The Houston Texans, sitting with a 3-1 record this preseason, are caught in a rock and hard place. After sitting starters in the preseason finale win over the Los Angeles Rams, it’s clear there’s an abunance of talent than in year’s past.
This is why trimming down the roster feels impossible. During three-year losing skid, the Texans were struggling to find starters. Now, they’ll cut a handful of names who likely won’t clear waivers to return to the practice since they’ll make another active roster.
Houston must cut its roster down from 90 players (well, 91 counting their International Player Pathway offensive tackle Kilian Zierer) to 53 by 4 PM EST on Tuesday. Names like wide receiver Xavier Hutchnsnon, linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips, and more now find themselves on the bubble waiting to hear their fate.
Some players, like receiver John Metchie III and linebacker defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr., played themselves out of that category with a strong preseason. Metchie proved to be a consistent chain-mover with his six reception day against the New Giants last week. Edwards, a multi-purpose defensive lineman, might have been the most consistent defensive tackle in both practice and with the first-team defense.
Other players impressed and struggled at times, but what’s their status now that practice and come to a close?
Here, we play a game of “In or Out?” to figure out the fate of the 13 players likely closest to the edge of the 53-man roster. Who is in and who is out?