTAs will shine light on this group over the next several days.
Wide Receivers: 6
Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, Lewis Bond
CUT: Justin Watson, Jared Wayne, Daniel Sobkowics, Jalen Walthall, Treyvhon Saunders, Jha’Quan Jackson
Analysis: Rookie Lewis Bond is impressing immediately. His ascension will put stress on veteran Justin Watson, who had his worst season of his career with Houston. The Texans would save $1.5M if they cut Watson. Watson’s role in the offense as a big slot option for Stroud, but that never materialized. Their battle this offseason will be an examination into winning now or building for the future in the WR room.
Tight Ends: 4
Dalton Schultz, Marlin Klein, Foster Moreau, Brevin Jordan
CUT: Cade Stover, Layne Pryor
Analysis: Last year’s seventh round pick Luke Lachey was already released in May, but this position is one the most intense competition heading into the second week of OTAs.
An interesting development occurred when DeMeco Ryans was asked on Monday about second-round pick Marlin Klein’s absence. That led to Foster Moreau to earn first team reps.
With all five tight ends (not including Layne Pryor) healthy and competing, there’s no wiggle room to be absent from practice. OTAs will help set players like Moreau apart from the group and solidify their place on the roster.
Offensive Lineman: 9
Aireontae Ersery, Braden Smith, Trent Brown, Wyatt Teller, Jake Andrews Blake Fisher, Keylan Rutledge, Febechi Nwaiwu, Ed Ingram
CUT: Jarrett Patterson, Evan Brown, Eli Cox, Jarrett Kingston, Sam Hagen, James Neal III Derrick Graham
Analysis: Texans swapped offensive tackle Derrick Graham for center Sidy Sow earlier this week. Graham played under OL coach Cole Popovich at Troy, but finished his career at Tulane and was third-team All-American Conference.
Keyland Rutledge appears to be already vying for the starting role against Jake Andrews. Don’t rule out Evan Brown though, who is rotating in with the first string at center too. Throw in Eli Cox, and it’s a four horse race for the center spot.
Also to note, Braden Smith is still recovering from neck injury from 2025. This has elevated third-year OT Blake Fisher to starting right tackle. Lots of moving pieces right now with veterans and rookies competing for spots.
Defense (25)
Defensive Ends: 4
Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Dylan Horton, Dominique Robinson
CUT: Solomon Byrd, Ali Gaye, Sabastian Harsh
Analysis: Texans fans are tapping their fingers in anticipation of Nick Caserio adding one more horse to this barn. Given the restructured contract of Nico Collins, Houston now has $30M in cap space. That’s more than enough to add a high-end rotational pass rusher. For now, Dominique Robinson clings onto the DE4 spot and will compete against 2024 seventh-rounder Solomon Byrd. Byrd has stuck around the practice squad, but this is his best chance to make the roster.
Defensive Tackles: 5
Tommy Togiai, Sheldon Rankins, Kayden McDonald, Logan Hall, Naquan Jones
CUT: Junior Tafuna, Dominic Bailey, Kyonte Hamilton
Analysis: If there was a position I believed the Texans were going to double-up on in the 2026 NFL Draft, it was defensive tackle. Instead, they heavied up with Kayden McDonald, the 6’2, 325-pounder from Ohio State. McDonald will assume Tim Settle’s job, but this group is overall thinner than last year’s DT room.
The main competition will be for the fifth defensive tackle spot DeMeco Ryans prefers to keep a fifth DT in the rotation, which opens up a spot for one of Naquan Jones, Kyonte Hamilton, or Junior Tafuna. Jones has the inside track as he played well late in the season when called upon. Tafuna and Hamilton are fairly unknown quantities as rookies last year, but look for Hamilton to fight for reps in the preseason as the Texans’ smaller, third-down pass rusher.
Linebackers: 5
Henry To’oTo’o, Azeez Al-Shaair, Wade Woodaz, Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill
IR: E.J. Speed
CUT: Jake Hummel, Marte Mapu, Aiden Fisher, K.C. Ossai
Analysis: The LB room is the single most complicated and competitive group on the roster and quite possibly the most in the nine years I’ve been writing this article. There truly are NINE suitable options for the roster. Unfortunately, E.J. Speed’s injury took some of the uumph out of this group.
One storyline is how the two rookies fit into this equation. Woodaz and Fisher will compete for the same roster spot. As will Jake Hummel, Jamal Hill, and Marte Mapu. All three are special teams aces, but only Hill has been with the Texans before.
If the Texans are to trade someone for future draft assets, this would be the position for them to do so.
Cornerbacks: 5
Derek Stingley Jr. Kamari Lassiter, Jaylin Smith, Tremon Smith, Alijah Huzzie
CUT: Ja’Marcus Ingram, Brandon Codrington, Stephen Hall, Collin Wright
Analysis: I have a compete soft spot for Alijah Huzzie. I loved his tape at UNC and thought he’d make the initial 53-man roster last year. He did come in clutch late in the season due to injuries and proved himself worthy of a second look. Even though he is a severely under-sized nickel corner and lacks raw athleticism against faster receivers, he plays with a tenacity and visions hat help hiim get where he wants.
Second-year CB Jaylin Smith played sparingly due to two injuries. He will need to impress to maintain his spot as CB 3. He has already showed out at OTAs thus far and can build on his initial performance. As it currently stands, the Texans should have five corners from last year on their roster in 2026.
Safeties: 6
Reed Blankenship, Calen Bullock, Jalen Pitre, Kamari Ramsey, M.J. Stewart, Jaylen Reed
Analysis: M.J. Stewart is not participating in OTAs due to a lower-leg injury suffered in November. He watched as his starting role was assumed by Jaylen Reed. Then, Houston added veteran Reed Blankenship and rookie Kamari Ramsey. No immediate news out of camp as to where Ramsey will play, but he is slated to backup Pitre and Blankenship in a versatile role.
The question will be if Houston decides to keep just five defensive backs and use the extra roster spot to relieve the roster battles at linebacker or offensive line.
CUT: Kevon Merriweather
Special Teams
Kai Kroeger, Kai’mi Fiarbairn, Austin Brinkman
CUT: P Jack Stonehouse
Analysis: for the first time in nine years, there’s a special teams battle worth writing about. That’s right, Kai Kroeger and Jack Stonehouse will compete for the starting punter role. The position will be a step down from last year’s punter Tommy Townsend, but that’s what happens when you have to pay your premium players. Kroeger played for the Saints last season and was average, while Jack Stonehouse was a solid punter in college, but will need to develop his consistency and bag of tricks to beat out Kroeger.
