The Houston Texans didn’t leave Reliant Stadium with a preseason win on Thursday night, falling hard to the LA Chargers, 27-7. But the score only tells part of the story. With most of the starters parked for the night - aside from a brief look at the first-team offensive line - Houston spent the evening sorting through its depth, and a few players made the most of the opportunity.
Marlin Klein was one of them.
When the Texans used a top-60 pick on the tight end this offseason, the move raised some eyebrows. A day-three projection taken that high always invites questions. But Houston has kept seeing flashes from Klein in camp, and he carried that momentum into the preseason opener with the biggest offensive play of the night for the Texans: a 31-yard catch over the middle from Davis Mills.
Klein finished with just that one reception, but it was enough to underline why the Texans are betting on him. He brings a rare mix of size and athletic ability that wasn’t fully tapped in college, and with more reps at the NFL level, he has a chance to grow into a real weapon as both a receiver and a blocker.
The other bright spot on offense came from Jared Wayne, who provided Houston’s lone touchdown of the night. Mills found him on the right side of the end zone for a clean score, and Wayne finished with three receptions for 19 receptions on the night; one of Houston's better offensive performers in a dreary night on that end of the field.
That touchdown matters for Wayne’s roster case, but the path is still crowded. Houston already has five wide receivers locked in, and the final spots are being fought over by sixth-round rookie Lewis Bond and veteran Justin Watson for that WR6/7 battle. Wayne’s name now has to be folded into that mix, which only tightens the competition for snaps.
On defense, the Texans’ most notable moment came from fifth-round rookie safety Kamari Ramsey. He picked off Trey Lance in the red zone late in the second quarter, and added two PBUs on the night as well.
For Ramsey, the interception was the kind of play that can shift a roster conversation fast. He entered camp with a strong case already, and as the Texans’ first-overall pick of the fifth round, he was always a legitimate candidate to make the team.
After Thursday, that path looks even clearer. If he keeps stacking plays like this, he could force his way into a bigger role than expected once the season begins.
In Other News...
Texans Rookie RB Is Forcing A Tough Roster Decision
Noah Whittington has spent training camp making himself hard to ignore, and for an undrafted rookie that is exactly the kind of problem a coaching staff wants to have. The former Oregon back has drawn attention for his physical running style and his work in pass protection, while DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Nick Caley have both pointed to the way he has attacked the job and picked up Houstons offensive scheme.
The challenge now is less about whether Whittington belongs in the room and more about how many backs the Texans can realistically keep when roster cuts arrive. He is trying to carve out a place in a crowded competition, and the fact that he has already earned this much trust says plenty about how quickly he has adjusted since camp opened. [Read more 🡒]
Davis Mills Just Reignited A Texans Quarterback Debate Fans Know Well
Davis Mills made his first appearance for the Texans in the preseason against the Chargers and immediately reminded everyone why he remains a familiar name in Houston. He entered after Graham Mertz left with an injury before halftime, then helped steady the offense by connecting with Jared Wayne for a first-quarter touchdown, the sort of efficient snap that can still get people talking in a quarterback room with a clear starter and a well-established backup.
C.J. Stroud remains the Texans starter, and Mills is firmly slotted behind him after signing a recent contract extension, but performances like this keep his value visible. For a team that has already sorted out its top job, the more interesting question is how much confidence Houston can keep in the depth behind Stroud, especially if preseason play keeps giving Mills chances to make the case in live action. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Depth Battle Gets Real In Their First Preseason Test
The Texans are heading into their first preseason test against the Chargers with most of the familiar faces expected to stay on the sideline, which turns the spotlight toward the parts of the roster that still have to be sorted out. For players like Jaylin Smith, Lewis Bond, Jared Wayne, Marte Mapu, Cade Stover and Jawhar Jordan, this is the kind of game that can matter a lot more than the scoreboard, because every snap is another chance to show they belong.
It is the most useful kind of early August football for a team with competition still bubbling at several spots. Houston does not need preseason stars so much as answers, and this opener should give the coaching staff a longer look at the depth players expected to handle significant work as they push to make the roster. The intrigue now is less about the Chargers and more about which Texans can take advantage of the first real game setting. [Read more 🡒]