Nick Caserio: Texans 'Pretty Close' To Finalizing 53-Man Roster
The Houston Texans have one final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, then it will be decision time: Who do they keep on the final 53-man roster?
Texans executive vice president and general manager Nick Caserio joined Marc Vandermeer and John Harris on the team's radio show to discuss how Houston's roster is shaping into form as the preseason winds down. Caserio said the outlook of the Texans' 53-man roster is almost complete and has been nearly so for a few weeks.
"We're pretty close," Caserio said Thursday. "DeMeco (Ryans) and I, matter of fact, talked about it this morning. We've talked about it on a regular basis each week. The reality is you're probably 75, 80 percent there after week 1."
Caserio said final cuts are a numbers game. He said injuries play a factor in final roster decisions and can force the front office's hand to keep a player to fill a position that's thinned out with hurt players, for example.
Ryans said Tuesday that there's a level of sensitivity that comes with cutting a player, something he knows as someone who played for 10 seasons.
"You always end on good terms," Ryans said. "It's never a goodbye; it's a maybe see you later. So don't burn any bridges always. You treat everyone with respect because you never know when the opportunity comes back again."
In some instances, the organization could bring a player back the following day.
"Some of the discussion is, 'Hey, we can't carry you on the roster,'" Caserio said. "'We want to continue to work with you in a practice squad. Come back tomorrow at noon, and, if you're not claimed, that is if nothing changed.'"
Caserio said sincerity and honesty are key when cutting a player, and he'll have to utilize those people skills next Tuesday when the NFL requires rosters to be trimmed to 53 players.
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