Houston Texanshead coach DeMeco Ryans discussed during training camp how anyone can make it onto the Texans roster, whether you were drafted or not. He provided the example oflinebacker Azeez Al-Shaair who went from an undrafted player out of Florida Atlantic to a key part of Houston’s defense.
In the Texans’ initial 53-man roster for 2026, two rookie undrafted free agents made the team - defensive end Sabastian Harsh and cornerback Collin Wright.
Both players stood out throughout training camp and the preseason.
“I think Sabastian is a guy who we talk about training camp and the competition. Sabastian is a guy who has earned his way on the team,” Ryans said. “Every time he was out there on the field, he found a way to make plays. He did it the way we asked
him to do it. He showed up time and time again. He missed a little time with injury, then he showed back up again, still doing the same thing as where he left off. You see a guy with the type of motor that he has, the strength that he has, the playmaking ability that he has, he deserves to be on a team. We're not going to let a guy like that out. We wanted to keep him here. We see the talent that he has. He's a really good pickup by our scouting department, by Nick [Caserio], finding a guy like Harsh and him making our team."
DeMeco Ryans on UDFA’s Sebastian Harsh & Collin Wright who made the team:
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) September 2, 2026
“It’s not just we liked the guys & they’re good guys, no, we feel like both guys can help us win games because of the consistency of which they’ve shown out there on the practice field.” pic.twitter.com/6CrfdN2pcq
Harsh started his career with Wyoming. After playing four seasons in Laramie, he transferred to NC State, where he played in 13 games as the Wolfpack's top pass-rusher.
In 46 career college games, Harsh registered 138 total tackles, including 25 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He faced an uphill battle to make Houston’s roster with how deep their defensive end room is, but he did enough throughout training camp to make the roster.
As for Wright, he stood out the second camp began, breaking up passes in coverage on passes from C.J. Stroud. Some believed he was locked in to make the roster after he intercepted C.J. Stroud during team drills and took it back to the house, but an injury against the Los Angeles Chargers sidelined him for the rest of training camp.
That didn't stop Ryans from ensuring there'd be a roster spot for him in Week 1.
"Ever since he stepped in the building in OTAs, rookie mini camp, he's a guy that's been very consistent. No matter which receiver he's gone up against, he never shied away," Ryans said of Wright. "He stood there. He found a way to make a play on the football. Every day he was out there at practice. He's another guy who earned the right to be on the team. It's not just we like the guys and they're good guys. No, we feel like both guys can help us win games just because of the consistency of which they've shown out there on the practice field.”
Wright spent all four years of his college career at Stanford, where he appeared in 36 games and college 144 total tackles, including 10 sacks for loss and a sack. He also had five interceptions, three of which were in 2024. In his final year in college, Wright recorded his first pick-six.
He'll look to make more plays this season when the Texans kick off against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 13.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: DeMeco Ryans reacts to DE Sabastian Harsh and CB Collin Wright making the Texans' roster
