The Texans are heading into Week 1 with Tank Dell set to begin the season on injured reserve, and Nick Caserio made it clear the receiver is moving in the right direction even if he’s not there yet.
“He is close. He is not quite there, which is why he’s in the category that he’s in.
I think we’ll have a better idea with a lot of these guys after four weeks, four games, whatever it is. I’d say he’s definitely closer now than he was let’s say in Training Camp.
There’s a little bit more work that remains. But overall, he’s in pretty good spirits.
There are certain things we just have to see. Some of this too, is honestly for him mentally to make sure he has enough confidence that he can go out there and perform the way he’s capable of, the way he knows how to.”
Houston also kept undrafted DE Sabastian Harsh on the active roster, and DeMeco Ryans said Harsh forced the issue with the way he played.
“Earned his way onto the team, found way to make plays. You see a guy with the motor he has, strength he has, playmaking he has, the talent he has, we’re not going to let a guy like that get away.”
Ryans had similar praise for undrafted CB Collin Wright, pointing to his consistency and his ability to attack the ball.
“Very consistent, never shied away, found a way to make a play on the football. They earned the right to be on the team. Both guys can help us win football games.”
There’s also a new face in the Texans’ receiver room after the team acquired Kayshon Boutte from the Patriots. Boutte said he isn’t taking Mike Vrabel’s comment personally after Vrabel said he would’ve been inactive in New England, and he’s not treating it as “motivation” for Week 1.
On the offensive line, Caserio called G Keylan Rutledge “their best offensive lineman.”
He also explained the thinking behind the trade for OL Nate Thomas from Dallas:
“Coming out, raw player, but good size, strength. Had to block some decent players last year.
He played on both sides. Young player, that one came together pretty quickly Sunday, mid-day, we agreed on Dallas trade, hung up phone then agreed on San Fran trade (Jarrett Patterson), a player Cole (Popovich) like coming out.”
In Jacksonville, the Jaguars added quarterback Quinn Ewers from the Dolphins after the preseason, and GM James Gladstone said the deal came together after they looked at “a couple of different options.”
“We were exploring a couple of different options. Saturday morning was first time we engaged in conversations with Dolphins.”
Gladstone also said the team is comfortable discussing a possible extension with Parker Washington during the regular season. Washington is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Jaguars are “fine” with talking to his camp while the season is underway.
On the injury front, Gladstone said he’s confident right guard Patrick Mekari, who had back surgery, can be activated from injured reserve in Week 4.
In Other News...
Mike McDaniel Is Quietly Rebuilding Part Of Miami In Los Angeles
Theo Wease Jr. barely got a look in Miami before the Dolphins moved on during roster cuts, but he has already found another familiar stop. The wide receiver landed on the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad, putting him back in the orbit of Mike McDaniel, who spent last season trying to sort out the back end of Miamis roster and now seems to be drawing from that same pool in a new place.
It is a small move on paper, but it fits a bigger pattern. McDaniel has brought several former Dolphins players to Los Angeles, a sign that his fingerprints are starting to show on the Chargers offensive personnel choices. For Miami, it is one more reminder that players who were on the fringe here can still have value elsewhere, especially when there is a coach on the other sideline who already knows their skill set. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Bell's Return Could Change One Dolphins Concern Right Away
Chris Bells comeback has moved faster than the Dolphins originally projected, and that alone is notable for a receiver coming off an ACL tear. The teams general manager had expected Bell to be back after the October bye week, but Bell got back on the field in time to practice and even take part in the preseason finale, his first live contact since the injury. For a Miami offense always looking for more answers at receiver, any healthy step forward from Bell matters.
Bell is still working toward full recovery, but the fact that he has already returned to action gives the Dolphins a chance to reassess one of their deeper concerns before the season begins. His goal is to be ready for the regular-season opener, and if he gets there, Miami could have an extra option sooner than expected. The larger question now is how quickly he can translate that progress into real impact once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rookie Class Is Already Forcing A Historic Lineup Shakeup
The Dolphins spent the spring collecting picks, and the early returns have already turned training camp into a sorting exercise. With a league-high 13 selections in the 2026 draft and 12 of those players making the active roster so far, Miami has built a rookie group that is not just filling out the back end of the roster but pushing hard for real jobs right away.
Several of those first-year players are expected to start in the season opener, which puts the Dolphins on the doorstep of some rare franchise company. The bigger question now is not whether this class will matter, but how quickly it can reshape the lineup and whether Miami ends up with a historic number of rookie starters and All-Rookie team selections by season's end. [Read more 🡒]