Which veteran player could be on the chopping block for the Houston Texans?
According to CBS Sports, it's someone who has yet to even touch the field in a game this preseason.
Carter Bahns recently revealed 20 proven players who could be out of a job when roster cutdowns happen later this week. With the Texans, he named veteran receiver Sterling Shepard as one of the top options, mainly because of the recent moves made by the AFC South club entering the regular season.
"The Texans pulled off a masterful trade Monday for Kayshon Boutte, filling a major need in the receiving unit while also putting Sterling Shepard's job at risk," Bahns wrote.
"Shepard arrived just a couple of days earlier as a potential replacement for the injured Jayden Higgins,
who tore his ACL during a joint practice and is out for the year. Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson and now Boutte are all ahead of Shepard in the pecking order, so his stay in Houston might be extremely short-lived."
The problem here is Shepard's role. No one really knows how he will be used and if he's even thought of as an option beyond filling a camp spot. His upside is stronger than several other candidates, mainly because of time in Tampa Bay, but just because he's a veteran signed late doesn't mean he was thought of in the long-haul plans for the Texans' offense.
A former second-round pick out of Oklahoma, Shepard is best known for his time with the New York Giants. A No. 2 weapon in the Big Apple opposite Odell Beckham Jr. and then Kenny Golladay, he's been known for route-running, the smooth ability to work his way in and out of traffic and his strong hands.
Last season, Shepard caught 39 passes for just under 400 yards and a touchdown reception after reuniting with former college quarterback Baker Mayfield. He wasn't retained by the NFC South club despite the loss of All-Pro Mike Evans in free agency.
Dell, who has still been limited in practice while recovering from a lower-body injury in 2024, could be a candidate for the injured reserve. He's yet to practice in contact drills and hasn't appeared in any preseason game. Should be placed on the IR for four games to begin the year; that at least should create a chance for Shepard to take over the final spot on the roster in his place.
To read the full list of cut candidates, click here.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans WR Sterling Shepard named top veteran cut candidate by CBS Sports
