The Texans still have a few real decisions to make before the 53-man roster gets locked in, and Thursday’s preseason game against the Raiders could go a long way toward settling them.
DeMeco Ryans and his staff are weighing more than one competition that has shifted over the course of training camp, and last week’s game against the Chargers only added more fuel to the fire. Some players have pushed themselves into the conversation with strong camp work.
Others have made the picture murkier with injuries or uneven snaps. Either way, the Texans need clarity, and this matchup gives them a chance to get it.
One of the biggest calls is at right tackle, where Braden Smith and Trent Brown have been trading places in the fight for the job. Smith arrived as one of the more intriguing additions of the offseason, but the reports out of camp have leaned toward Brown as the steadier option on the right side.
Smith didn’t help his case against the Chargers, either. On one snap in the second quarter, 8:54 on the clock, 2nd & 2 from the Houston 33 yard line, Smith was beat by Chargers linebacker Kyle Kennard on a rush move to his outside shoulder in pass protection.
That led to a 31-yard completion to tight end Marlin Klein by backup quarterback Davis Mils despite Smith’s whiff.
That wasn’t the only issue. On film, Smith also had moments where rushers drove him back a couple of yards in pass protection before he settled in and held his ground. The question now is simple: can he clean that up, or does Brown become the more comfortable answer for the coaching staff starting Thursday?
The third running back spot is another job up for grabs, and it looked like Jawhar Jordan had already made it his. Then a lower body injury knocked him out over the last week or so, and Noah Whittington got the chance to step in against the Chargers. The undrafted back made the most of it, finishing with 13 carries and 40 yards, both team highs for the night.
Whittington’s case is built on more than just a busy stat line. He brings physicality, balance and availability at a time when Jordan hasn’t been on the field.
If he keeps stacking solid performances against the Raiders and beyond, he could force his way into the conversation. The biggest things he still has to prove are pass protection and special teams versatility.
Then there’s Logan Hall, who could be making his case for the fourth defensive end spot. Hall didn’t play in the first preseason game, but Ryans said that Hall and other healthy players will be out there against the Raiders. There has been some talk about whether Hall will work inside at tackle or stay at his natural end spot, but reports point to him being in the mix for DE4 ahead of Dylan Horton, Dominique Robinson and Solomon Byrd.
Hall’s path to Houston came after a quiet run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him in the second round in 2022. Outside of his career-high 5.5 sacks in 2024, he never found sustained success there, and Tampa Bay let him walk in free agency before he signed with the Texans on a two-year, $13.75 million max deal this offseason.
Houston has already shown that players can find another gear under Ryans and his staff, with Azeez Al-Shaair, Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai and Tim Settle Jr. all cited as examples. Hall still has room to grow, but if he taps into that potential here, he could become a real problem for opposing offenses. Thursday is the first step in proving it.
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