HOUSTON – As the Texans built their initial 53-man roster, the quality of talent resonated as they worked through some extremely tough decisions.
Ultimately, getting down to the league limit was heavily impacted by a desire to hold onto as many players as possible at their deepest positions and affected by several injury situations that forced them to place players on reserve lists.
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Before the roster moves began, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans reflected Monday on the difficulty of it all.
“The one thing I will say is, it’s tough this year, probably the toughest that it will be and has been for myself because I feel like our team is a very competitive team,” Ryans said. “We got a lot of really great depth, a lot of great guys that you want to keep around. Most of the discussions lie in how can you try to keep as many guys as possible? Not who you’re getting rid of, but how can you keep these guys around? That’s the tough part about it. It’s trying to keep more not, per se, who you’re getting rid of.”
One of the more promising developments for the defending AFC South champions from a big-picture perspective: having veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson start the season on the active roster.
Gardner-Johnson injured his knee during a practice at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, but is making progress in his recovery. He hasn’t practiced, but is working out on the side with trainers. He is eligible to play in the Texans’ season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Whether the instinctive, hard-hitting former Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, acquired in a trade for former first-round guard Kenyon Green, who didn’t make the Eagles’ roster, is ready is undetermined.
Undoubtedly, his positive medical outlook was a factor in releasing safeties Jalen Mills and Russ Yeast and Myles Bryant, who can play safety. The Texans placed rookie safety Jaylon Reed on injured reserve-designated for return with a mild knee sprain. He is out of a brace and running again.
Texans rookie Graham Mertz, a sixth-round draft pick from Florida, beat out Kedon Slovis, who was released, for the third quarterback spot. Mertz had an excellent game against the Detroit Lions, going 14 of 16 with one touchdown pass. Although he struggled against the Minnesota Vikings with three interceptions, Mertz acknowledged he was dealing with nerves in his first game back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament last season.
Among the moves: shifting Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon to the non-football injury list, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season with a foot-ankle injury. The rehab process has been called “tough and complicated” by league sources. There is no clear end in sight for Mixon, who wore a walking boot in the spring, then a lace-up brace, then improved mobility over the summer in private workouts, then saw a podiatrist in Florida that specializes in electromagnetic therapy to break up scar tissue. There is no structural damage issue and the team and Mixon haven’t said much about what’s ailing him. There is concern that he could miss a large chunk of the season.
The Texans are extremely excited about the vast potential of massive, talented rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery. They are expected go with him as their new starting left tackle as the replacement for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who was traded in the offseason to the Washington Commanders.
The overhauled starting line is expected to be comprised of Ersery, left guard Laken Tomlinson, center Jake Andrews, right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Tytus Howard.
Under that scenario with Cam Robinson back from a lower leg injury and not with the first-team offense, exploring a trade makes sense.
There is interest around the league, per league sources, with no trade imminent for Robinson. There were trade discussions with teams, per sources, involving Robinson.
Ultimately, the Texans traded a reserve tackle, Austin Deculus, to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round draft pick.
Robinson’s contract, a maximum value of $14.5 million with a $2 million fully guaranteed base salary, a signing bonus of $8.75 million and $10.75 million total guaranteed, would be smart to unload. It’s an extremely tradeable contract that includes a $500,000 playtime incentive that is reachable along with not likely to be earned Pro Bowl, playtime incentives totaling $2 million.
Second-year right tackle Blake Fisher is dealing with a mild ankle sprain, per a source. He is on the active roster and expected to resume practicing soon, per a source.
Former Pro Bowl tackle Trent Brown was released. He is a candidate for the practice squad, per a source.
Second-year fullback-running back-special teams hammer British Brooks made the 53-man roster again. Brooks is an extremely physical player who excels in kick coverage and can operate as a lead blocker. Jakob Johnson was released despite having been the starting fullback throughout the preseason and offseason and having played for offensive coordinator Nick Caley before. He could rejoin the Texans on the practice squad, per a league source.
Linebacker Jake Hansen made the team again on special teams. He is a steady, fundamentally sound defender and the team kept six linebackers: Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris, E.J. Speed, Henry To’oTo’o, second-year player Jamal Hill and Hansen.
The Texans kept 10 defensive linemen, loading up at one of their deepest positions. That includes defensive ends Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Darrell Taylor, Derek Barnett and Dylan Horton and defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins, Tim Settle Jr., Mario Edwards Jr, Foley Fatukasi and Tommy Togiai.
The Texans released defensive end Solomon Byrd, but, ideally, would like him on their practice squad, per a source.
At running back without Mixon, the Texans are led by four-time Pro Bowl runner Nick Chubb, who’s regaining some of his old form, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and rookie Woody Marks. They cut Jawhar Jordan, but he could be signed to the practice squad.
On the offensive line, the backups are center-guard Juice Scruggs, center Jake Patterson, Robinson and Fisher.
The Texans, somewhat surprisingly, released tight end Harrison Bryant, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade for wide receiver John Metchie III. They have just two tight ends currently on the active roster in Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover. The Texans are looking for tight ends on the waiver wire and for potential practice squad spots. Rookie tight end Luke Lachey, who was released, is expected to join the practice squad Wednesday if he clears waivers, per a source.
Wide receiver, another deep position, has seven players on the active roster. That includes Pro Bowl selection Nico Collins, veteran slot Christian Kirk, rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, plus an improved Xavier Hutchinson, returner Braxton Berrios and former Kansas City Chiefs backup Justin Watson.
Jalen Pitre is the only pure nickel, and the $42 million man from Stafford High School is expected to play almost every snap. He can also play safety, of course, where he had five interceptions as a rookie. Arthur Maulet, a former Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers starter, was released.
Rookie corner Jaylin Smith has played nickel at USC and could back up Pitre.
The Texans cut veteran long snapper Blake Ferguson. Rookie long snapper Austin Brinkman is expected back for the Rams game after dealing with an oblique injury, per a source.
Besides Mixon on the non-football injury list along with rookie corner Alijah Huzzie, who tore his ACL at the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game, defensive end Denico Autry and defensive tackle Kurt Hinish are on the reserve physically unable to perform list due to knee injuries.
Tight end Irv Smith Jr., who was a contender for the third spot, suffered an ankle injury and is on injured reserve along with wide receiver Juwann Winfree, who broke his hand against the Lions.
Veteran safety Jimmie Ward is on the commissioner-exempt list due to his active legal case in Montgomery County. He is not healthy enough to play, per a source, due to his rehab from foot surgery anyway. Ward has an Aug. 31 grand jury date and his lawyer, Steven Jackson, told KPRC 2 he expects him to be “vindicated” with the case no-billed. Ward also faces a $20 million civil lawsuit filed by attorney Tony Buzbee in Harris County. The case was previously dismissed in Montgomery County and Ward’s son’s mother, the accuser, made similar accusations of domestic and sexual abuse and alleged that Ward was under the influence of methamphetamines.
The Texans released former Las Vegas Raiders first-round cornerback Damon Arnette Jr.
Arnette had an interception in preseason and drew praise from coach DeMeco Ryans for his comeback with the defending AFC South champions after being out of the NFL for years due to personal and legal issues. Arnette could draw interest as a waiver claim. He has previous interest from the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers, per sources. He could also be on the Texans’ practice squad if he clears waivers.
The Texans released cornerback D’Angelo Ross, a top special teams contributor Ross could be back for the practice squad potentially.
The Texans released international defensive tackle Haggai Ndubuisi.
Ndubuisi, previously with the Patriots, Washington Commanders and Denver Broncos is a 6-foot-7, 323-pound native of Lagos, Nigeria. He won’t count against the practice squad limit. He had two sacks in the preseason, leading the team.
Yeast had a solid preseason and could be back for the practice squad.
The Texans released former Utah standout defensive tackle Junior Tafuna. Could see him getting action on waivers. Otherwise, former Senior Bowl player will be a top practice squad candidate.
The Texans released undrafted rookie linebacker K.C. Ossai, the younger brother of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Joseph Ossai. Ossai is expected back for the practice squad if he clears waivers.
The Texans released rookie center Eli Cox, an undrafted player from Kentucky. Cox is a prime candidate to join the Texans’ practice squad if he clears waivers.
The Texans released veteran offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas. He is a strong candidate for the practice squad if former SMU standout clears waivers.
The Texans released veteran linebacker and special teams standout Nick Niemann. His two-year, $6 million contract has $4 million guaranteed with a $1.5 million signing bonus, a $1.5 million fully guaranteed base salary this year and $1 million in guarantees in 2026.
The Texans released wide receiver Daniel Jackson, a rookie from the University of Minnesota who went undrafted. Jackson is a good candidate for the practice squad who caught a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in the final preseason game.
The Texans released veteran wide receiver Quintez Cephus for the second year in a row, per a league source. Cephus caught a touchdown against Detroit, his former NFL employer, in the preseason game. He also had an 18-yard catch and finished with four catches for 51 yards on seven targets.
Cephus is another candidate for the practice squad, as is Jared Wayne, who visited the Texans this week and is healthy again after injuring his hamstring during camp.
Texans’ 53-man roster:
Quarterbacks: C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills, Graham Mertz
Running backs: Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, Woody Marks, British Brooks (fullback)
Offensive tackles: Aireontae Ersery, Tytus Howard, Cam Robinson, Blake Fisher.
Offensive guards: Laken Tomlinson, Ed Ingram, Juice Scruggs
Centers: Jake Andrews, Jarrett Patterson
Tight ends: Dalton Schultz, Cade Stover
Wide receivers: Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Braxton Berrios, Justin Watson
Defensive ends: Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Barnett, Darrell Taylor, Dylan Horton
Defensive tackles: Sheldon Rankins, Mario Edwards, Foley Fatukasi, Tim Settle Jr., Tommy Togiai
Linebackers: Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris, Henry To’oTo’o, E.J. Speed, Jamal Hill, Jake Hansen
Safeties: C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Calen Bullock, M.J. Stewart
Nickel: Jalen Pitre
Cornerbacks: Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, Jaylin Smith, Tremon Smith
Specialists: Ka’imi Fairbairn, Tommy Townsend, Austin Brinkman
Reserve-physically unable to perform list: Denico Autry, Kurt Hinish, Tank Dell (knee injuries)
Injured reserve-designated for return: Jaylen Reed
Season-ending injured reserve: Irv Smith Jr (ankle). Juwann Winfree (broken hand)
Reserve/non-football injury list: Joe Mixon (foot-ankle), Alijah Huzzle (ACL)
Commissioner-exempt list: Jimmie Ward
Released:
HOUSTON Arnette, Damon DB Ohio State (2)* PS: EXC Byrd, Solomon DE Southern California (0)* PS: STND Cox, Eli C Kentucky (0)* PS: STND Partially Guaranteed Contract Henderson, LaDarius G Michigan (0)* PS: STND Jackson, Daniel WR Minnesota (0)* PS: STND Partially Guaranteed Contract Jordan, Jawhar RB Louisville (0)* PS: STND Lachey, Luke TE Iowa (0)* PS: STND Ndubuisi, Haggai Chisom DT No College (0)* PS: STND / INTL Ossai, K.C. LB Louisiana-Lafayette (0)* PS: STND Partially Guaranteed Contract Powell, Cornell WR Clemson (0)* PS: STND Slovis, Kedon QB Brigham Young (0)* PS: STND Tafuna, Junior DT Utah (0)* PS: STND Partially Guaranteed Contract Thomas, Jaylon T Southern Methodist (1)* PS: STND Thomas, Zachary T San Diego State (3)* PS: VET Woodard, Jackson LB Nevada-Las Vegas (0)* PS: STND Yeast, Russ DB Kansas State (2)* PS: EXC
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com