The Houston Texans are finally at the point where the talking stops and the work begins. Training camp has arrived, and with rookies and veterans both in the building ahead of practices and the season starting July 29th, Houston is about to start sorting out a roster full of questions.
Some of those questions are about jobs. Some are about depth.
And some are about whether a few key players can handle the pressure that comes with 2026. Here are five of the biggest things to watch once camp gets rolling.
The offensive line is the clearest place where Houston spent real offseason energy. The Texans made changes by drafting and signing new pieces, and they also moved on from longtime veteran Tytus Howard in an effort to push the unit forward after its 2025 growth.
That makes camp crucial for the front five. The biggest uncertainty sits at center and right tackle, with left guard also in the mix depending on how Wyatt Teller handles the move from right guard to the other side. Beyond the starting spots, there’s also the matter of who backs them up and who gets squeezed off the roster entirely.
Another spot that should draw plenty of attention is edge rusher depth. Houston did not go out and add a major proven name after losing Derek Barnett earlier this offseason, so the Texans are banking on less-established options to step up behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
Dylan Horton is one candidate, though he enters his fourth season in Houston without a full sack to his name. Dominique Robinson is another, joining the Texans this offseason after four years in the league in which he never topped four sacks. There’s also the possibility that somebody else emerges and makes the job his own.
If nobody separates, Houston could still look to the free agent market for help. Either way, this competition matters a lot for the defense.
Tight end is another room that could get messy fast. Dalton Schultz is locked in as the top pass-catching option and the leader in snaps after the season he just put together in 2025. After that, though, the picture gets blurry.
Marlin Klein enters as a second-round pick. Foster Moreau brings experience as a new addition.
Brevin Jordan is back from injury, and Cade Stover is back in the mix fighting for a roster spot. How the Texans sort out the depth chart, how they plan to use the group, and even how many tight ends they carry into Week 1 are all questions that should be answered over time in camp.
The linebacker group took a hit earlier this summer when EJ Speed suffered a torn quad injury that will keep him out for the entire 2026 season. That opens a door for someone else to claim the snaps he was expected to handle.
Houston does have options. Marte Mapu arrives from the New England Patriots with three NFL seasons under his belt.
Rookies Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher will be pushing hard in year one. Jamal Hill and Jake Hansen also have a case based on roster experience.
Still, only one or two of these players are likely to become regulars, and it would be a surprise if all five survived cutdown day.
Then there’s C.J. Stroud, who remains the biggest headline around the Texans. After an uneven third season and a brutal playoff exit in New England, he enters a make-or-break year with plenty on the line, including the chance to position himself for a major contract extension.
That pressure isn’t going anywhere. Camp is his first chance to set the tone, and he’ll have some help around him.
Houston has a better offensive line in front of him, a refined run game behind him, and a second year working with offensive coordinator Nick Caley. If Stroud takes advantage of all that, the Texans could be set up for something bigger down the road.
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For a club that values size and upside up front, the appeal is easy to understand even if the player is still early in his football journey. No deal has been signed yet, and the Texans are simply evaluating whether he could be worth a longer look as a project, with the possibility of keeping him around as a practice-squad option if the roster math works in their favor. [Read more 🡒]
Brevin Jordan May Be Reopening A Texans Battle Fans Know Too Well
The Texans have spent the offseason sorting out a tight end room that already has a clear lead option in Dalton Schultz, but the depth chart behind him is anything but settled. Cade Stover, Foster Moreau and rookie Marlin Klein are all in the mix for roles, and Brevin Jordan has quietly worked his way back into the conversation after a stretch that kept him off the field for long periods.
Jordans appeal has always been the same: when he is available, he gives Houston a different kind of option as both a blocker and a receiver. If he can keep building on the positive signs from offseason work, the Texans may have to decide whether the familiar names behind Schultz are still the safest bets, or whether Jordan is suddenly pushing his way back into a battle this team knows all too well. [Read more 🡒]