The Houston Texans are trying to give C.J. Stroud a little more to work with as they dig out of a rough start, and Wednesday brought another notable boost up front.
Houston activated offensive tackle Braden Smith from injured reserve, adding a veteran piece back into the mix just a few days after the team picked up its first win of the season, a 26-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
We have activated Braden Smith from the Reserve/Injured list and made other roster moves. pic.twitter.com/iGGwgOV2QE
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 14, 2026
“We have activated Braden Smith from the Reserve/Injured list and made other roster moves.”
Smith’s return matters because the Texans have been looking for any way to steady an offense that has stumbled out to a 1-4 start. With Stroud under center, Houston now has another body and another experienced blocker helping anchor the line as it tries to find some rhythm.
The move also fits into a busy stretch for Houston on the personnel front. On Sunday, the Texans added wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick from the Arizona Cardinals, sending second- and sixth-round selections in the 2027 NFL Draft back the other way.
Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, gives Stroud another major target as Houston tries to jump-start an offense that has struggled to get going. With Harrison arriving and Smith back on the field, the Texans suddenly have fresh help at two important spots.
Now the challenge gets a lot tougher. Houston heads to London in Week 6 to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 4-1.
The Texans will be aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time this season and a move to 2-4 when they meet the Jaguars on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network.
In Other News...
Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade Just Reignited A Cardinals Value Debate
The wide receiver market had been on Kansas Citys radar, but the Chiefs never got to the point of seriously chasing Marvin Harrison Jr. before Arizona dealt him to Houston. Even with Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice dealing with injuries, Kansas City did not go all-in to match the Texans offer, and the price quickly became the center of the conversation around how teams valued a player with Harrisons profile.
Houston stepped in with a package of second- and sixth-round picks, and the Cardinals sent Harrison plus a 2027 seventh-round selection to the Texans in return. For the Texans, it is the kind of swing that can reshape a receiver room in a hurry, while for Arizona it leaves open the bigger question of whether the return matched the market for a player of Harrisons stature. [Read more 🡒]
Texans May Have Found The Explosive Back C.J. Stroud Needs
Houston has spent enough time searching for more burst in the backfield to know what that kind of addition can mean for C.J. Stroud and the offense. Louisvilles Isaac Brown is starting to look like the sort of runner who can change a game in a hurry, after a Week 6 outing in 2026 that put his speed and open-field quickness on full display. He ripped off 235 yards and two touchdowns, including a 97-yard scoring run, and for a Texans team that still lacks a truly dynamic rushing threat, that skill set stands out.
Browns appeal is obvious because of the way he can stress a defense before the play even develops. Hes viewed as a fast, elusive prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, with agility as his calling card, even if questions remain about his strength and how well hell handle contact between the tackles. For Houston, pairing a player like that with a power back such as David Montgomery would at least give the offense a different kind of balance, and maybe a little more help for Stroud when the field starts to shrink. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Defense Could Get A Needed Boost Sooner Than Expected
The Texans defense may be getting a familiar piece back into the mix sooner than it first looked. Linebacker Henry To'oTo'o, sidelined on injured reserve since Week 1 with a shoulder injury, is set to have his 21-day practice window opened, giving Houston a chance to work him back toward game action while also re-evaluating how quickly he is ready to take on a larger role.
General manager Nick Caserio confirmed the update in a recent interview, and it gives the defense some much-needed flexibility in the weeks ahead. A return could come as early as Week 6, though the Texans also have the option to be patient and wait until after the bye week if they want to make sure To'oTo'o is fully recovered before putting him back on the field. [Read more 🡒]