Jawhar Jordan spent nearly two seasons on the Texans’ practice squad before a breakout game late in the 2025 season. Now he’s awaiting his next opportunity.
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Jawhar Jordan stepped on the field for an NFL regular-season game for the first time last December unknown to many fans around the league.
The Houston Texans running back walked off the Reliant Stadium turf a few hours later with one of the better debuts in the franchise’s recent memory.
Jordan rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries, becoming the only Texans player to hit the century mark rushing during the regular season, in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.
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Nearly eight months later, Jordan has emerged as one of the more impressive players through the first week and a half of training camp.
“I don’t think it changed much for me because I was confident enough to know that I can perform that way,” Jordan said of his breakout game. “But it was good to actually show in the game what I can do.”
Houston Texans wide receiver Lewis Bond (82) reaches out for a reception against cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Lewis Bond (82) reaches out for a reception against cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (19) dives to make a catch against cornerback Jaylin Smith (22) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) leaps over cornerback Stephen Hall (41) for a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Montrell Washington (16) comes down with a reception against cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) throws a pass during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) throws a pass during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith (22) breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders (14) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith (22) breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders (14) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Lewis Bond (82) comes down with a reception against safety Jalen Pitre (5) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Josh Kelly makes a catch against cornerback Eljah Huzzie (28) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (19) runs upfield after a catch against cornerback Stephen Hall (41) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) makes a catch against cornerback Jaylin Smith (22) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins runs with the ball after making a catch against cornerback Kamari Lassiter (3) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Josh Kelly (85) leaps for a reception during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans running back David Montgomery (32) makes a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterbacks Davis Mills (10) and Graham Mertz (18) drop back to pass during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterbacks C.J. Stroud (7) and Davis Mills (10) drop back to pass during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans tight end Cade Stover (8) makes a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz eyes a football as he makes a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Jaylen Reed runs a tackling drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock (2) runs a tackling drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock (2) runs a tackling drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock (2) hits a blocking dummy during a drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans linebackers Jake Hummel (33) and K.C. Ossai (52) run a drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (11) hauls in a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter reaches out to make a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Stephen Hall makes a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Collin Wright makes a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock reaches down to pick up a loose ball during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock hits a blocking sled during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Kaevon Merriweather reaches down to pick up a loose ball during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Reed Blankenship (6) hits a blocking sled during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans works with linebacker Wade Wood (30) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (3) and safety Calen Bullock (2) walk to the field during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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Houston Texans linebacker K.C. Ossai hits a goal post pad while doing handwork during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026.
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The Texans selected Jordan in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft out of Louisville, where he earned All-ACC honors in his final season. He spent his rookie year on the practice squad and then most of his second year there as well.
Despite spending nearly two years on the practice squad, Jordan said he didn’t let the designation impact how he viewed himself as a player.
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Houston activated him for its Dec. 14 game versus the Cardinals. After Woody Marks was injured in the first quarter, Jordan rose to the occasion. He became the second Texans player to rush for 100 yards in his debut, joining Ben Tate (116) in 2011.
The Texans won 40-20 for their sixth win in a row, and Jordan’s 50-yard run in the third quarter was a standout moment.
“We saw a consistent guy in training camp that had a great feel for the running game, that could set blocks, that just was steady and consistent,” Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said Saturday of Jordan’s 2025 season. “Throughout the course of the year, he just kept getting better and better. Then he has an opportunity, and he makes the most of it.”
Jordan did say he has seen the coaching staff display more trust in him in the aftermath of his 100-yard game.
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After spending part of the offseason training in Arizona with a former high school coach, Jordan returned to Houston around the Fourth of July. He said last offseason he was bouncing around more often while this year he spent most of his time working with his former coach or working with the training staff in Houston.
Jordan said a big area of growth this offseason was just further developing his understanding and comfort level with Caley’s playbook. These improvements have allowed him to play faster on the field.
“I feel like a lot of people forget that I’m a very talented running back,” Jordan said. “I believe that I can be one of the best running backs in this league.”
Caley said he has seen Jordan, who he noted as someone who is wired the right way, attack this offseason with confidence.
Veteran running back David Montgomery, whom Houston traded for in March, views Jordan as a committed and selfless teammate.
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“You can see his confidence here on the field,” Montgomery said earlier in camp. “He’s a smooth runner, he’s confident and he’s got a smile that’ll light up the room.”
Montgomery and Marks are at the top of the running back depth chart but Jordan appears to be the current frontrunner for the No. 3 role. He is frequently utilized as part of the second team in team drills and has had multiple impressive runs in those settings.
Jordan said he is ready for whatever role the coaches have for him this year and also ready to step up in the moments when the Texans need him again.
“I know another opportunity is going to come,” Jordan said. “When it does, I’ll be ready.”
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