The Houston Texans have already spent the weekend trimming their roster to the required 53, but the real sorting-out process is only getting started. Now comes the practice squad, where Houston can keep building depth and stash players it may need later in the season.
That group matters in this building. The Texans are expected to lean on it often, and they’ll be able to carry 16 players on the practice squad to start the season. Those players can be elevated three times during the year without having to be signed to the active 53-man roster.
As of 2:05 p.m. CT, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Houston has begun putting that unit together. The list is still growing, but the early names give a clear picture of who the Texans want nearby.
Linebacker Jamal Hill is on the board after an uneven preseason and camp left him on the outside of the linebacker competition. Offensive tackle James Neal is also back in the fold after initially drawing the biggest signing bonus among the Texans’ undrafted rookie free agents from the 2026 NFL Draft before getting cut this weekend.
Wide receiver Lewis Bond, a sixth-round rookie who was one of the more surprising cuts from Houston’s receiver room, has landed on the practice squad as well. Wilson reported that Bond had interest from multiple teams around the league, but chose to stay with the team that drafted him.
Running back Jawhar Jordan is returning to a familiar spot. He has been around the Texans’ practice squad for the past two seasons and looked like a possible 53-man option before a hip injury sidelined him for several weeks. Now he’s back where he has spent much of his time since arriving in 2024.
The Texans are also bringing back interior defensive lineman Dominic Bailey after making some difficult cuts along the defensive front, including Naquan Jones. Bailey had been part of that UDFA group Houston let go, but he’s back in the mix now.
Cornerback Alijah Huzzie is another notable addition after a surprising cut. He had been viewed by many as Houston’s top backup nickel and a useful depth option at corner, though those snaps may now be going to UDFA Collin Wright and fifth-round pick Kamari Ramsey.
Another running back, Noah Whittington, has also joined the practice squad. The Oregon product had quietly emerged as a possible back-end depth piece, and with both him and Jordan on the squad, he is now in position to compete for RB4 status and the first call-up spot on game day.
Safety George Odum rounds out the reported additions so far. The veteran special teams standout made a strong final preseason statement against the Carolina Panthers, piling up 11 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. Houston is rewarding that effort with a practice squad spot.
The Texans’ work isn’t finished yet, but the early moves show a clear plan: keep the useful pieces close, and keep building out the back end of the roster before Week 1 arrives.
In Other News...
Texans Final Cuts Included One Move Fans Will Be Talking About
Houston finished its roster trim to 53 players ahead of the deadline, and the final set of moves came with the kind of roster shuffling that always invites a second look. The Texans dealt C/G Jarrett Patterson to the San Francisco 49ers and brought in tackle Nathan Thomas in return, continuing to reshape the depth chart as they sorted out the back end of the roster.
Tank Dells name also remains part of the conversation as the Texans move into the season. The wideout opened on the Reserve/Injured list with the designated-to-return designation after the significant knee injury he suffered in 2024, and he is reportedly progressing well. For Houston, the challenge now is balancing immediate roster needs with the longer view, especially with a player as important to the offense still working his way back. [Read more 🡒]
DeMeco Ryans Just Raised The Stakes In Houstons Receiver Battle
The Texans are deep enough at receiver that the last few roster calls are no longer just about who can flash in the preseason. After the finale against the Panthers, DeMeco Ryans made it clear the staff is weighing the whole picture as it trims toward the 53-man roster, and that means looking past highlight catches to the less glamorous work that often decides who sticks in Houston.
Special teams value, blocking effort, route consistency and versatility all carry real weight in Ryans evaluation, especially for receivers trying to separate in a crowded room. For a team building its identity around discipline and execution, the final decision figures to reward players who can handle more than one job, even if the more explosive traits are the ones that tend to grab attention first. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Tackle Move Just Clarified A Crowded Depth Chart
A familiar late-summer roster shuffle in Dallas has left the Texans with a new offensive line addition, as Nate Thomas was dealt to Houston ahead of the 53-man roster cutdown. The seventh-round pick in 2024 had worked his way into the swing tackle role for the Cowboys last season, which made him a useful depth piece until the front office altered the picture by bringing in Broderick Jones.
For Houston, the move adds another name to a position group that can change quickly if injuries start piling up. For Dallas, it further clarifies the tackle picture, with Drew Shelton and Jones now looking like the likeliest reserve options behind the starters. Thomass path to a meaningful role in Houston will now be the part worth watching next. [Read more 🡒]