The Texans are still pushing to sharpen the roster even with training camp already underway, and this latest look at the running back market says a lot about how Houston is approaching the season.
Before the weekend, the team brought in veteran backs Hassan Haskins and Alexander Mattison for workouts, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, who posted: "Houston tried out veteran RBs Hassan Haskins and Alexander Mattison."
Of the two, Mattison is the name that stands out. Houston Texans on SI writer Jared Koch pointed to the 28-year-old as the more established option, noting that he has spent six seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders and has piled up more than 2,700 rushing yards.
Mattison’s path back has also been shaped by a major setback. Last August, in a preseason game with the Miami Dolphins, he suffered a fractured and dislocated neck that ended his season before it really began. With Houston now giving him a workout, he could be moving toward a return to the league before the 2026 season and a chance to land somewhere about a year after that injury.
The appeal for Houston is straightforward: Mattison is not a rookie trying to figure out the league. He’s already been through it and knows what it takes to hold up on Sundays. For a team that is clearly trying to maximize what it has, that kind of experience matters.
Even with David Montgomery already in place as a strong starter, the Texans are still looking for ways to keep improving. That kind of move speaks to a team that doesn’t want to sit still, especially with what is being described as perhaps its best roster in franchise history set to take the field for 2026.
Adding another reliable back would give Houston more protection heading into Week 1. The current backups are not being labeled as weak links, but the logic is simple enough: every capable option makes the group stronger.
Exactly where Mattison or Woody Marks would fit in the pecking order remains unclear. What is clear is that Houston is continuing to think ahead, and another back would only add more insulation against injury.
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Against Buffalo, that edge looks even more intriguing because the Bills defensive personnel does not naturally match up well with Houstons height at every spot. In the key moments of this matchup, the Texans may have a straightforward way to stress coverage, especially if they are able to line up their bigger targets where defenders have to play through contact and play above the rim. [Read more 🡒]