The Texans kept adding to their pass-catching options on Monday, bringing in wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley on the practice squad after his release from the Cincinnati Bengals, according to The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov.
“Tinsley had eight catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns last season, and drew interest from several teams after Cincinnati moved on due to its deep WR room,” wrote Meirov.
Houston is looking for every way it can to keep building on last season’s 12-5 finish, which was the franchise’s best record since 2012. Three seasons into the DeMeco Ryans era, the Texans have gone from a team with no clear direction to one with real contender status.
Now comes the harder part: sustaining it. Expectations are rising, especially for a defense that ranked among the NFL’s best a year ago. CJ Stroud will again be asked to drive the offense, and the addition of running back David Montgomery gives him another notable boost.
Tinsley, 26, could become a name to watch if Houston decides it needs another receiver on the active roster. For now, he’s joining the practice squad and working to get up to speed.
He’s already been through a couple of stops in the league. Tinsley previously spent time with the Washington Commanders, making Houston his third team. He entered the NFL as an undrafted player in 2023 out of Penn State before Washington brought him in.
The Texans also recently strengthened their receiver group by trading for Kayshon Boutte from the New England Patriots.
Houston opens the season against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1.
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Tank Dells name also remains part of the conversation as the Texans move into the season. The wideout opened on the Reserve/Injured list with the designated-to-return designation after the significant knee injury he suffered in 2024, and he is reportedly progressing well. For Houston, the challenge now is balancing immediate roster needs with the longer view, especially with a player as important to the offense still working his way back. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Are Sending A Clear Message With These Practice Squad Choices
The Texans have spent the days around the cutdown deadline doing the last bit of roster housekeeping, trimming to 53 and then turning their attention to building out the 16-man practice squad. Several of the players they moved on from are still very much in the picture, with Jamal Hill, James Neal, Lewis Bond, Jawhar Jordan, Dominic Bailey, Alijah Huzzie, Noah Whittington and George Odum all expected to land back in the organization.
It is the kind of move that says as much about continuity as it does about depth. The practice squad gives Houston a chance to keep familiar players close, develop them through the season and elevate them up to three times without forcing a corresponding roster move, which can matter a lot over a long year. In a league where the back end of the roster changes quickly, the Texans appear intent on keeping their options in-house. [Read more 🡒]
DeMeco Ryans Just Raised The Stakes In Houstons Receiver Battle
The Texans are deep enough at receiver that the last few roster calls are no longer just about who can flash in the preseason. After the finale against the Panthers, DeMeco Ryans made it clear the staff is weighing the whole picture as it trims toward the 53-man roster, and that means looking past highlight catches to the less glamorous work that often decides who sticks in Houston.
Special teams value, blocking effort, route consistency and versatility all carry real weight in Ryans evaluation, especially for receivers trying to separate in a crowded room. For a team building its identity around discipline and execution, the final decision figures to reward players who can handle more than one job, even if the more explosive traits are the ones that tend to grab attention first. [Read more 🡒]