Ahead of their preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings, the Houston Texans released an unofficial depth chart on Tuesday.
Second-round draft picks Jayden Higgins and Aireontae Ersery were listed among the first team offense. Higgins, a former standout at Iowa State, was listed with Nico Collins and Christian Kirk as the starting wide receivers. Ersery, a 6-foot-6, 331-pound product out of the University of Minnesota, was listed as the starting right tackle.
Texans third round selection Jaylin Noel, a teammate of Higgins' at Iowa State, was listed behind Kirk at the second wide receiver position.
The first team offensive line was comprised of left tackle Cam Robinson, left guard Laken Tomlinson, center Jarrett Patterson, right guard Tytus Howard, and Ersery. Last season, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times, second most in the league behind Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams.
With Joe Mixon out with an ankle injury, Nick Chubb, who the Texans signed to a one-year deal in June, was listed as the starting running back. Backing him up are Dameon Pierce, who recently came off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, Dare Ogunbowale and fourth-round pick Woody Marks.
On the defensive side of the ball, offseason acquisitions Sheldon Rankins and C.J. Gardner-Johnson were listed as starters. Rankins was listed together with Mario Edwards Jr. at the defensive tackle positions, while Gardner-Johnson and Calen Bullock were listed as the starting safeties.
Braxton Berrios, anther offseason acquisition, is the starting punt returner, while Pierce will return kickoffs.
The Texans will take the field against the Vikings on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.
