A week into Texans training camp, the rookie picture is starting to come into focus. Houston’s eight draft picks have all had a chance to flash, but not every first-year player is moving in the same direction.
Some are making a real case to climb the depth chart before Week 1. Others are hanging around the roster bubble and waiting for their moment.
Keylan Rutledge has been one of the clearest early risers. He’s drawing praise from multiple teammates for his mindset, and he’s been getting work at multiple spots on the interior while holding up well.
That versatility matters, and it has put him in position to challenge for a starting job right away. The team still hasn’t named any official starters, and there’s a lot of camp left, but Rutledge has put himself in the mix to be one of the five up front.
DeMeco Ryans put it plainly: "He's a SWARM player."HC DeMeco Ryans on C/G Keylan Rutledge @Keylan301 pic.twitter.com/Swr9OMt4bQ
Second-round defensive tackle Kayden McDonald is also trending up after a strong start to camp. Ryans pointed to McDonald’s power as the trait that has stood out most, especially in drills where he’s been driving coaches backward.
For a 21-year-old rookie, that kind of early impact is hard to miss. He looks set to carve out a steady role on the interior and should see a healthy number of snaps from Week 1 on.
DeMeco Ryans on Kayden McDonald:“Kayden has really showed how strong he is. He’s probably one of the stronger guys that we have.
You see him doing drills, he’s knocking the coaches back a lot. Coaches are trying to hold bags and be tough guys.
Kayden has done great job of… pic.twitter.com/tR51fLBVEt
The Texans’ tight end room has been a tight battle through camp, and that competition could lead Houston to keep five tight ends on the Week 1 roster. Marlin Klein, Houston’s second-round pick, is in line to survive the cut.
Still, making the team and climbing the depth chart are two different things. Klein has shown promise with his 6-foot-6 frame and catch radius, but he hasn’t separated himself from Brevin Jordan or Foster Moreau.
His impact on offense may take some time.
On the other hand, Nwaiwu’s path has been much murkier from the start. Houston’s investment at both guard spots leaves little room for him to push into the starting five, and camp hasn’t changed that reality much. He looks like a safe bet to make the roster, but unless injuries hit, his regular-season snap count may stay limited.
Wade Woodaz has one of the more memorable moments of camp so far after he stuffed Noah Whittington with a hard tackle that led to a scuffle. That play got attention, but the bigger development for Woodaz is the state of Houston’s linebacker group.
Jake Hansen’s injury and the signing of Sione Takitaki have made the room more interesting, and Woodaz’s chances of winning the LB3 job still look alive. If anything, Takitaki’s arrival may only help reinforce the idea that Woodaz can play a larger role.
The next few weeks will be important for him to keep that momentum going.
Biggest fight of camp happens after Wade Woodaz slams Jawhar Jordan to the ground. Seemed excessive from the rookie. Offense too exemption and push Woodaz pushed scuffle ensued between multiple players.Azeez Al-Shaair was among those who ran on field to break things up.
Kamari Ramsey has already given the Texans a reason to take notice in the secondary. The fifth-round rookie intercepted Davis Mills on the fourth day of practice, one of the sharper defensive plays of camp so far.
That kind of moment helps his case, and it helps that M.J. Stewart started the season on PUP.
Ramsey’s stock is moving in the right direction.
#Texans rookie safety Kamari Ramsey intercepted Davis Mills @KPRC2
Lewis Bond has been making his own case since OTAs and minicamp, and that momentum has carried into training camp. With Lewis Bond and Tank Dell both absent from full-team work, he’s continued to stack strong days in the receiving room. Ryans has noticed too: "Lewis is a guy who's stood out"HC DeMeco Ryans on WR Lewis Bond pic.twitter.com/bKMMthiBAF
Bond may have a hard ceiling in terms of how far he can climb - WR6 feels like a tough target to beat in this crowded room - but his odds of making the 53-man roster keep improving. For a day three pick, that’s real progress.
Aiden Fisher is still in the linebacker mix as well, but Takitaki’s signing doesn’t help his position nearly as much as it helps Woodaz’s. Fisher still has a path to the 53-man roster and could wind up on the practice squad, but with nine linebackers on the 90-man roster, he has work to do if he wants to stay in the conversation.
In Other News...
Texans Send Clear Message With Latest Running Back Move
The Texans kept casting a wide net for backfield help during training camp, bringing in veteran running backs Alexander Mattison and Hassan Haskins for workouts as they look to shore up a position behind David Montgomery. Houston already has a proven starter in place, but the team is clearly interested in making sure the depth chart can withstand the grind of a full season.
Mattison brings six years of NFL experience and is trying to find a fresh landing spot after recovering from a serious injury last season, while Haskins offers another experienced body in a room that could still use reinforcement. For Houston, the move signals a practical approach to camp roster building, with the focus now on whether one of those veterans can turn a workout into a real opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Camp Shakeup Is Already Changing Houstons Depth Chart
One week into Texans training camp, the roster already looks a little different than it did when practice opened. Injuries have knocked out several important special teams pieces in Jaylin Noel, Jake Hansen and M.J. Stewart, while veteran receiver Justin Watson has been pushed into a more visible role. At the same time, Houston has added defensive help in Mario Edwards, Sione Takitaki and Jadeveon Clowney, giving the front seven a different look as the staff keeps sorting through the early layers of the roster.
The early camp churn has also created winners and losers beyond the obvious injury fallout. Watsons rise is one of the clearest developments so far, while players such as Keylan Rutledge and Jake Hummel have seen their standing slip over the first week. It is still early, but these first few practices have already started to shape how the Texans may line up once the real competition for jobs begins to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
DeMeco Ryans Has Texans Fans Dreaming Bigger Than Just Defense
The Texans have built their identity around a defense that can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone, and thats a big reason the buzz around DeMeco Ryans keeps growing. With Derek Stingley Jr., Jalen Pitre, Azeez Al-Shaair, Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr. and Jadeveon Clowney all giving the unit a hard edge, Houston has become one of the leagues harder teams to deal with on that side of the ball. CBS Sports Zachary Pereles ranked Ryans No. 9 among NFL head coaches and called the Texans defense world-class, which lines up with how this team has been viewed after winning at least 10 games in each of Ryans three seasons.
Still, the interesting part is how much higher the ceiling could go if Houstons offense catches up to the standard the defense has set. Ryans standing could climb even further with postseason success, but the bigger picture for the Texans is whether they can turn a dominant defensive foundation into something more complete. For a team already known for toughness and structure, the next step is less about proving the defense is real and more about finding out how far the rest of the roster can carry that advantage. [Read more 🡒]