The Texans’ rookie class is about to get its first real test, and Sunday’s matchup with the Buffalo Bills should tell a lot about how quickly this group can matter.
Seven of the eight rookies made the roster, which stands out as a novelty in the Nick Caserio era. Only first-round pick Keylan Rutledge is projected to start, but the rest of the class should still leave fingerprints on the game in different ways. The Monday after the game, there will be a follow-up recapping each rookie’s performance against the key stat tied to his role.
Rutledge, the Round 1 guard, has the biggest spotlight by far. His job is straightforward and brutal: handle Ed Oliver and Deone Walker.
Houston will learn plenty about its first-round pick right away, because the rookie is being thrown into an early, important assignment. He’ll need to mesh quickly with Evan Brown and Aireontae Ersery to help protect C.J.
Stroud.
Kayden McDonald, the Round 2 defensive tackle, is in a very different spot. His preseason work has flown a bit under the radar, even though Houston spent significant draft capital on him.
Being listed as the fifth defensive tackle on the initial depth chart says plenty about where he stands right now. His larger role is expected to come later in the season as he settles into the system, but against Buffalo he’ll be asked to help slow down James Cook and push the Bills into third-and-long situations.
His key stat is run stuffs.
Another second-rounder, tight end Marlin Klein, is being brought along with a clear purpose. He’s expected to help as a blocker and offer the occasional explosive play, but not to carry the passing game in Week One.
One or two catches should be the ceiling for him on Sunday. The real hope is that his work in the run game and on play action helps open things up for offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
His key stat is run blocking grade and explosive plays.
Fourth-round guard Febechi Nwaiwu is in a developmental lane. He is not expected to start, and he may not even be active on game day with the number of linemen Houston kept on the 53-man roster.
If he gets on the field, it should be through special teams. The Texans are clearly taking a slow approach with him, and that could eventually pay off if it helps him build toward a future role at guard.
His key stat is special teams snaps.
Wade Woodaz, also a fourth-round pick, has a more immediate opening because of injuries at linebacker. Jake Hansen is back and practicing, but Woodaz is the one slated to fill the extra linebacker spot in 4-3 sets.
He’s the younger, more athletic option and fits better alongside Henry T0’oTo’o and Azeez Al-Shaair. There’s a real chance he ends up playing the second-most snaps of any Texans rookie against Buffalo.
His key stat is tackles.
Safety Kamari Ramsey, a fifth-rounder, is expected to make his impact on special teams rather than defense. Ideally, he won’t need to be used much on the defensive side as the backup safety. His speed and tackling make him a useful special-teams player on kickoff, return, and punt units, though there is still a chance he’s inactive in favor of more experienced options.
The final two names in the class, sixth-round receiver Lewis Bond and seventh-round linebacker Aiden Fisher, are fighting for roster survival in a different way. Fisher’s role against the Bills is likely to be limited to special teams, if he’s active at all.
The Texans kept six linebackers, and Fisher is the sixth of that group. Most likely, he’ll be among the game-day inactive players.
If he does dress, special teams will be his path onto the field.
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Texans Guard Plan Is Putting Fresh Pressure On The New O-Line
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Nick Caserio said Teller has settled into the new scheme well, and the early expectation is that he will be part of the guard depth rather than an immediate full-time starter. Even so, Houston clearly views him as a player it can lean on if needed, which adds a layer of pressure to the rest of the new-look line as training camp and the season approach. [Read more 🡒]