The Houston Texans’ first unofficial depth chart offered a clear look at how crowded this roster really is, and it also handed out a few notable labels.
At center, rookie Keylan Rutledge is listed as the starter. On the right side, the battle isn’t settled yet, with Trent Brown and Braden Smith shown as co-starters at right tackle.
Receiver drew plenty of attention, too. Houston is banking on its passing game behind C.J. Stroud, and the top of the chart reflects that confidence: Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson are listed as starters, while Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell are both listed as backups.
That placement stands out because Dell was one of Stroud’s favorite targets during both players’ rookie seasons, but a gruesome injury kept him out all of last year. Noel, a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, had 26 receptions last season, and the Texans are expecting much more from him going forward.
Stroud is still the engine of the whole thing. His rookie year in 2023 was one of the best ever, as he joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only players to lead the league in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio. Since then, though, he has regressed, and Houston needs him to get back to superstar form.
The Texans also traded for David Montgomery, adding another piece to an offense that wants balance. But if Houston is going to be a true championship contender, the passing game may need to carry more of the load, or at least do enough to ease the pressure on a stacked defense.
In Other News...
Texans Offense Faces New Doubts After Rough Night For C.J. Stroud
A recent night practice offered a sharper reminder that the Texans still have work to do on offense. C.J. Stroud had a rough stretch with multiple incompletions, and the running game did not do much to balance things out, even after Houston spent the offseason trying to improve that part of the attack. It was the kind of session that can look minor on a summer calendar but still linger because it cut against some of the brighter signs the offense had shown earlier in camp.
Houston has reason to believe the pieces are there, but the consistency still comes and goes from practice to practice. For Stroud and an offense expected to take another step, the issue is not just isolated misses or a quiet rushing effort, but building enough rhythm to make the whole unit feel dependable before the regular season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Preseason Will Put Tough Roster Battles Front And Center
The Texans are about to get a longer look at the parts of the roster that usually stay in the background once the games count. Houston opens its three-game preseason schedule Aug. 13, with matchups against the Chargers, Raiders and Panthers, and the week-to-week rhythm will be just as important as the final scores. Joint practices with Las Vegas and Carolina should add another layer, giving coaches a chance to judge how players stack up when the pads come on and the reps get more competitive.
For backups and rookies, this is the stretch that can define the end of summer. Preseason games often become a proving ground for the final roster battles, and the Texans have several spots that will be watched closely as they sort out depth behind the starters. The exhibition schedule will not settle everything, but it will help shape who earns one more look and who leaves camp needing a different path to make it in Houston. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Stay Linked To A Former First Rounders Troubling Situation
The Texans remain part of the conversation around former first-round cornerback Terrion Arnold, who has drawn interest from multiple teams even as his football future is being overshadowed by a troubling off-field situation. New Orleans is scheduled to meet with Arnold, and Houston already had him in the building last month as clubs continue sorting through what, if anything, comes next for a player who was released by Detroit after his arrest.
Arnolds case is the kind of off-field development that forces teams to weigh talent against risk, especially when the legal cloud is still hanging over the situation. He has also met with Seattle, and Houstons link to him is just one more reminder that the Texans are watching a market where the football questions are easy to see, but the real answer may not be. [Read more 🡒]