The Texans had barely gotten through their preseason opener before the quarterback depth chart took a hit. Houston’s 27-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers came with a bigger price tag when Graham Mertz went down late in the second quarter after a 9-yard scramble.
DeMeco Ryans later said Mertz tore the ACL in his right knee, a season-ending injury that will send the third-string quarterback to injured reserve before the 2026 campaign even begins. Mertz, a sixth-round pick in 2025, had not appeared in a regular-season game for Houston and entered the matchup as the QB3 behind C.J.
Stroud and Davis Mills. Before leaving, he completed 4 of 7 passes for 23 yards.
It’s the second ACL tear of his career after previously hurting his other knee in his final year at Florida.
That left the Texans thin enough that Mills had to absorb a heavier workload than expected, and with two preseason games still ahead, Houston moved quickly to add another arm. On Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, "Texans signed veteran QB Brett Rypien and placed QB Graham Mertz on season-ending injured reserve."
Ryans was quick to highlight what Rypien brings. "He's already, you can see he's a very sharp guy."
Rypien, the nephew of Super Bowl XXVI MVP Mark Rypien, arrives in Houston as his ninth NFL franchise after going undrafted out of Boise State in 2019. His career numbers are modest: four touchdowns, nine interceptions, 168 attempts, and a 59.9 passer rating in 11 games with four starts.
Even so, he gives the Texans a veteran presence who can handle scout-team work and be ready if Stroud or Mills is forced out. His contract details have not been officially published.
In Other News...
Texans WR Jaylin Noel Hits Another Camp Setback At Worst Time
Jaylin Noel had already seen his training camp interrupted once, landing on the NFI list with a finger injury before getting back into limited drills. The Texans were finally getting a closer look at the rookie receiver, which made his latest snag feel especially untimely as camp work starts to matter more and more for players trying to carve out a role.
Now Noel is dealing with a hamstring injury, and it figures to keep him sidelined for a few weeks. For a receiver trying to build momentum and stack reps, it is another frustrating reset, though Texans wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels said he expects Noel to be ready once he gets back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face 3 Roster Fights That Could Reshape The 53-Man Depth Chart
With the preseason game against the Raiders approaching, DeMeco Ryans and the Texans coaching staff are using the final stretch of camp to sort through some of the rosters most practical decisions. The competition at right tackle is among the most important, with Braden Smith and Trent Brown in the mix as Houston weighs how it wants to protect the edge and settle the line before roster cuts begin to take shape.
There is similar uncertainty behind the top two spots in the backfield, where the third running back job has become a place to watch as the staff evaluates its options. The same is true along the defensive front, where the fourth defensive end role is still open enough to keep Logan Hall and others in the conversation, and the way those battles resolve could have a real impact on how the Texans build their 53-man depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Roster Battles Are Starting To Get Much More Real
The Texans roster picture is starting to sharpen as camp competition turns into something closer to a final exam. Cade Stover has helped himself in the tight end room, Jarrett Pattersons contract adjustment suggests the team may already be thinking of him as part of the plan, and Dominique Robinson appears to have a strong hold on a defensive end spot as Houston works through the last stretch before cutdown day.
Even with some names trending in the right direction, there is still plenty of room for movement, especially with injuries and late camp performances always capable of changing the math. Undrafted cornerback Collin Wright has made a real impression, but his status bears watching as the Texans continue sorting out which bubble players can hold their ground and which ones will be squeezed out when the roster gets trimmed. [Read more 🡒]