Five days into Texans training camp, a few names are already forcing their way into the conversation.
That’s the nature of camp: it’s early, the pads are just coming into play, and everyone’s still trying to separate real momentum from a hot stretch in shorts and helmets. But Houston’s Monday session gave spectators enough to notice, and a few players kept showing up in ways that matter.
On offense, Jawhar Jordan is making a strong push for the RB3 job. The third-year back has been dangerous both as a receiver out of the backfield and as a runner between the tackles, using his quickness to find creases and burst through them before defenders can close. He’s giving the Texans plenty to think about as the battle for the third running back spot starts to sharpen.
On the other side of the ball, Calen Bullock has been everywhere. The third-year safety picked off C.J.
Stroud today on a throw over the middle during team drills, and he also broke up another Stroud pass to Xavier Hutchinson on Saturday. Bullock has been a constant headache in the secondary, and based on what’s been seen so far, he looks like a player chasing an All-Pro level season at safety.
Another name rising fast is Keylan Rutledge. The rookie guard/center is living up to his reputation for toughness, grit and tenacity in the trenches.
He’s been working in a rotation with incumbent center Jake Andrews, so his chances have been limited, but when he’s on the field, he’s making them count. Reports from camp say Rutledge brings a noticeable edge to every rep, and that physical style has already sparked several mini-scuffles with teammates on defense.
Rutledge looks like exactly the kind of player DeMeco Ryans wants in the building, someone who fits the S.W.A.R.M. mentality the head coach likes to talk about.
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 🡒]