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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Dave Kluge, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
C.J. Stroud and the Texans' first-team offense finished camp on a positive note during the joint practice with Carolina. Stroud moved the offense effectively in team periods, including a touchdown drive that featured a strong connection with rookie Jaylin Noel. The Texans ultimately sat their starters in Friday's preseason finale, leaving Davis Mills and Brett Rypien to handle most of the quarterback work. Mills struggled in limited action, completing just 3 of 7 passes for 18 yards and an interception, while Rypien went 13-for-23 for 101 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Houston kept Stroud and Mills on the 53-man roster and released Rypien, settling the quarterback situation heading into Week 1.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
The biggest surprise in this group was Jawhar Jordan's release. Jordan had been expected by some projections to make the roster after becoming a useful contributor late last season, and he had remained in the competition behind David Montgomery and Woody Marks. Instead, Houston kept just three backs: Montgomery, Marks and British Brooks. Jordan's injury history appears to have worked against him, while his lack of a major special-teams role made it harder to justify keeping him on a three-man unit. Noah Whittington and Deuce Vaughn were also released. Marks, meanwhile, continued to look like a legitimate complement to Montgomery throughout camp, reinforcing the idea that Houston could use the two backs in something approaching a 50-50 split.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
The receiver room saw the biggest change in the final week. After Jayden Higgins' season-ending ACL injury, Houston traded for Kayshon Boutte, who enters the regular-season roster as the most obvious candidate to take over the No. 2 role behind Nico Collins. Jaylin Noel also finished camp strongly, scoring during the joint practice with Carolina and repeatedly showing the explosiveness that made him one of Houston's more intriguing young players. The final roster decision was aggressive: Houston kept only five receivers, placing Tank Dell on injured reserve. Sixth-round pick Lewis Bond, despite an impressive camp that included two touchdowns against the Raiders, was also surprisingly cut.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Marlin Klein continued his strong finish to camp during the final joint practice with Carolina, catching a touchdown and giving Houston another reason to keep the rookie on the roster. Klein ultimately made the 53 alongside Dalton Schultz, Foster Moreau and Cade Stover. The preseason finale didn't provide much additional information at the position, but Klein's roster spot is significant — he went from competing for a backup role to earning one of four available spots, and his play during the final week suggests Houston could find ways to get him involved early in the season.
Preseason Updates: Defense
The Texans' defense was the biggest story of the final week. During the joint practice with Carolina, Houston's pass rush overwhelmed the Panthers, producing seven sacks, with Danielle Hunter credited with five would-be sacks. Liam Anderson Jr. and Jadeveon Clowney were also disruptive, reinforcing the sense that Houston's defensive front could be the team's biggest strength. The preseason finale provided one last opportunity for players fighting for the bottom of the roster, and Sabastian Harsh made the most of it, recording a sack and four pressures against Carolina before earning a spot on the 53. The final roster retains the core of the defense, including Anderson, Hunter, Clowney, Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, and Jalen Pitre, and if the final joint practice is any indication, the pass rush remains the unit to watch.
Preseason Updates: Returners
Jaylin Noel ranked fifth in the NFL in total returns last year and will reprise his role for Houston in 2026.
Updates from Week 3
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
C.J. Stroud has had an up-and-down preseason from a practice standpoint, but he had one of his better days this week in joint practices against the Raiders, finishing 11-for-13 for 128 yards and two touchdowns in one of the early sessions between the two teams. Following the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins, Stroud must focus on finding a new dependable pass-catching option outside of Nico Collins, given that the Texans do not want to enter the season without depth behind their top wide receiver beyond Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard. In the preseason game itself, Stroud went 4-for-6 on his only two drives before giving way to Davis Mills, who posted a solid, if unspectacular, 11-for-15 line for 93 yards and no scores. Midday Monday, help was on the way as the team traded for Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Head coach DeMeco Ryans noted how impressed he was with the running game in joint practices with the Raiders, saying the backs "did a really nice job, the way they ran the ball, physical, low pad level, really finishing runs." Both David Montgomery and Woody Marks had strong weeks against the Raiders, producing chunk runs throughout joint practices. While Montgomery has carried the lead workload signal in multiple practices this month, Marks has drawn close enough that the two are projected to operate in what is expected to be a bit less than a 50-50 workload split. In the preseason game against Las Vegas, Marks took four carries for 37 yards and a touchdown, further cementing his ability to run hard. Behind the two top options, depth has recently become a concern, with Jawhar Jordan sidelined with a hip flexor injury and British Brooks still out with a hand injury, leaving the Texans likely needing to add another back in free agency.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Following Jayden Higgins' season-ending ACL injury, the Texans have focused chiefly on replacing the second-year receiver's projected production, though a clear answer has not yet emerged as the team continues to explore all options, including expanded roles for Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel. To that end, on Monday, the team added help via trade in New England's Kayshon Boutte. One of the biggest question marks remains: when will Tank Dell be fully integrated into the starting offense after practicing for the first time in nearly two years this training camp? Jon Alexander notes that Dell is not expected to be ready for Week 1, placing added importance on Nico Collins' shoulders in the interim. Keep an eye on sixth-round rookie Lewis Bond, who continues to have a strong camp and caught two touchdowns inside the red zone against the Raiders' second-team defense.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Another week of practice has reinforced that there are few surprises in the tight end room: it is Dalton Schultz, and then it is everyone else. Schultz figures to be a beneficiary of the Higgins situation and could add meaningfully to his target share as the next best option available for extra run in the passing game. Behind Schultz, rookie Marlin Klein is staking a claim to the second spot previously occupied by Foster Moreau, adding three catches for 31 yards in the preseason game against the Raiders and continuing to impress in camp; Klein noted how comfortable he is now with a few weeks of training camp behind him.
Preseason Updates: Defense
The Texans' defense had a strong week against the Raiders in joint practices, with Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, and Jadeveon Clowney each recording sacks of both Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza. The secondary also stood out, with Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre each recording a pick-six during Tuesday's session, continuing a trend of the Texans' defensive front and secondary making life difficult for opposing offenses this preseason.
Preseason Updates: Offensive Line
RG Ed Ingram is the leader of this group. Former Colts right tackle Braden Smith is battling for his starting job against Trent Brown. Smith played poorly in Week 1 of the preseason against the Chargers but had a much better showing against the Raiders. Still, it might not be enough to hold off Brown, who has apparently recaptured his Pro Bowl form. They check in at 30th overall, but fantasy owners should not be worried. They are underrated in the short term due to massive change. They should be a cusp top-20 line by Week 5, assuming full health.
Updates from Week 2
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
This was a quieter week on the quarterback front — at least until the preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers. C.J. Stroud followed a week of explosive strikes mixed with a couple of interceptions with more of the same, linking up with Xavier Hutchinson and Nico Collins on multiple deep-shot completions. The highlight of the week was Stroud finding David Montgomery down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown pass in what has been the longest play of training camp so far for the offense. Once the Chargers game arrived, the plan was for Davis Mills to play a couple of series at most, with third-stringer Graham Mertz getting the bulk of the opportunities to show he could stick as the scout-team quarterback this season. That plan was derailed, however, when Mertz was injured in non-contact fashion on a second-quarter scramble — later confirmed as a torn ACL, and not the same knee he injured while at Florida. The Texans immediately signed journeyman Brett Rypien, who will replace Mertz in the short term.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
None of the top three backs suited up for the Texans in the first preseason game, as David Montgomery, Woody Marks and Jawhar Jordan all got a breather. Montgomery was the star of early-week practice, linking up with Stroud for the 80-yard touchdown catch that had him weaving along the sideline. However, don't pencil Montgomery in as the clear bell-cow back just yet. As Jane Slater reported a few weeks ago, Marks and Montgomery could split carries and some passing work, and so far in camp that dynamic has been backed up by Marks logging a stellar training camp. Jordan continues to have a solid camp that appears to have him locked in as the Texans' third running back. In the preseason game against the Chargers, undrafted rookies Noah Whittington and Joshua Pitsenberger led the backfield. Neither scored, but both had a couple of decent runs. Pitsenberger was injured later in the game and was placed on the injured reserve list.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins are set in stone as the top two receivers for this Texans team — that much is clear. With the release of the team's unofficial depth chart earlier this week, however, the name at the third spot stood out: Xavier Hutchinson. The fifth-year receiver out of Iowa State — the same program that produced Higgins and Jaylin Noel — has been an under-the-radar camp star, catching multiple deep shots from Stroud. His hold on that spot should not be considered solidified, given that the Texans also like Noel and Tank Dell as smaller slot options who play the same role Hutchinson typically operates from. Still, Hutchinson is putting in a strong claim, and his run-blocking ability should help his cause. In the Chargers game, rookie Lewis Bond and veteran Jared Wayne both had solid showings and should be considered the third-string receivers in this offense.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
This remains Dalton Schultz's position group, and then everyone else. The big story this week was how well 2025 second-round pick Marlin Klein looked in the preseason game. A throw from Mills to Klein was a strong example of Klein's ability to get behind the defense, and though the former Michigan tight end appeared as the fifth option on the unofficial depth chart, that ranking should rise quickly over the next couple of weeks as he continues to impress both as a blocker and a route runner. Foster Moreau was an interesting offseason signing and saw playing time against the Chargers, but drew zero targets, leaving the backup spot behind Schultz very much up for grabs among Moreau, Klein, and Cade Stover. Brevin Jordan remains sidelined with a knee injury and is now a cut candidate.
Preseason Updates: Defense
The defense continues to look strong, particularly as Jadeveon Clowney reacclimates to the organization that drafted him with the first overall pick in 2014. Danielle Hunter continues to have an outstanding camp, as does cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who recorded yet another interception this week, this one off Stroud. The starting defensive unit did not see much playing time against the Chargers, but all signs point to this group being one of the team's most reliable units heading into the regular season.
Preseason Updates: Returners
Jaylin Noel was able to win both kickoff and punt returns as a rookie last year, finishing the season 5th in the NFL in total return opportunities despite Tremon Smith also rotating in on kickoff returns. Both players are set to reprise their roles in 2026.
Updates from Week 1
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
The Texans enter 2026 with one goal: get C.J. Stroud looking more consistent after an up-and-down 2025 season that saw him lose control of the football too often down the stretch. HC DeMeco Ryans noted: "What I'm seeing show up is just a guy who's confident in what he's doing." Stroud has looked more composed and natural in his movements so far — most importantly, he is taking care of the ball better, with no fumbles through camp. On the backup side, Davis Mills hasn't had the greatest camp, throwing a couple of interceptions, but he's doing enough to stay ahead of Graham Mertz, who is struggling with overthrows and bad picks.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
The Texans acquired David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions this offseason for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick; a meaningful investment. Montgomery has responded by getting into "the best shape of his life" (we know, we know) and is having a solid camp as he looks to be the undisputed top back this season. Texans insider Aaron Wilson notes that Montgomery is making an impact both in the locker room and on the field, and "while Woody Marks will still have a good role, including catching passes, some carries and on kickoff returns, Montgomery is the primary running back and the centerpiece of a revamped running game." Marks, the second-year back, is having a solid camp with several double-digit yardage runs and flashing in the passing game. This group is not yet solidified, however. Third-year back Jawhar Jordan is having a breakout camp after a 2025 season in which he recorded his first regular-season start and his first 100-yard game in Week 15.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
It's Jayden Higgins' world, and we're all living in it. Not only is Higgins the star of Texans training camp, but the second-year wide receiver might be the star of all training camps across the league right now. Higgins has scored multiple touchdowns, and fellow receiver Nico Collins went so far as to call him a "future face of the franchise," which can only bode well. Higgins has looked impressive catching both short and deep balls from all three quarterbacks. Collins, meanwhile, has had a quiet camp. Nothing alarming, but the emergence of Higgins as a major deep threat appears to be blunting his opportunities somewhat. Among the other starters, both Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell have made headlines. Noel started camp on the PUP list with a non-football injury, but coaches stressed it was nothing serious, and he is out there and ready for a strong second season. Dell is the real story. Many thought he would never play again following his gruesome 2024 dislocated knee that required multiple surgeries. He was recently activated and has shown flashes of the receiver many thought could be a top-15 fantasy option in his rookie year. Ryans noted how explosive Dell looked and how good it was to have him back, while stressing the team is still not rushing him.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Dalton Schultz helms this tight end room, and nothing looks close to changing through two weeks of camp. Schultz is having a fine, if unspectacular, camp. New addition Foster Moreau arrived in free agency and called Stroud's arm talent "exceptional, some of the best I've been able to play with." Moreau figures to play a blocking role while also contributing as a receiver. On the outside looking in is veteran Brevin Jordan, who has missed back-to-back seasons with knee injuries. Jordan had a strong OTAs and minicamp but has missed several camp practices and could be on the chopping block.
Preseason Updates: Defense
The Texans' defense is coming off what may be its most complete season yet, ranking first in total yards allowed per game, second in overall team defense, and third in turnovers forced. The standard in Houston has risen to elite, with DC Matt Burke stating plainly: "We are chasing perfection defensively." The defensive line figures to be dominant again, and Danielle Hunter has largely held his own going up against first-round guard Keylan Rutledge. The Texans also signed veteran Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal. In the secondary, the defensive backs have feasted on Texans quarterbacks, forcing numerous incompletions and several interceptions from Stroud, Mertz, and Mills alike. Undrafted rookie cornerback Collin Wright has stood out with an interception of Stroud and drawn praise from All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr.