HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans open the 2024 NFL regular season at the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Texans' 53-man roster will have some surprise cuts at wide receiver and some unexpected guys make the roster on the defensive line. Once it was announced that defensive end Denico Autry would have to serve a six-game suspension for violating the league's PED policy, other defensive linemen took advantage of the opportunity.
The Texans are tracking to enter the season with a healthy roster, as they are hoping to build on last season's success.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. Here is the 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (2): C.J. Stroud, Davis Mills.
In Year 2 for coach DeMeco Ryans, he has been impressed with Stroud's growth after a successful rookie season and said "it's rare to see a young player make the plays that he makes and he's doing a great job of getting better each and every day." Stroud's backup will be Mills as he runs the second team offense.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale
Mixon missed time with an injury but came back later in camp and is projected to be the starter. Ogunbowale has third down and special team value, but the toss up for the No. 2 running back spot is between Akers and Pierce. Pierce is the incumbent backup, but Akers has looked more like a scheme fit. Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said "it is easy to see [Akers] is familiar with the outside zone scheme when he was in L.A. and Minnesota. They both did something pretty similar to what we do."
FULLBACK (1): Andrew Beck
Beck missed time in camp with an injury, but Slowik used a fullback on 20.7% of offensive plays, fourth highest, in 2023. So fullbacks are valuable in this offense.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Nico Collins, Noah Brown, Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie III
The first four were always safe because of status on the team and contracts. Veteran Robert Woods misses the cut after signing a two-year 15 million deal in 2023, saving the team $5 million in cap space. Brown hasn't practiced much throughout camp, which has opened opportunities for Metchie and Hutchinson to run with the starting offense. Metchie finally flashed what made him a second-round pick in against the New York Giants last week when he caught six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Brevin Jordan, Dalton Schultz, Cade Stover
Jordan and Schultz are the starters whenever the Texans go 12 personnel (two tight ends, one running back and two receivers), but Stover has earned high praise from the coaching staff. Ryans said "I forget that he is a rookie because he's been so consistent. He is exactly the guy we thought we were getting. Tough, gritty, hard nosed and dependable."
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Laremy Tunsil, Nick Broeker, Blake Fisher, Tytus Howard, Shaq Mason, Kenyon Green, Juice Scruggs, Jarrett Patterson, Kendrick Green.
The starting offensive line hasn't played that many snaps together in practice and zero in preseason as Tunsil has recovered from offseason knee surgery. The four-time Pro Bowl tackle practiced on Aug. 11 for the first time of camp. He didn't play in any preseason games, but he'll be ready to go Week 1 against the Colts.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Ali Gaye, Mario Edwards, Foley Fatukasi, Khalil Davis, Danielle Hunter, Derek Barnett, Kurt Hinish, Will Anderson Jr., Jerry Hughes.
Edwards and Fatukasi became the starters at defensive tackle after Autry's suspension came to light. The starting defensive ends in Hunter and Anderson had strong camps and the Texans will need them to play to their potential for this defense to reach its ceiling.
LINEBACKERS (6): Henry To'oTo'o, Jamal Hill, Neville Hewitt, Christian Harris, Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen
Al-Shaair had a strong training camp flashing a physical presence and was a clear-cut vocal leader of the unit. Harris missed most of camp with a soft body tissue injury so if that lingers into the season, Hansen and To'oTo'o will be leaned upon to step up.
CORNERBACKS (6): Derek Stingley Jr., Jeff Okudah, Kamari Lassiter, D'Angelo Ross, C.J. Henderson, Myles Bryant
Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said Stingley has "elite ball skills," and that showed throughout camp and preseason as he snagged multiple interceptions. Okudah has missed a bunch of camp with an injury, but he would be the first corner off the bench if Lassiter or Stingley were to miss time.
SAFETIES (4): Jimmie Ward, Calen Bullock, Jalen Pitre, Eric Murray
Burke praised Bullock's center-field ability and the coaching staff inserted him into the starting safety rotation with Murray. Pitre is listed as a safety, but he played the majority of camp in the nickel so it appears he'll rotate from the slot to deep safety at times this season.
SPECIALISTS (3): Ka'imi Fairbairn (K), Jon Weeks (LS), Tommy Townsend (P)
Townsend showed why he was All-Pro in 2022 with sky-high punts throughout camp. Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross praised the former Chiefs punter and said "I am really happy with where we are, and I'm excited."
