Texans receiver Tank Dell, still recovering from a severe knee injury suffered nearly two years ago, will begin the season on injured reserve.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
The Houston Texans released their initial 53-man roster Sunday evening, and it wasn’t without a few surprises.
The Texans cut one of their draft picks while several undrafted rookies made it. They also traded for Cowboys tackle Nathan Thomas, and traded Jarrett Patterson to the 49ers.
Here are a half-dozen thoughts on the roster:
Article continues below this ad
Tank Dell to begin year on IR
Dell’s journey to the field might take a little longer than expected. The Texans are placing him on injured reserve with a designation to return, which means he’ll miss the first four games of the season.
He won’t be eligible to return until Oct. 11, when the Texans play the Titans in Week 5.
Dell initially suffered a major knee injury in December 2024 where he tore his ACL, MCL, LCL and other ligaments. He returned to practice for the first time since that injury earlier this month.
Article continues below this ad
But he wasn’t ready yet. Dell missed the final five practices of training camp, including the joint practice with the Carolina Panthers last week. He did not play in any of the three preseason games. Beginning the year on IR will allow him more time to get to full strength.
When healthy, Dell was one of quarterback C.J. Stroud’s favorite targets. He was on pace for a 1,000-yard season during his rookie year before a season-ending leg injury. In two seasons, he has 98 catches for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns.
A thin wide receiver corps
The Texans plan to carry just five wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster, which was a bit of a surprise considering the injuries the Houston has had at the position in recent years.
One injury could have the Texans gasping for air. But it’s likely the Texans add a receiver on the waiver wire.
Article continues below this ad
The receivers the Texans kept were Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel and Jared Wayne.
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks (2)
C.J. Stroud
Davis Mills
Running backs (3)
David Montgomery
Woody Marks
British Brooks
Wide receivers (5)
Nico Collins
Xavier Hutchinson
Kayshon Boutte
Jaylin Noel
Jared Wayne
Tight ends (4)
Dalton Schultz
Foster Moreau
Marlin Klein
Cade Stover
Offensive line (12)
Aireontae Ersery
Trent Brown
Blake Fisher
Braden Smith
Nathan Thomas
Keylan Rutledge
Ed Ingram
Wyatt Teller
Febechi Nwaiwu
Evan Brown
Jake Andrews
Sam Hagen
Defense
Defensive line (9)
Will Anderson Jr.
Danielle Hunter
Jadeveon Clowney
Sabastian Harsh
Sheldon Rankins
Tommy Togiai
Kayden McDonald
Mario Edwards Jr.
Logan Hall
Linebackers (6)
Azeez Al-Shaair
Henry To’oTo’o
Jake Hansen
Wade Woodaz
Aiden Fisher
Jake Hummel
Defensive backs (9)
Derek Stingley Jr.
Kamari Lassiter
Jaylin Smith
Tremon Smith
Collin Wright
Jalen Pitre
Reed Blankenship
Calen Bullock
Kamari Ramsey
Special teams
Specialists (3)
Ka’imi Fairbairn
Kai Kroeger
Austin Brinkman
Only three running backs
The Texans opted to keep just three running backs on the roster this year. They were David Montgomery, Woody Marks and British Brooks, who has made the team in each of the past three seasons.
The Texans kept five running backs last season, so it’s possible they could look to the waiver wire to add another back. But for now, they are going with just three.
Article continues below this ad
Receiver Lewis Bond had a strong training camp, but his lack of special-teams play may have kept him off the 53-man roster.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Surprise cuts?
Perhaps biggest one that stood out was receiver Lewis Bond, which the Chronicle first reported. Bond was a sixth-round pick and had performed well throughout training camp.
Unfortunately, he had little special-teams value, which likely hurt his chances. He did return punts during the preseason, but he muffed a punt in Friday’s preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers. Bond could return to the team on the practice squad.
Article continues below this ad
Another surprise cut was third-year running back Jawhar Jordan.
Jordan had been one of the standouts early in camp and looked poised to be the No. 3 running back. But he suffered a hip injury before the preseason opener and missed all three games.
Jordan had the Texans’ first 100-yard rushing game last season. Staying healthy, though, has been one of his issues. He could also return to the practice squad.
An undrafted free agent, cornerback Collin Wright beat the odds to make the Texans’ 53-man roster.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Three undrafted rookies make team
Three undrafted rookies made the Texans’ initial 53-man roster: cornerback Collin Wright, offensive lineman Sam Hagen and edge rusher Sabastian Harsh.
Undrafted rookies making the Texans’ roster hasn’t been common in the DeMeco Ryans era. His teams have often been deep.
But Wright and Harsh both outplayed their competition. Hagen making the team was perhaps the biggest surprise of all the cuts.
He struggled mightily in the final preseason game, giving up two sacks in the first half while he played at tackle. But his position versatility might be a reason he made the team. Not only does he play tackle, but he also plays center and guard.
He could also be a casualty on the waiver wire if the Texans look for help there. Wright and Harsh both could be mainstays on the roster, however.
Harsh regularly won his matchups in the final preseason game against the Panthers. And Wright had been a regular playmaker before his injury against the Chargers in the preseason opener.
Could Texans trade a tackle?
Braden Smith will not begin the year on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury in the joint practice with the Panthers.
It’s an indication that he can return within the first four games of the regular season. But Smith’s place on the roster means the Texans will enter the year with five offensive tackles — including Thomas, who was acquired Sunday in a trade with the Cowboys.
Last year, they began the year with just three tackles after trading Cam Robinson for a seventh-round pick.
It’s possible the Texans do the same this year. Tackles often fetch draft compensation, and Ryans has been highly complimentary of Blake Fisher’s growth this offseason.