The Texans may finally be ready to give Marlin Klein a real look.
After spending most of the first half of the season on the outside of the offense looking in, the rookie tight end could be headed for a bigger role in Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns. That would mark a notable shift for a player who has barely been part of the weekly game plan so far.
Klein, Houston’s second-round pick at No. 58 overall, has had a quiet start to his NFL career. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end from Michigan logged just 22 offensive snaps across Weeks 1 through 3, then sat inactive from Week 4 through Week 7. His usage finally ticked up after the bye in Week 9 against the LA Chargers, when he played 19 offensive snaps and added nine on special teams.
That was more than double his previous season high, and the Texans made a clear effort to get him involved. He didn’t record any stats, but the workload itself was a step forward.
Before that game, offensive coordinator Nick Caley said Klein had been making real progress and that the staff planned to keep finding ways to use him.
“Yeah, no, he's made a lot of progress," Caley said ahead of Week 9. "I mean, all those guys, I feel, have done a good job.
[Tight Ends Coach] James Ferentz does a really good job with those guys. He's getting better every single week.”
“And again, like anything else, it's about focusing on the process, trying to get better, putting him in different situations, getting him exposure to different areas in the C-gap or off the ball in the run game, and then being able to move him around. It's like anything else. It's a continuous build for a guy like him, but it is for all of us.”
Houston’s crowded tight end room has made it tough for Klein to carve out steady snaps. The Texans have five tight ends on the 53-man roster, and that depth has shown up in the rotation through the first eight games.
Still, the recent uptick suggests the coaching staff is becoming more comfortable with him. If that continues, Week 10 could bring another increase in his workload, especially if the Texans are forced to adjust at the position.
That possibility is worth watching after Wednesday’s injury report, when Brevin Jordan was listed as a DNP because of a finger/foot issue. If Jordan can’t go, Klein’s role against Cleveland would become even more important.
For now, the signs point toward more opportunities ahead. The Texans appear ready to lean on Klein more often as the season moves forward, and his blend of blocking ability and vertical passing-game upside could give the offense another layer.
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