Houston Texans 53-man roster projection: With preseason complete, who will make the team?
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The preseason is over, and by Sunday at 5 p.m., the Houston Texans roster will be cut down to 53 players.
Here's our final roster projection (* - practice squad candidate):
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Offense
Quarterback (2)
Projected starter: C.J. Stroud
Projected depth: Davis Mills
Projected cut: Brett Rypien*
IR:Graham Mertz
Analysis: Rypien did nothing to help his case to make the roster. He may be a practice squad player for the Texans unless they look elsewhere.
Running backs (4)
Projected starter: David Montgomery
Projected depth: Woody Marks, Jawhar Jordan, British Brooks
Projected cuts: Noah Whittington*, Owen Wright*, Deuce Vaughn
IR: Joshua Pitsenberger
Analysis: The Texans have dealt with a ton of injuries at running back in recent weeks. But Montgomery, Marks, Jordan and Brooks seem like the logical locks, with Whittington returning for the practice squad.
Receiver Lewis Bond could end up sticking on the 53-man roster after being a sixth-round draft pick in the spring. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)Wide receivers (6)
Projected starters: Nico Collins, Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel
Projected depth: Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Lewis Bond
Projected cuts: Jared Wayne*, Josh Kelly*, Sterling Shepard, Justin Watson, Treyvhon Saunders, Daniel Sobkowicz, Zay Jones
Analysis: Coach DeMeco Ryans said it best. The Texans have too many receivers worthy of making the roster than they have space for. Having said that, the Texans could still cut someone and bring them back after they've made their IR selections.
Tight ends (4)
Projected starters: Dalton Schultz
Projected depth: Marlin Klein, Foster Moreau, Cade Stover
Projected cuts: Brevin Jordan, Layne Pryor*, Louis Hansen
Analysis: Jordan was expected to give Stover a run for his money, but he hasn't been available in camp and that will hurt him.
Offensive tackles (4)
Projected starters: Aireontae Ersery, Trent Brown
Projected depth: Braden Smith, Blake Fisher
Projected cuts: Jarrett Kingston*, Derrick Graham, Sam Hagen
Analysis: The Texans like their depth at tackle, and should keep four even if they think they can trade one down the line. Brown and Smith have often been injured throughout their careers.
Jarrett Patterson's spot on the offensive line could be in jeopardy. (David J. Phillip/Associated Press)Guards (4)
Projected starters: Keylan Rutledge, Ed Ingram
Projected depth: Wyatt Teller, Febechi Nwaiwu
Projected cut: Jarrett Patterson*, James Neal III
Analysis: The Texans decided not to play Rutledge, Ingram or Teller on Friday, which means their spots are solidified. But Patterson played the entire final preseason game, which could mean his days as a Texans player are numbered. He could, however, be brought back for the practice squad if he doesn't decide to move on.
Center (1)
Projected starters: Evan Brown
Projected depth: N/A
Projected cut: Jake Andrews*, Eli Cox
Analysis: Brown solidified his spot as the starter over the past two weeks by putting up good film and being reliable. Rutledge can back him up at center, if needed, while Andrews, who played Friday, may return to the practice squad.
Solomon Byrd is in a fierce battle to earn the Texans' last edge rusher spot. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)Defense
Edge rushers (4)
Projected starters: Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter
Projected depth: Jadeveon Clowney, Logan Hall
Projected cut: Sabastian Harsh*, Solomon Byrd*, Dominique Robinson
IR: Dylan Horton, Ali Gaye
Analysis: Byrd became the latest Texans edge rusher to suffer an injury, though it doesn't appear to be serious. Harsh made a phenomenal last impression, but was it good enough to sustain his spot on the roster? It's possible the Texans could bring him or Byrd back after the initial 53-man roster is set.
Defensive tackles (5)
Projected starters: Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai
Projected depth: Kayden McDonald, Mario Edwards, Naquan Jones
Projected cut: Dominic Bailey, Kyonte Hamilton*
Analysis: The Texans have a deep defensive tackle room, especially with Logan Hall's preference to play defensive tackle over edge rusher. The Texans could trade Jones, who has played well in the preseason, to another team looking for defensive tackle help. Other teams have made inquiries, a league source told the Chronicle. But for now, he makes it.
Rookie linebacker Aiden Fisher has had a solid camp but might be victim to a numbers game when it comes to the 53-man roster. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)Linebackers (6)
Projected starters: Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To'oTo'o
Projected depth: Wade Woodaz, Jake Hummel, Jamal Hill, Jake Hansen
Projected cuts: Aiden Fisher*, Caleb Johnson*
PUP list: E.J. Speed
Analysis: Hill made a strong impression in his final preseason game with four tackles, while forcing two incomplete passes. Ryans said he likes how he's grown since making the conversion to linebacker. Fisher barely misses the cut while returning for the practice squad.
Cornerbacks (4)
Projected starters: Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter
Projected depth: Jaylin Smith, Tremon Smith
Projected cuts: Collin Wright*, Bryce Hall*, Stephen Hall
Analysis: It's unfortunate Wright hasn't participated in several weeks. He was likely on his way to make the team. But at least the Texans could bring him back to the practice squad, where they'd be able to get another look at him.
Safeties (4)
Projected starters: Calen Bullock, Reed Blankenship
Projected depth: Kamari Ramsey, George Odum
Projected cuts: Kaevon Merriweather*, Ja'Marcus Ingram
PUP list: M.J. Stewart
Analysis: Odum stood out to Ryans in the preseason finale against the Panthers, and may have done enough to make the roster, while Merriweather likely hurt his status.
Nickel (2)
Projected starters: Jalen Pitre
Projected depth:Alijah Huzzie
Projected cut: Brandon Codrington
Analysis: Huzzie has performed well throughout the preseason at nickel and during camp. And while Codrington has the special-teams experience, it may not be enough to surpass Huzzie.
Specialists (3)
Projected starters: K Ka'imi Fairbairn, P Kai Kroeger, LS Austin Brinkman
Analysis: Kroeger was OK in his final preseason game. But it appears the Texans are satisfied with his play throughout the preseason.
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