The Houston Texans will finally put somebody other than teammates on the other sideline Thursday night, and the first preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers at 7pm CST is all about the players fighting for oxygen on a crowded roster.
Most of the established names are expected to stay in street clothes, which turns this into a true proving ground for backups, rookies and depth pieces. That’s where the real drama sits anyway. For a group trying to carve out roles, every snap matters.
Jaylin Smith is one of the clearest names to watch. The second-year cornerback is coming off an injury-marred rookie season, but he has shown promise in camp and earned praise from the starting corners.
With Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. likely to be used sparingly, Smith should see a heavy workload. He needs to handle backup competition and remind the Texans why they took him in the third round last year.
At receiver, Lewis Bond is getting a chance to back up the buzz that followed him from rookie minicamp. The Boston College product has been talked up for his route running and how quickly he picked up the playbook.
The bigger question is whether that shows up against NFL defensive backs. As a slot receiver, his fit will be worth monitoring too, especially with the Texans expected to lean more on two tight end sets than three-receiver looks.
Jared Wayne is another wideout with plenty on the line. He has been one of the more talked-about players in camp, and now he has to force the coaching staff into a tougher decision at receiver. Wayne can line up all over the formation and brings real speed, which gives him a path to making the roster conversation uncomfortable for everyone else.
The linebacker picture has changed quickly, and Marte Mapu has been pulled into it. Injuries to Jake Hansen and E J Speed have opened the door for him to work as the backup WILL linebacker.
Even with that opportunity, he still has to separate himself from rookies Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher. If the Texans view things as close, the rookies have the advantage.
Cade Stover may have one of the best chances of the night to help himself. He moved ahead of Brevin Jordan during the first week of camp, and Jordan is now dealing with a short-term injury.
With Dalton Schultz and Foster Moreau likely sitting, Stover should get a chance to run with the first string offense. Both the run game and pass game are supposed to flow through him in this one.
Jawhar Jordan also has a lot riding on this preseason opener, even if his availability is uncertain. He flashed last year with a 101-yard outing against Arizona, but the Texans need more than one big night if they’re going to trust him as part of the running back mix.
If he can go, he should get a heavy share of the carries before the undrafted backs rotate in. Noah Whittington is the main challenger, bringing a downhill style that fits what Houston wants, while Jordan’s burst and short-area quickness have been visible throughout camp.
There’s also a mystery around Febechi Nwaiwu, and not much else. The rookie offensive lineman from Oklahoma has drawn very little attention since arriving, which is never the best sign, but he is healthy and taking part in practice. His position along the line will be worth watching, and Thursday should give a better sense of whether there’s more to his game than the Texans have shown so far.
On the back end, Collin Wright has done enough to stay in the conversation. The Stanford undrafted rookie, who grew up in Missouri City, has reportedly made more plays than 2/3 of the draft class and already picked off Graham Mertz early in camp. He’s competing for the final cornerback spot against second-year UDFA Alijah Huzzie and veteran Tremon Smith, and his fit in Houston’s scheme gives him a real shot.
Dominique Robinson is in a similar spot on the defensive line. The Texans brought in Jadeveon Clowney because they weren’t getting enough from their edge depth, and Robinson is part of that depth.
The long, athletic defensive end spent four years in Chicago before arriving in Houston this offseason, but his roster spot is far from secure. He needs a strong showing to stay in the mix.
And then there’s Kai Kroeger, who has become part of a punting situation the Texans clearly wanted to move past. Jonathan M.
Alexander posted that Houston cut Jack Stonehouse, ending the punting competition at camp, and Nick Caserio brought in 2-3 punters over the weekend for a tryout. Even with that development, Kroeger has struggled this camp and is in real danger of losing his job when roster cuts come.
His battle is essentially against himself now, with Houston free to bring in another punter if it wants one from the players who get cut around the league.
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Training camp has a way of sorting out the back end of a roster, and Noah Whittington has made sure his name keeps coming up in Houston. The undrafted rookie out of Oregon has stood out for the Texans with a physical running style, solid pass protection, and the kind of work ethic that has earned attention from both DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Nick Caley as he tries to get comfortable in the system.
Whittingtons push matters because the running back room is crowded, and every practice rep seems to carry a little more weight for players on the fringe. The Texans like what they have seen from his ability to adapt, but the final decisions are still ahead, and Whittington is trying to turn a strong camp into a place on the 53-man roster. [Read more 🡒]