6 Texans Roster Battles That Could Be Decided in Preseason

A ton of the Houston Texans' depth chart remains undecided after two weeks of training camp.

Jul 31, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Houston Texans' preseason debut is right around the corner. And as the Texans begin their first of three exhibitions before the regular season, there are still several position battles around the roster that are yet to be determined.

These preseason games on the horizon––kicking off with the LA Chargers on Thursday––can be a big help for the Texans to sort out those position battles. If one player shows out in those in-game reps, or continues to have the hot hand from camp, or if another disappoints, that could be the turning point in a select few undetermined position battles.

With that in mind, let's unpack six position battles on the Texans' depth chart that could be up in the air as preseason gets underway.

WR6

Jul 31, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Lewis Bond (82) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Texans' wide receiver room is largely sorted out heading into the season––except for the back-end of their depth chart, and whether the team decides to roster six or seven wideouts on the opening-day unit.

Lewis Bond has made a ton of traction to become a part of the 53-man roster since OTAs. Justin Watson could still be due for a role after returning from an Achilles injury, and even someone like Jared Wayne has been making plays in camp as of late that make him a dark horse to watch.

TE2

Jul 30, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans tight end Foster Moreau (87) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Texans' tight end room, which is as deep as it's been since DeMeco Ryans arrived as head coach, still has yet to seen a verdict surface as to who's the top backup to Dalton Schultz, and really, who are the two, and maybe even three players who will be lining up behind that TE2 past the 53-man cut.

Since the start of camp, Cade Stover might be the player seeing his stock climb the most, and Brevin Jordan has seen his stock drop the most. He’s injured, which certainly doesn't help. Expect preseason to be a big aid in determining which tight end is due for a big role in this offense, and who's not.

RT1

Jul 30, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive tackle Braden Smith (71) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Texans' right tackle spot is yet to be determined, and really, might've shifted in a different direction compared to what the expectation looked like earlier this offseason. Trent Brown and Braden Smith are about neck-and-neck in their race to start.

The case for both is easy. For Brown, he's been someone the Texans have been confident in since he was starting last season, and he hasn't lost a game as a starter in Houston. For Smith, he's being paid $20 million and was one of the team's most expensive free agent signings this offseason. Will all of that be to sit on the bench?

DE4

Jul 30, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Dylan Horton (92) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

For a long time, the Texans' defensive line was expected to have a DE3 battle ongoing around this part of camp. But Jadeveon Clowney has since answered those questions pretty confidently. Now, the debate resides in who will be the first guy getting snaps behind their top three names in Clowney, Danielle Hunter, and Will Anderson.

Dylan Horton and Dominique Robinson will be the two players getting the most looks their way, as they were for the Texans' DE3 job earlier this camp. But others like Ali Gaye and Solomon Byrd will be worth keeping an eye on as well.

LB3

Jul 30, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz (30) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Texans' linebacker room still looks pretty wide open heading into preseason, and that became even more so after Houston saw Jake Hansen go down with an ankle injury and then placed their replacement signing, Sione Takitaki, on the reserve/injured list shortly after bringing him in. Who the LB3 and LB4 will be in Week 1 is still to be determined.

As per the Texans' unofficial depth chart, the two leaders to get the most snaps at the position behind Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o are Wade Woodaz and Marte Mapu. But if that depth chart is a sign of anything to expect, multiple other names in the room can change that and their stock in the preseason games ahead.

CB4

Jul 30, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Collin Wright (37) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Texans' top three cornerbacks feel easy to pick out: Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter, and Jaylin Smith, the team's third-round pick for a year ago. But the top name to appear on the depth chart after those three might be tougher to predict based on the start we've seen to training camp.

The biggest riser throughout the Texans' entire camp so far might just be UDFA cornerback Collin Wright, who's continuously made plays in practice that’ve really put him in the hunt for this CB4 spot. Don't forget about veteran Tremon Smith either, who filled in for Jaylin Smith on defense for a large part of last year and remained a key piece on special teams.

Sign up for our free Houston Texans On SI newsletter, and get breaking Texans news delivered to your inbox daily!