John Harris follows the Houston Texans as close as anyone, and each year he breaks down the team's 90-man roster as Training Camp presented by Xfinity begins. The first practice of camp is July 23, 2025.

Quarterback

#7 C.J. Stroud

• College - Ohio State
• 1st round draft pick in 2023 - #2 overall
• 3rd season in Houston

QB1Threw for 3,727 yards in 2024, 20 TDthe future of this franchise is now and the offense is fully on his shoulders in year threetwo playoff wins in his first two yearspossessess more playoff wins (two) as the Texans' starting quarterback than any other Texans QBrevamped OL in front of him and WR corps alongside for 2025massive season for Stroud as he'll be handed the keys to orchestrate the offense at the line of scrimmage more so than in his first two seasons.

#10 Davis Mills

• College - Stanford
• 3rd round draft pick in 2021
• 5th season in Houston

26 games started in his four years in the league6,167 yards passing and 35 TDsigned one year extension for his fifth year in Houstonhas grown and improved each and every yearmissed time during minicamp, so hopefully he's healthy and ready for training camp.

#16 Kedon Slovis

• College - Pitt/BYU/USC
• FA signing in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Got a ton of work this offseason with both Mills and Stroud missing some practice timethrows a pretty ball and possesses movement skills out of the pocket when absolutely necessaryteammate of Jared Wayne's at Pitt during collegewill get a ton of reps during preseason games to put pressure on Mills as the backup QB.

#18 Graham Mertz (Rookie)

• College - Florida/Wisconsin
• 6th round draft pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Not sure of his health statustore his ACL on October 12, 2024 in a game against Tennesseewhen healthy, he was accurate with the football and made excellent decisionsexhibits true captain behavior and will fit the SWARM Texans' mentality wellloved his addition, just hope he can be healthy enough soon.

Running back/Fullback

#21 Nick Chubb

• College - Georgia
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

The WOW signing of the offseasonsigned for just one year, but says his knee feels as good as everstated in his OTA/minicamp press conference that he hit all of his offseason testing measurements before signing with the Texansdownhill threat in any schemerushed for 6,843 yards in his 85 games in Cleveland in seven yearsdon't know how much we'll see him in preseason games, but he needs work to acclimate to the new system, new OLif he's healthymy goodness.

#22 Jawhar Jordan

• College - Louisville/Syracuse
• 6th round draft pick in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Lightning quick space playerfantastic in preseason opportunities last year until he was injured late in the last preseason gamecan't wait to see how far he's progressed in this training campwith Mixon & Chubb probably getting some vet rest days, Jordan will get a ton of opps in both run and pass capacities.

#26 J.J. Taylor

• College - Arizona
• FA signing in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Mark my words, Taylor will make a play or three in preseason games that will get your attentionthick trunk, strong legs and a warrior's spiritbeen tough for him to get consistent run during the regular season, but he does well when he gets the opps during TC and preseason games, which has put him in position to get on the 53-man roster.

#27 Woody Marks

• College - USC/Mississippi State
• 4th round draft pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Would've pounded the table for him in the draft roomdid pound the table in excitement when the Texans did draft himpowerful buildexplosive cuts/jump cutsmake-you-miss-ability out in spacequality inside runner with visionmust learn special teams, especially early in his career83 receptions in his sophomore season at Mississippi Stateover 200 receptions in five years in college

#28 Joe Mixon

• College - Oklahoma
• Trade to Houston in 2024, signed contract extension in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Carried this Texans run game on his back last yearmade his second Pro Bowl as a resultran for over 1k, first Texan to do it since Carlos Hyde in 201911 TD on the groundmissed the offseason rehabbing from injury, but projects to be ready for the seasonit's Joe Mixon, you already know.

#31 Dameon Pierce

• College - Florida
• 4th round draft pick in 2022
• 4th season in Houston

The most talked about player on the Texans roster, in my worldEVERYONE asks me about Dameon when I'm out and abouthad brilliant games at New England and at Tennessee last yearhas solid hands and could be used more in that regardturned into one of the best kick returners in the NFLhow he adapts to this offense and flourishes in this RB competition will be one of the stories in camp.

#33 Dare Ogunbowale

• College - Wisconsin
• FA signing as a rookie in 2017, re-signed in 2022
• 5th season in Houston

Where is this team without Dare Ogunbowale?...the ultimate Swiss Army knife but all of his tools are useful at all times (unlike a Swiss Army knife)evolved into the team's third down specialist at RBearly in the 2024 season he made plays that directly led to late game wins over Jacksonville and Buffaloran for 112 yards and had 19 receptions on the year as well (28 targets in the passing game)...almost don't think of him as a running back anymorehe's seemingly his own positional category

#43 Jakob Johnson

• College - Tennessee
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st year in Houston

Never truly understood how BIG Jakob truly is, until he walked into our radio studio this springhas soft hands and made a handful of truly remarkable catches in team work in OTAs and minicampoffense can do unique/different things with him at fullback because of his size and ability to block inside playersintriguing German national who has grown as a football player since he started to play late in his high school years.

#44 British Brooks

• College - North Carolina
• UDFA signing in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

One of the most impressive players in TC/preseason last yearearned a 53-man rosters spot and reps at FB and on special teams as a result in the regular season, until he tore his ACL early in the seasonbuilt like a brick outhousewants to destroy anyone in a different colored jerseywould anticipate more fullback reps, but tailback reps too throughout the preseason.

Wide Receiver

**#3 Tank Dell

• College - Houston
• 3rd round draft pick in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Won't see Tank for a while, but not sure whether that while starts in 2025 or 2026going to really miss him, but he's rehabbing each and every day to come back with a vengeance.

#8 John Metchie III

• College - Alabama
• 2nd round draft pick in 2022
• 4th year/3rd season in Houston

This is THAT preseason for Metchie IIIstarted slow last preseason, but he dominated the Giants in week two of the preseason and that propelled him onto the 53-man rosterhas transformed his body this offseason and looked great at times in the offseasonhad a couple of key catches in the Divisional playoff loss to the Chiefs40 catches for 412 yards and one TD in 2024

#12 Nico Collins

• College - Michigan
• 3rd round draft pick in 2021
• 5th season in Houston

The alpha in this WR roomone of the best overall WR in the NFLmissed five games last year after a hamstring injury on a 67-yard BOMB TD against Buffalohowever, still went over 1k receiving yards for the second straight seasonhad seven TD in just 12 games and he only played a quarter of the Bills game and a series in the Titans gamecan play inside at slot and run over LB and S on slants and catch-and-run situationscan be the Texans TRUE DEEP threat on the outside as well

#13 Christian Kirk

• College - Texas A&M
• Trade to Texans in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

I asked for him in the offseason and the Texans went and got himwhen healthy, he was a monster for the Jaguars receiving corps while he was therereturns to the state where he played his college footballhas a HIGH level understanding how to win as an interior receiver in this offensestarted well in 2024 with 27 receptions in eight games and then his season was ended by injuryseemed to mesh well with the Texans QB this offseason already.

#14 Jared Wayne

• College - Pitt
• UDFA signing in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Might be a little mysterious to Texans fans still, but he's improved each and every yearbig (6-4, 210 lb) with soft hands and excellent body controlwith two highly drafted rookies on the roster, along with Kirk, Justin Watson, Metchie III, he is in for a fight for a roster spot but he'll compete his tail offthat said, he's got a ton of skills that excite the Texans coaching staff.

#17 Braxton Berrios

• College - Miami, FL
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

One of the more exciting space players in the league, whether as an interior receiver or as a punt returnermissed seeing him in the offseason as he rehabbed an injuryeven though, he didn't start in New York or Miami, he had seasons of 37 receptions and 46 receptions in back-to-back years, so he could find a role moving the sticks from the interior if he's healthy.

#19 Xavier Hutchinson

• College - Iowa State
• 6th round draft pick in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

One of the SWARM-iest Texans on the rosterwhatever he's asked to do, he does it as well as can be askedfinds a way to make playswas on the receiving end of Stroud's Scramble in the playoffs against Los Angeleshad four receptions for 52 yards in the final game of the season at Kansas Cityimmensely improved the past couple of seasonsa staunch special teams contributor as a returner, blocker or cover guywill know this offense inside and out at every single receiver position and often gets WRs lined up during games and practices.

#81 Jayden Higgins (Rookie)

• College - Iowa State
• 2nd round draft pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

During offseason practice, it became evident that if Higgins is healthy, he's going to be a major factor for this offense in 2025drafted early in the second round, but GM Nick Caserio said that they considered drafting him in the first round6-4 with outstanding ball skills, great agility and serious speeda few times during offseason practice, it was pointed out to me by those in the building how unique Higgins is.

#82 Jaylin Noel (Rookie)

• College - Iowa State
• 3rd round draft pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Higgins' teammate the past two years, teammate of Xavier Hutchinson for a year at Iowa Stateoutstanding movement skillsgets in and out of breaks like none otherthought he was one of the two or three most outstanding receivers at the 2025 Senior Bowlteam captain at Iowa Statepunt return skills, really worked on them during the offseason practicesmissed the last two weeks of the offseason practices so hope he's okay and good to go.

#84 Justin Watson

• College - Penn
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

The forgotten piece in this receiving corpsnot forgotten by the staff, but most fans fail to bring him up when discussing the receivers6-4, well built, reliable and toughan Ivy Leaguer, so he's cool to me, of courseplayed in a TON of big games and produced in those situations as wellstarting in 2020, he's played in four Super Bowls, four Conference Championship games and has three Super Bowl rings.

#85 Daniel Jackson (Rookie)

• College - Minnesota
• UDFA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Tough and competitive, Jackson won't wow anyone with elite traitsGREAT hands, though, and catches everything thrown his waycaught 75 passes for 863 yards and four TD in his final season at MinnesotaTD catch against Michigan in the Big House in 2024 was ridiculous

#88 Johnny Johnson

• College - Oregon
• UDFA signing in 2022
• 4th season in Houston

Seen Johnson improve each and every seasoneven though he hasn't had a chance to stick consistently on the 53-man roster, his game has improved each yearbecame a better catch-and-run receiver, sticking his foot into the ground and getting upfield after the catchwill, again, get a ton of opps in preseason games to fight for a 53-man roster spot.

#89 Xavier Johnson

• College - Ohio State
• FA signing in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Intrigued by Johnson after what I saw him do at Ohio Statewas a teammate of C.J. Stroudplayed some WR and some RBin the Peach Bowl against Georgia in the 2022 season (Stroud's last game in college), Johnson caught a Stroud pass for a TD right before the halfsince he's been here, his receiver skills have improvedquick and elusive after the catch.

Tight end

#9 Brevin Jordan

• College - Miami, FL
• 5th round draft pick in 2021
• 5th season in Houston

We missed Brev last yearpoint blank, end of storycan play ANY of the TE positions and is one of the better athletes on this teamhurt in week two against Chicago and missed the entire seasonnot sure when he'll be cleared medically, but hopefully he can get opps in the preseason and showed that speed and tenacity that highlights his all-around skills.

#42 Luke Lachey (Rookie)

• College - Iowa
• 7th round draft pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Thought he would just be an inline Y-TE, but he has SOFT handsreceives the ball very wellinjuries at Iowa curtailed much of his last two seasonsDad played OT in the NFL (former Ohio State All-American)wouldn't surprise me if Lachey's ability to get open AND catch the ball creates opps for him throughout the preseason and perhaps beyond.

#83 Irv Smith Jr.

• College - Alabama
• FA signing in 2024, re-signed in 2025
• 2nd season in Houston

Smith Jr. re-signed with the Texans late in the offseasonso incredibly glad that he didtough as all get out, he'll fight his guts out in the run gamebetter hands than you'd thinkcompetitor whose Dad was a first round draft selection in the 1990s.

#86 Dalton Schultz

• College - Stanford
• FA signing in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

112 catches in his first two years in Houston in 32 gameshad only two TD in 2024 v. five in 2023does a little bit of everything in this offensereliable in every facet of the tight end universefive straight seasons of 53+ receptions for Dallas (three seasons) and Houston (two seasons)

#87 Cade Stover

• College - Ohio State
• 4th round draft pick in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Said OFTEN this offseason that he's my "breakout candidate" for this offense in 2025OC Nick Caley is a former TE coach, so one of these TEs could easily fit into that categoryone of the hardest workers on the rostertough, physical and honest, almost to a faulttold us a few times how valuable it was to go through ups and downs as a rookieif he takes that year one to year two leap, as I expect, look the heck out.

Offensive line

#54 Jarrett Patterson

• College - Notre Dame
• 6th round draft pick in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Started at center to start the 2023 seasontook over as the starting center to finish the 2024 seasonfewer and fewer protection mistakes took place when he was in the starting lineupwill be in a fight for the starting positionsmart as can betough as hellfound money in the Texans' draft pockets after being a 6th round pick in 2023.

#57 Blake Fisher

• College - Notre Dame
• 2nd round draft pick in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Started every game at right tackle after the Texans Week 14 byefaced some serious dudes out on the edgeyear one to year two leap is desperately needed for Fisher to lock down the right tackle position for 2025 and beyondfeisty and tough and needs to stay healthy.

#60 Jake Andrews

• College - Troy
• Claimed on waivers in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Not a soul mentioned Andrews' name prior to the first open-to-the-media OTA practicewhen he lined up at center with the first group, people started finally asking the right questionsa former HS wrestlersaw him at the Senior Bowl and thought he'd be a Texan after that Drafthasn't played a ton of NFL football due to injuries, but new OL coach Cole Popovich is quite familiar with him after coaching Andrews at Troy.

#65 Eli Cox (Rookie)

• College - Kentucky
• UDFA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Huge fan of Cox at Kentucky, reminded me of Andrews, honestlyfour year starter at center in the SEC47 starts in 56 career gamestwo-time captaindidn't miss any of the last 38 games of his careerstout and thickperfect center body but he can move and play in the zone game as well.

#69 Ed Ingram

• College - LSU
• Trade to Houston in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Selected in the second round by the Vikings a few years agotraded to Houston this past offseason to compete for a guard positionbuilt like a tank with very little body fatin a staunch competition to get on the field at guard, but curious how new surroundings could help him after some struggles early in his career.

#70 Juice Scuggs

• College - Penn State
• 2nd round draft pick in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Played the best ball of his NFL career at right guard in the second half of the 2024 seasoninjuries slowed him down a bit in his first two yearsstarted the 2024 season at center, then transitioned to guard19 starts in his careerwhen healthy, he produced some excellent moments, especially once he went to guardthe competition for the interior spots is going to be fierce, but Juice is up for it.

#71 Tytus Howard

• College - Alabama State
• 1st round draft pick in 2019
• 7th season in Houston

Amazing to think Tytus is in his seventh yearspoke often this offseason about making the change to guard and that he's up for the challengein years past, I don't know that he saw the value/reasons for a move to guard, but he does nowI thought he played some of his best football at guard last yearstood up to Chris Jones (Chiefs) in the Divisional playoff game, such that Jones had to move outside to DE to get pressure on the QBthicker and more powerful than he's ever been, but he's still got agility to be an excellent guard, right or left side.

#72 Jaylon Thomas

• College - SMU
• FA signing in 2023
• 3rd season in Houston

Stay healthyThomas is built like a tank and when it seemed last year that he was ready to make some headway, he got injuredplayed tackle in college, but he's seems more suited to play guard in the futurewill get plenty of opps in training camp with competition at all five spotsJUST STAY HEALTHY

#73 LaDarius Henderson

• College - Michigan/Arizona State
• 7th round draft pick in 2024, sat out rookie season due to injury
• 2nd year/1st season in Houston

Strangely enough after rehabbing an injury all last year, he's the one OL most Texans fans asked me about this offseasonguard and tackle reps at both Arizona State and Michigan in his college careerplayed left tackle for the 2023 National Champion Wolverinesstrong upper body, but after rehabbing the lower body, how he moves will determine where this goes for him and the Texans OLwill get as many reps in practice, joint practices and preseason games that he can handle

#74 Cam Robinson

• College - Alabama
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Former Jag/Viking signed a one year deal with the Texansimpressively built to say the leastnever liked facing him when he was in Jacksonvilleadds some leadership and some mauler tendencies in the run game, in particularlooked spry and active for a guy in his ninth season in the league.

#75 Laken Tomlinson

• College - Duke
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

I get itafter spending some time in our radio studio this spring with him, I totally understand why he's a TexanSWARM-ysmart and toughexperiencedwilling to put team over selfheading into the twilight of his career, but has good football left in himhas played left guard throughout his career and did that throughout OTAs and minicamp here as wellPro Bowler back in 2021.

#76 Austin Deculus

• College - LSU
• 6th round draft pick in 2022, re-signed in 2024
• 4th season in Houston

When he returned to Houston for the back end of the 2024 season, he was even more improved than I remembered himthought he struggled a bit in the 2024 preseason but looked much better in game action at the end of last seasonmatured for sure and his game has improvedpossesses a nasty side and can see that in his run blocking improvementjust stay healthy and stack good daysat that point, who knowsnothing will surprise me with how he's grown already.

#77 Trent Brown

• College - Florida
• FA signing in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

Big Trent is bigger than the biggest OL you've ever seenhowever, the key for him is being fully healthyonly played three games last year in Cincinnati due to injury and last played a full slate in 2022But, BUT, he's a heck of a leader and helps young guys a ton with an offense that he's quite familiarif he's healthy??? That could be fun.

#78 Zach Thomas

• College - San Diego State
• Claimed on Waivers in 2024
• 2nd season in Houston

Joined the Texans midway through the 2024 campaigntackle and guard reps throughout his time here and his time in New Englandthe versatility can help him throughout TC and preseason games, getting 40-45 reps per game at different spotswith only eight spots on game day, having the ability to play all five spots will come in handy.

#79 Aireontae Ersery (Rookie)

• College - Minnesota
• 2nd round Draft pick in 2025
• 1st season in Houston

The only OL the Texans drafted and just one of two rookies in the entire group (Eli Cox being the other)...enormous and strongmade Bruce Feldman's Freaks' List back in collegeran a 5.01 in the 40-yard dash at 6-6, 330 lbRelative Athletic Score was 16th out of 1379 tackles since 1987plays the game with an edge and much better in the run game at this point than in pass protectionimproving in that arena, thoughat the Senior Bowl, he dominated dudes in the run gamewill need some time adapting to the varied pass rushers that dominate this league, though.