Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s supporting cast this season includes new running back David Montgomery (32) and a revamped offensive line.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Training camp began just a week ago for the Houston Texans, but it feels like so much has happened in that time.
From Jadeveon Clowney’s signing, to six training camp practices and much more, it’s been a whirlwind.
You guys asked a ton of questions this week. I can answer but so much. So if I didn’t answer your question, please let me know and I’ll prioritize you in the next mailbag. To ask a question, message me on X, send me an email at jonathan.alexander@houstonchronicle.com or use the form below.
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Let’s get to your questions, which may be edited for brevity and/or clarity:
Q: Do you foresee WR Lewis Bond further separating himself from the pack in pursuit of securing WR4-WR6 anytime soon? Or is it a matter of overhyping training camp highlights?
Q: Do you believe that Jawhar Jordan is on his way to solidifying his place as the RB3 (at worst) of this team? — Clayton Anderson
JMA: We should be mindful we’re in the early stages of training camp with only two padded practices. Bond has made several nice catches, but he is behind several receivers I wouldn’t expect him to pass this season.
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It’s hard to imagine he’d be higher than wide receiver No. 6 by the end of camp.
We’re talking about established receivers in Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell — all of whom are expected to have significant roles on this team.
Bond is currently either wide receiver No. 6 or 7, depending on what the coaching staff is prioritizing when it comes to him and Justin Watson. Watson is a key special-teams player.
As for Jordan, he is clearly the No. 3 running back. His experience with the Texans, having started two games, certainly helps him. But he’s actually excelled during this training camp against the second-team defense.
He’s easily been one of the standouts.
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Q: What do you think the backfield split will look like this season if both David Montgomery and Woody Marks are healthy all year? — Fantasy Tags
JMA: David Montgomery is expected to be the starter while Woody Marks will spell him. That doesn’t mean Montgomery will get all the carries, or most of them every week.
I’d expect the Texans to feed the hot hand, or whomever is having success that week. The two running backs have different skill sets, so the Texans can use them in different ways depending on the situation.
For instance, Montgomery has a knack for the end zone. I’d expect he’d be in on goal-line situations. And Marks has some explosion to his game, with an ability to catch passes out of the backfield. So I wouldn’t put a number on their touches because it’ll be game-dependent.
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Q: Based on how this offense is looking, how would you like us to attack the Bills in Week 1? What are our favorable matchups? — Jim Hughes
JMA: I don’t have an opinion on how I’d like the Texans to attack the Bills.
What I think they’ll do, though, is use the run to open up things in the passing game, as opposed to the opposite.
DeMeco Ryans was open early in camp that the Texans have the ability to run 12 and 13 personnel this season, meaning they’ll have a lot of two- and three-tight end sets, giving them the ability to better disguise what they want to do. That wasn’t the case when they ran their jumbo package.
But their offense will be largely geared toward establishing the run, which could play in their favor against Buffalo, as they want to give as few chances to Josh Allen as possible.
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I’m not as familiar with the Bills’ defense this season, but I do know they were No. 1 against the pass in 2025, but were among the bottom teams in the league at stopping the run.
Tank Dell has mostly worked off to the side during the early days of training camp as he works his way back from a severe knee injury suffered late in the 2024 season.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Q: Will Tank Dell start when healthy? And how much run will he get? Will they move him full time to slot? —KO
JMA: I understand where this is coming from, but it’s genuinely impossible to answer this question without seeing him practice in full.
What I will say is it’s hard to imagine he’ll start the season on the depth chart ahead of Collins, Higgins, Noel and Hutchinson. Could he pass Noel and Hutchinson? Sure.
But I’d imagine it’d take some time for Dell to get adjusted. He hasn’t played real football in 1 ½ years. Offensive coordinator Nick Caley will figure it out.
Q: Offensive line and C.J. Stroud. How much different are they than last year? — Toro’s Revenge Tour
Q: How is C.J. Stroud looking this year in training camp as opposed to last year? — Jason
JMA: Through one week of practice, I see a more poised offensive line and Stroud. Defenses would often speed Stroud up.
But I’ve seen him have a little more time in the pocket and make plays. That was certainly the case in Tuesday’s practice, when he connected on all of his passes. Stroud is also being supported by a better running game.
If this running game can have success, then you won’t see Houston in as many third-and-longs, which has been an Achilles’ heel for this team.
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said something interesting when I asked him his thoughts on the offense. He said he and Stroud were having a conversation after practice Tuesday and they both agreed that this has been the most competitive training camp between the offense and defense that they’ve ever been a part of. One day the defense has a good day, one day it’s even, and one day the offense has a good day.
But they’ve got to sustain this over the course of camp.
Q: How’s Jaylin Smith doing? — Young Thanos
JMA: Smith, who missed most of the 2025 season with a leg injury, has been solid. He hasn’t done anything negative that has stood out. And he made an impressive play deflecting a pass in one-on-ones Tuesday.
He’s on track to be cornerback No. 3.
Guard/center Keylan Rutledge (66), the Texans’ first-round draft pick, has impressed so far in training camp.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Q: Who’s the starting offensive line in week 1? — Pranav
JMA: Obviously a lot can and will happen between now and Week 1.
But my projection from left to right is Aireontae Ersery, Wyatt Teller, Keylan Rutledge, Ed Ingram and Braden Smith.
Smith might be a surprise to some given the fact that Trent Brown, the incumbent, hasn’t made mistakes in camp.
But Smith has played well since the pads have come on. And the Texans signed him to a healthy contract with the expectation that he would become the starter. I’m not saying it’s set in stone, or that’s how it will look by Week 18, but I do think Smith is the starter at right tackle initially.
Q: Now that edge depth has been filled, do you think there’s any position that needs adding to? — K Harrington
JMA: Backup edge rusher was the biggest position that needed filling. At this point, adding anything else would be a luxury.
But if there was one position they could add, it’s linebacker. With E.J. Speed suffering a quad injury, and Jake Hansen having a foot injury, the Texans have lost a lot of experience with those two guys.
Brevin Jordan and Cade Stover (8), both coming off injuries in 2025, are part of the competition at tight end.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Q: I’d like your insight on the tight end room. I like what I have heard so far, but I know someone isn’t making the 53. — Mr. Optimistic
Q: Can you rank the tight end group in order? — Dat Boy Live
JMA: It’s going to be a tough battle between the top five tight ends, because honestly, all of them have performed fairly well up until this point.
I also wouldn’t put it past the Texans to keep five. They all provide different skill sets. Dalton Schultz is one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league. Brevin Jordan is a good pass catcher. Foster Moreau’s specialty is run blocking. So is Cade Stover’s. And Marlin Klein projects to do both in the future.
Having said that, I’d expect they’d keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster. And if I ranked them today, it would be Schultz, Jordan, Moreau, Stover and Klein.
Even though Klein is No. 5, he won’t be cut as he was their second-round pick. That leaves Stover as the odd man out. But again, so much can happen between now and cut day.
Q: Who have been the studs at camp? — Ed Helinski
JMA: I’ll give you four not-so-obvious names: Wide receiver Jayden Higgins, running back Jawhar Jordan, cornerback Collin Wright and guard Keylan Rutledge. All four have been turning heads.
Q: I’m curious to know where Fabechi Nwaiwu stands a few days into camp and whether he’s gotten any looks at C? — Sean
JMA: I think he’s done a good job. He’s run mostly with the second and third teams. I haven’t focused on him much during camp, but he’ll be one of their primary backups at both spots this season.
Q: How is Wyatt Teller looking? — Aldo Raine
JMA: He’s a veteran with good leadership, and he’s handled the position change from right guard to left guard well. I think adding him was a good move for Houston.