The Texans’ depth chart took another hit this week, and this one lands on a player who was fighting for his football life.
British Brooks, a running back and special teams contributor, has undergone surgery for a broken hand he suffered in practice, according to KPRC 2 Houston Texans Insider Aaron Wilson. The injury is expected to keep him out for at least three weeks.
That’s a tough blow for Brooks, who is heading into his third season with Houston and was once again trying to carve out a place on the final 53-man roster. The undrafted free agent from UNC had been competing for a spot for the third straight year, and the squeeze was already tight in a crowded backfield that includes David Montgomery, Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan, Noah Whittington, Josh Pitsenberger and possibly even a converted Cade Stover at fullback.
Now, the setback could carry real roster consequences for Brooks. At the same time, it adds another layer to a Texans offseason that has been shaped by one theme over and over again: availability.
Houston has already lost linebacker and special teams standout E.J. Speed for the season after a torn quadriceps in May. Then last Thursday, linebacker and special teamer Jake Hansen went down with an ankle/foot injury, and there still isn’t a timetable for his return.
Brooks’ injury adds more uncertainty to the next five-plus weeks, when the Texans will be sorting through depth and trying to hold the roster together. They have internal options, but that’s not the point. The point is they’d rather not keep losing the pieces they already have.
That’s just the reality of pro football, where injuries keep showing up no matter how carefully a team plans. The encouraging part for Houston is that the front-line names have mostly stayed out of trouble so far. There was a close call involving a potential concussion hit on All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley, along with a collision between tight end Dalton Schultz and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, but otherwise the early stages of camp have been relatively kind.
The hope now is that Brooks, and Hansen, can get back in time to make their final push for roster spots before the coaching staff has to look elsewhere. If not, PUP and/or IR could be waiting in the interim.
In Other News...
Texans Send Clear Message With Latest Running Back Move
The Texans kept casting a wide net for backfield help during training camp, bringing in veteran running backs Alexander Mattison and Hassan Haskins for workouts as they look to shore up a position behind David Montgomery. Houston already has a proven starter in place, but the team is clearly interested in making sure the depth chart can withstand the grind of a full season.
Mattison brings six years of NFL experience and is trying to find a fresh landing spot after recovering from a serious injury last season, while Haskins offers another experienced body in a room that could still use reinforcement. For Houston, the move signals a practical approach to camp roster building, with the focus now on whether one of those veterans can turn a workout into a real opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Camp Shakeup Is Already Changing Houstons Depth Chart
One week into Texans training camp, the roster already looks a little different than it did when practice opened. Injuries have knocked out several important special teams pieces in Jaylin Noel, Jake Hansen and M.J. Stewart, while veteran receiver Justin Watson has been pushed into a more visible role. At the same time, Houston has added defensive help in Mario Edwards, Sione Takitaki and Jadeveon Clowney, giving the front seven a different look as the staff keeps sorting through the early layers of the roster.
The early camp churn has also created winners and losers beyond the obvious injury fallout. Watsons rise is one of the clearest developments so far, while players such as Keylan Rutledge and Jake Hummel have seen their standing slip over the first week. It is still early, but these first few practices have already started to shape how the Texans may line up once the real competition for jobs begins to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
DeMeco Ryans Has Texans Fans Dreaming Bigger Than Just Defense
The Texans have built their identity around a defense that can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone, and thats a big reason the buzz around DeMeco Ryans keeps growing. With Derek Stingley Jr., Jalen Pitre, Azeez Al-Shaair, Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr. and Jadeveon Clowney all giving the unit a hard edge, Houston has become one of the leagues harder teams to deal with on that side of the ball. CBS Sports Zachary Pereles ranked Ryans No. 9 among NFL head coaches and called the Texans defense world-class, which lines up with how this team has been viewed after winning at least 10 games in each of Ryans three seasons.
Still, the interesting part is how much higher the ceiling could go if Houstons offense catches up to the standard the defense has set. Ryans standing could climb even further with postseason success, but the bigger picture for the Texans is whether they can turn a dominant defensive foundation into something more complete. For a team already known for toughness and structure, the next step is less about proving the defense is real and more about finding out how far the rest of the roster can carry that advantage. [Read more 🡒]