The Houston Texans came into 2026 with a young core that looked ready to matter. Three games later, that group has been more mixed than electric, mirroring the team’s own 0-3 start.
There have been a few bright spots, sure. But for the most part, the Texans’ rookies and second-year players haven’t made the kind of early impact many expected.
Some have been stuck behind the game plan, some have been limited by injury, and some simply haven’t produced enough yet. With 11 first- and second-year draft picks seeing at least one snap through three weeks, the early picture is starting to take shape.
One of the biggest questions around the young group is what Houston has actually gotten from its depth pieces. Nwaiwu has been a non-factor in the two games he’s been active, logging only seven special teams snaps and none on offense. The Oklahoma offensive lineman is still something of an unknown at the NFL level, though he could become relevant if Ed Ingram misses more time and Wyatt Teller also goes down.
Aiden Fisher’s role has been equally limited, even with injuries stacking up in the Texans’ linebacker room. The seventh-round rookie has only played 21 special teams snaps so far, but the health issues around him could keep pushing his name into the conversation as a defensive contributor.
Bond got a second elevation from the practice squad against the Indianapolis Colts, but it didn’t turn into much. He had just one target and has totaled 22 offensive snaps across two games without a catch.
Ramsey’s situation has also been pretty quiet. After Reed Blankenship struggled through two games, it looked like Ramsey might be positioned for more defensive work. Instead, Blankenship picked off Houston’s first interception of the season in Week 3, and Ramsey was left with just one defensive snap while doing the rest of his work on special teams.
Smith, the third-round corner from last year’s draft, is another young player Houston still likes. He just hasn’t had many chances on defense since returning from the season-ending injury he suffered in 2025.
Special teams has been his main lane, as he’s played on more than 80% of Houston’s special teams snaps. If Derek Stingley or Kamari Lassiter were to miss time, that could change fast.
The Texans also haven’t gotten much from Marlin Klein yet, even though the offense could use it. The second-round rookie tight end has barely been worked into Nick Caley’s plan through three games.
When Klein has gotten chances in preseason or early in the regular season, he has looked solid, but his usage has stayed light. He’s played a little over 40 snaps total, and nearly half of those have come on special teams.
Noel’s second season has been a strange one so far. He was coming off a productive offseason by most accounts, and with Houston’s receiver group banged up, it seemed like a chance for him to become a bigger piece for C.J.
Stroud. Instead, he’s been more of a familiar presence than a breakout one.
Noel has five catches for 101 yards, but he’s only been on the field for 40% of the Texans’ offensive snaps and has mostly handled the same returner duties he had as a rookie.
In the middle of all the injuries, Woodaz has suddenly become important. His reps climbed again in Week 3 against the Colts when he stepped in at middle linebacker after Azeez Al-Shaair left with a groin injury.
If Al-Shaair has to miss time, Woodaz would move into the starting middle linebacker job and become a key part of the defense. For now, he’s a valuable depth option.
Ersery is still very much in the development stage in Year 2, but there’s at least something to work with. Pro Football Focus has him 18th among tackles in pass-blocking grade at 75.9, which is a real positive.
The rest of the numbers are rougher: 11 pressures, two penalties, two quarterback hits and two sacks in three games. C.J.
Stroud would surely like more consistency from his hoped-for left tackle of the future.
Marks, meanwhile, keeps flashing more juice than Houston’s new veteran back David Montgomery. The Texans’ run game has been tough to watch, but Marks has looked like the more explosive runner each week. That kind of burst could earn him a larger share of the carries as the season moves on, though he’ll need to improve on his 3.0 yards per carry to make that happen.
Rutledge has given Houston a little reason for optimism on an offensive line that still has plenty to clean up. In his first three games, the rookie has played 214 snaps and allowed 12 pressures, one sack and one penalty. There are always growing pains for a rookie lineman, especially one learning a new spot at left guard, but he hasn’t made the Texans regret trading up for him a few months ago.
In Other News...
Texans Bring Back A Familiar Veteran As RB Concern Grows
The Texans have turned to a familiar face to shore up their backfield before Week 4, signing running back Dare Ogunbowale off the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad and onto the 53-man roster. Ogunbowale is no stranger to Houston, having spent the past several seasons with the team and carving out his role mostly on special teams while also chipping in as a runner when needed.
With the Cowboys up next, the move gives Houston some extra depth at a position that has become a concern. Ogunbowales return gives the Texans a dependable veteran option who already knows the system and the expectations, which can matter just as much as raw production when the roster is getting stretched thin. [Read more 🡒]
Case Keenum Just Delivered A Prime-Time Moment Texans Fans Will Love
Case Keenum got the kind of prime-time opportunity that can still stir up a little nostalgia in Houston, stepping in for the injured Caleb Williams and helping the Chicago Bears knock off the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-7. It was Keenums first regular-season NFL game since 2023, and he looked right at home, completing 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards while throwing two touchdowns and adding another score on the ground.
For Texans fans, it is an easy one to smile at because Keenums name still carries real weight in Houston, where he once helped give the franchise one of its most memorable stretches at quarterback. Even with the Bears win carrying the night, the bigger takeaway was the way Keenum handled the moment, protected the ball and delivered a composed performance when the spotlight was brightest. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Need More From An Unproven Defensive Lineman
Mario Edwards Jr. went down with a knee injury in Week 3 and did not return, leaving the Texans to keep patching together a defensive line that is already short on healthy bodies. His absence forced Houston to turn to Jaden Crumedy, a recent signing who stepped in during the game and could be asked to take on a larger role if Edwards is sidelined longer.
Crumedys path is the kind of depth-chart test that can come out of nowhere in September, especially for a unit dealing with multiple injuries. The Texans do not have much of a track record to lean on with him yet, which leaves his next opportunity more about projection than proven production, and a potentially important one if the shorthanded front keeps thinning out. [Read more 🡒]