The Texans’ training camp took another rough turn when Braden Smith and Ali Gaye were both carted off the field during the same play at a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers.
Smith, the team’s offseason addition who signed a two-year, $20 million deal, had been lined up to start at right tackle this season. Now, his status is suddenly up in the air. Gaye also went down with a lower leg injury on the same sequence, according to James Palmer.
It’s another hit for a Houston team that has already been dealing with a wave of bad luck. Just days earlier, the Texans learned that Jayden Higgins tore his ACL and will miss the entire season.
The Iowa State receiver had been positioned for a breakout second year as a big target for C.J. Stroud.
The injury pileup stings even more because Houston entered camp with plenty to like on the roster. The defense is loaded, with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter giving the Texans a dangerous pass-rushing pair and Derek Stingley anchoring the secondary. Stroud, meanwhile, remains the face of the offense after his standout rookie season.
But the one issue that has kept showing up for Houston is the one that can derail even the most talented team: injuries. The other is the offensive line, and Smith’s exit only adds to the concern there. For now, the Texans are waiting for clarity on both Smith and Gaye, and hoping this stretch of camp doesn’t get any uglier.
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Texans O Line Stability Just Took Another Worrying Hit In Camp
Houstons offensive line just took another hit in camp when right tackle Braden Smith went down with a plantar fascia foot injury during a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers and had to be carted off the field. The timing is hardly ideal for a unit still trying to settle into a rhythm, especially with training camp already putting the Texans through the usual mix of reps, shuffling and evaluation.
Smith is expected to miss a couple of weeks, which opens the door for Trent Brown to handle the starting right tackle job in the meantime. Blake Fisher is there as a backup option, but for a Texans line that has been trying to build some much-needed stability, losing another key piece in August only adds to the pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Receiver Battle Is Suddenly Getting Harder To Ignore
The Texans got a different kind of summer test in Charlotte, where their joint practice with the Panthers came with the usual mix of pace, pressure and personnel evaluation. On offense, new wide receiver Kayshon Boutte worked through drills alongside the more established names in the room, giving the coaching staff another look at a position group that has become one of the more closely watched parts of camp.
Houstons defense brought its own edge to the session, with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter helping keep the Panthers under steady heat throughout practice. Even with the roster battles and on-field intensity grabbing most of the attention, the Texans also unveiled a new alternate uniform set to debut in Week 11, a nod to Houston culture that adds a little extra buzz to a season already full of moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Will Anderson Jr. Just Sent A Message Texans Fans Will Love
Will Anderson Jr. spent part of the offseason training with Rams star Myles Garrett, a pairing that makes sense for a young pass rusher trying to sharpen every part of his game before the 2026 NFL season. Anderson has already become one of the Texans most important defensive players, and his 2025 production showed why Houston sees him as a centerpiece up front.
Recent footage from that workout added a little extra spice to the conversation when Garrett suggested Anderson still had time before he caught him. Andersons reply made it clear he does not view the gap as nearly as wide as it once looked, and that kind of confidence will play well in Houston after a season in which he posted 12 sacks while Garrett still owns the single-season benchmark at 23. [Read more 🡒]