The Houston Texans roster is an absolute mess right now, just days before the final 53-man cut down, and it is easily the most unsettled it has been in a long, long time. We are talking about a ton of roster movement in the last 72 hours alone, completely shaking up what everyone thought was going to happen in this, the second-to-last Rosterology. The questions are piling up: are the linebackers a total disaster? Who is actually going to be the RB3? And what about Tank Dell’s timeline?
The Roster Whirlwind Blows Through Houston
This team is heading into their final preseason game with more question marks than answers, and it is wild to see. The Texans have been making moves, big time. They have added WRs Kayshon Boutte, Zay Jones, and Sterling Shepard, plus QB Brett Rypien, RB Owen Wright, LB Caleb Johnson, and CBs Bryce Hall and George Odum. But that means cuts too, with LBs Marte Mapu and Sione TakiTaki gone, and S Jaylen Reed traded away. On top of that, injuries are hitting hard with DE Dylan Horton, WR Jayden Higgins, RB Joshua Pitsenberger, WR Montrell Washington, LB K.C. Ossai, and WR D.J. Turner all banged up. Pitsenberger is even heading to Injured Reserve. It is a constant game of musical chairs trying to figure out who is in and who is out.
Rising Stars and Falling Fortunes
Amidst all the chaos, some players are making their cases. Running back Noah Whittington is easily the biggest riser, being the only positive on offense all preseason long. This gritty runner’s health has been his biggest asset, though he did suffer an ankle injury in the game against the Raiders, and we do not know how severe it is yet. He is making a real push to threaten Jawhar Jordan’s spot. On the flip side, wide receiver Jared Wayne is the biggest faller. He was having a coming-out party at camp before the Raiders game, but after the flurry of WR additions, there is just no path for him to make the 53-man roster. He did not shine in either preseason game, and that was not enough to stop GM Nick Caserio from bringing in multiple new options. The “Last Four In” guys right now are George Odum, Aiden Fisher, Noah Whittington, and Solomon Byrd, with Sterling Shepard, Jake Andrews, Naquan Jones, and Collin Wright just outside looking in.
Quarterback Room Nightmare and RB Depth Chart Shakeup
The quarterback room is where things got really ugly. While Mertz’s injury was tough to watch, it was almost as bad seeing Brett Rypien try to play football. There is absolutely no way he deserves a roster spot after his brutal performance against the Raiders. His inability to run the offense, the lack of pocket awareness, and those multiple fumbles directly led to that Raiders comeback win. The Texans should be one of the less-than-half the league teams that only keep two QBs, C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills. Over in the running back room, Houston is projected to keep five backs again this year, just like the last three seasons. That means David Montgomery, Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan, British Brooks, and Noah Whittington are in, especially with British Brooks returning yesterday. Owen Wright and Deuce Vaughn are on the outside looking in for now.
The final preseason game is looming, and with roster cuts just around the corner, every snap matters for these guys. We will see who makes the cut and who is left looking for a new home as this incredibly unsettled roster finally takes shape.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Battle Red Blog.
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