Rosterology has a serious makeover of the depth after the second preseason game.
Two preseason games down, two to go in the Houston Texans’ slate of games before the 2024 season kicks off. We’ve learned a LOT about the Texans depth and who the coaches prefer at several key positions.
There’s significant overhaul to the projected roster since the first Rosterology, including eight new players identified in bold. First, let’s go through the bubble players and see who has moved the most over the past two weeks.
Last Four In
Chris Reed
Ali Gaye
Cam Akers
Nick Broeker
First Four Out
Marcus Harris
Del’Shawn Phillis
John Metchie III
Cam Erving
Biggest Riser
Cam Akers
Biggest Faller
John Metchie III
Analysis: the reshuffling of offensive lineman on the depth chart continues as the mediocre play makes it difficult to identify the last three to make the roster.
The John Metchie III descension story arc continues as he’s definitively being outplayed at the team’s most competitive position.
A new bombshell enters the villa. The entry and emergence of Cam Akers to the running back room is the biggest storyline of camp. He’s making plays, looking healthy, and advancing up the depth chart.
Offense (25)
Quarterbacks (2 + 1 emergency QB)
C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills, Case Keenum
CUT: Tim Boyle
To my knowledge the emergency QB rule will allow Houston to elevate a QB from the practice squad to the starting game day team without it affecting the roster. That would essentially give the Texans (and all 31 other teams) an additional roster spot. In this case, Keenum is the break-glass player who sits on the practice squad.
Running Backs (5)
Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, Andrew Beck, Cam Akers
CUT: Jawhar Jordan, British Brooks (UDFA), J.J. Taylor, Troy Hairston
The possibility of Pierce being cut is very, very real. He doesn’t look comfortable reading a zone run scheme. Sure, the blocking wasn’t there, but that wasn’t a problem for Cam Akers. One of them could be trade bait in the next few weeks, but Houston has a bona-fide four-man race for the second and third spots on the depth chart.
Rookie Jawhar Jordan looked smooth and effective running the ball in the fourth. He’s likely a practice squad stash until someone eventually gets injured.
Wide Receivers (6)
Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, Noah Brown
CUT: John Metchie III, Ben Swokronek Steven Sims, Jared Wayne, Johnny Johnson III, Jadon Janke
Metchie, Hutchinson, and Swokronek all had a drop to their name, but Hutch’s far and away looked the best on Saturday. No player has more earned their spot more than him.
Robert Woods’ experience, consistency, and availability are simply too valuable to let go and he’s accordingly elevated off of the cut list. Noah Brown is approaching Last Four In territory due to his injury.
Tight Ends (3)
Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan, Cade Stover
CUT: Teagan Quitoriano, Dalton Keene
Stover looked NFL ready. He stared down his tackler after a clutch catch and run for a first down. Brevin Jordan sat out, but he is overall safe as Dalton Keene doesn’t have the explosiveness to be anything more than a utility blocker.
Offensive Tackles (4)
Tytus Howard, Laremy Tunsil, Blake Fisher, Nick Broeker
CUT: David Sharpe, Cam Erving
Injured: Charlie Heck
Broeker started at right tackle and allowed two sacks and another pressure on the game. He started, but struggled with speed all day. He can play both guard and tackle, but is an instant swap if Heck is ready for the season.
Cam Erving was added to the roster but looked disconnected with the other lineman on Saturday. He’s a big body, former first rounder but if he can’t put it together in time he’ll be cut. This is his last chance to be on an NFL team.
Offensive Guards & Centers (5)
Juice Scruggs, Kenyon Green, Shaq Mason, Jarret Patterson, Chris Reed
CUT: Dieter Eiselen, Kendrick Green
Kendrick Green may have started last season, but he’s playing behind several other players including Chris Reed. It’s a jumbled mess right now on the offensive line depth. Reed appears to have a solid position within the roster as a backup guard.
DEFENSE (25)
Defensive Ends (5)
Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr., Derek Barnett, Ali Gaye, Jerry Hughes
CUT: Solomon Byrd, Pheldarius Payne (UDFA)
IR: Dylan Horton
Suspended: Denico Autry
Losing Denico is a major blow to the entire defensive line. It opens up a roster spot for an unlikely person to step in… so far that appears to be Ali Gaye.
Gaye is an prototypical DE but slow. He received praise on 610 radio Monday morning too. He played four quarters of football and looks better than the rookie Byrd.
Texans resigned Payne yesterday as a deep depth rotational player.
Defensive Tackles (5)
Foley Fatukasi, Tim Settle Jr., Kurt Hinish, Mario Edwards, Khalil Davis
CUT: McTelvin Agim, Marcus Harris
Big switch here. Rookie Marcus Harris will be cut in place for Khalil Davis. Davis performed admirably last season in Houston after being a training camp addition. Harris had several good preseason plays, but his incisive moves created creases that the Pittsburgh Steelers exploited in the run game.
The preseason game illustrated DeMeco Ryans strategy for the defensive line; extensive rotation. Texans had a clear four person rotation between Fatukasi, Edwards, Hinish, and Davis. Tim Settle Jr. should return soon adding a fifth to the rotation.
Linebackers (5)
Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris, Henry To’oTo’o, Neville Hewitt, Jake Hansen,
CUT: Jamal Hill, Jacob Phillips, Tarique Barnes, Maxwell Tooley, Del’Shawn Phillips
Without Al-Shaair and Harris, this position is desperately weak. Jake Hansen’s injury is concerning, but his concussion from the Hall of Fame game should subside by the start of the season.
Even injured, Hansen swaps in Del’Shawn Phillips, who has been among the most disappointing players in camp. He is weak against the run and too easily confused in the passing game. Phillips has had a ton of reps already but yet to impress.
The rookie Hill routinely looks slow, which is distressing considering he’s a former safety. The sixth round pick is nowhere as close to making the roster as initially anticipated.
Cornerbacks (5)
Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, Desmond King II, Mike Ford Jr., C.J. Henderson
CUT: D’Angelo Ross, Jeff Okudah, Kris Boyd, Troy Pride Jr., Myles Bryant,
Kris Boyd was targeted, picked on, and exploited by the Steelers. As much as the team and players like him, he isn’t NFL caliber.
It’s frustrating, if not downright stressful, not to see rookie Kamari Lassiter get valuable reps in the preseason. The Texans are taking it slow with the rookie’s soft tissue injury.
Ross and Bryant’s miscue on the goal line almost cost the Texans a touchdown in the second quarter if it wasn’t for a horrific pass by Kyle Allen. I also noted Bryant looked lost on several plays in the third quarter.
Safeties (5)
Jalen Pitre, Jimmie Ward, Calen Bullock, M.J. Stewart, Eric Murray
CUT: Lonnie Johnson Jr.,Brandon Hill
This group continues to feel more solidified by the day. Murray had several extremely clean and important tackles throughout the game as the second string including one first and goal tackle. He excelled in the box as a tackler
Hill did cover a muffed punt and caught an interception in a fairly active preseason game for the second year converted safety.
Stewart Jr. allowed a TE to slip into the flats for a TD.
Special Teams (3)
Kicker: Ka’Imi Fairbairn
Punter: Tommy Townsend
Long Snapper: Jon Weeks