Battle Red Blog
Welcome to the ninth year of the Houston Texans Rosterology. The longest-running article series on the site is back again to document the process of crafting the team’s initial 53-man roster. The Texans have been at OTAs this week, which gives us insight into the team’s initial depth chart and how the team plans to use some of their new additions.
At the onset, this is the deepest roster I’ve ever had the pleasure of covering. I recall entering training camp in 2021, I only thought there were 40 roster-worthy players on the entire 90-man roster. This year? I have 63 players worthy of the 53-man roster. A truly incredible improvement.
Similar to how NCAA Basketball’s Bracketology works, I’ll update the below with the Last Four (players) in the roster, the first four out, the biggest riser, and biggest faller. I’ll update this series every other Tuesday until the final 53-man roster is announced on Sunday, August 30th.
Alijah Huzzie, nickel
Naquan Jones, DT
Jamal Hill, LB
Brevin Jordan, TE
Justin Watson, WR
Jarrett Patterson, OC/OG
Cade Stover, TE
Marte Mapu, LB
The free agent defensive end holds a lot of weight in the room right now. He is the backup behind Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter even though he has only had a rotational role in his time in Chicago. Considering how productive Derek Barnett was in the same role last year, Robinson has high expectations and big shoes to fill. The Texans are demonstrating immense patience and trust in the new DE in a critical role by not adding another player to compete against him.
Patterson has started 21 games over the past three seasons, but was thrown to the wolves when Houston drafted Kelyan Rutledge and Febechi Nwaiwu in the 2026 NFL Draft. Patterson’s lack of strength and power have limited him in the run game, and he struggled to protect Stroud throughout his career. Houston may quickly be looking to move on from the former sixth round pick.
C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills
CUT: Graham Mertz
Analysis: I predict Houston will only keep two QBs on the roster and designate Mertz to the practice squad with the intention of elevating him up to the roster as the emergency QB throughout the season. Mertz’s development in year two and another season removed from his ACL tear will be an interesting talking point. With Mills facing the last year of his contract, can Mertz present enough of a case to eventually assume the backup QB role?
David Montgomery, Woody Marks, British Brooks, Jawhar Jordan
CUT: Noah Whittington, Josh Pitsenberger, Evan Hull
Analysis: The Texans abstained from adding to this position in the draft. That saved Jordan’s role as the third RB… for now. He will compete with undrafted rookie...
