MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 09: Houston Texans defensive end Solomon Byrd (50) looks on before the NFL preseason game between the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings on August 9th, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Today, the Houston Texans will host the Los Angeles Chargers in their first preseason game of the 2026 season at NRG Stadium at 7:00 PM CST. This will be the team’s first opportunity to put on a Super-Bowl sized show for their Houston fanbase, who are ravenous for some Texans action in this highly anticipated 25th season of the franchise. The Texans have arguably never been as close to a championship as they are now, with a virtually impenetrable defense and a (hopefully) resurgent offense to boot. The free agent signings, draftees, and other offseason moves this summer have been like repeated jabs of adrenaline coursing through the veins of Texans fans every time they pick up their phones and see general manager Nick Caserio has made another deal. Just last week, the Texans added another layer to their comically deep roster when they brought back Jadeveon Clowney after a seven year-long career away from Houston. On paper, this team seems unbeatable…but now, with the preseason mere hours away, it is time to see this team in action! Okay, well we won’t be seeing the Super Bowl-caliber Texans in full force tonight, but we will at least bear witness to the last of the training camp stars duke it out for the final spots on a loaded depth chart. On a team as talented as this, even the preseason players will be athletic freaks willing to tear the field to shreds to get the edge over their teammate. It’ll make for some seriously cutthroat competition this August, and I think there are three players on offense and three players on defense that are worth your attention this preseason: OFFENSE: #1: RB Noah Whittington (#26)
Height: 5’ 8” Weight: 203 lbs. Age: 24 Year drafted/signed: 2026 (UDFA) by Texans
With third-string running back Jawhar Jordan sidelined for the next several days with a “hip flexor strain,” and fourth-stringer British Brooks recovering from surgery to his broken hand, this upcoming preseason game against the Chargers will be a chance for some roster-hopefuls to impress the Texans coaching staff. Lead backs David Montgomery and Woody Marks will get very few – if any – snaps in the first preseason game, so the majority of the matchup against the Harbaughs will feature newly signed tailback Owen Wright, undrafted rookie Joshua Pitsenberger from Yale, and undrafted rookie Noah Whittington from Oregon. Wright’s NFL experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pitsenberger’s success at Yale shouldn’t be overlooked, but Whittington is my favorite of the group thanks to his bowling-ball frame (5’8”, 203 lbs.) and shocking acceleration. Whittington is not a huge running back, but, much like Jawhar Jordan when he was drafted out of Louisville in 2024, Whittington has this ability to literally launch himself forward when he’s found an opening, as if the earth below him is springing Whittington forward. Add to that his otherworldly contact balance and you’ve got a recipe for a fantastic backup tailback that would make a perfect depth piece behind Woody Marks! Even as an undrafted player, Whittington came into Houston’s training camp with some hype, and it appears he’s already making an impression on head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ryans was asked about the RB depth chart by reporter Landry Locker yesterday, and had this to say:
Noah seems to make a play every day. He has a really good feel for pressing blocks and his vision. Just knowing when to cut, when to take the ball outside, when to…you know, make a cut back up inside. You feel a guy… I see a guy who plays with really great vision, great feel at the running back spot. So, when you see guys that are lower on the depth chart in these preseason games, some of those running backs are going to shine. – DeMeco Ryans
Asked DeMeco Ryans about backend depth chart RB’s. Specifically Noah Whittington, who has at the very least made you think about RB3. pic.twitter.com/yl68hCfgUT — Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) August 12, 2026
He’s got experience, he’s got training camp highlights, and he’s got the coach’s approval. What’s the next box for Noah Whittington to check on his way to sneaking onto the 53-man roster? Having a breakout preseason game. Watch out for him tonight, because if he shows out, the RB #4 spot might have a true leader. #2: WR Lewis Bond (#82)
Height: 5’ 11” Weight: 190 lbs. Age: 23 Year drafted/signed: 2026 (6th, 204th overall) by Texans
Another unlikely name making plays in training camp is rookie sixth-round pick Lewis Bond out of Boston College. Bond had over 100 catches and nearly 1,000 receiving yards in college last year, but he still fell to the sixth round, mostly due to his lack of NFL size and speed. But, his route-running skills are second to maybe only Tank Dell on Houston’s roster, and he’s been one of the most celebrated young players during training camp:
Clean win for Lewis Bond. #Texans rookie continues to make plays. pic.twitter.com/FP71CoWePM — Greg Bailey (@GregBailey13) August 5, 2026
#Texans rookie receiver Lewis Bond Play of the Day @KPRC2pic.twitter.com/NHmpEnNyLr — Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 8, 2026
While many, many things can be blamed for quarterback C.J. Stroud’s regression from year one to year three in the NFL, not having a true route-specialist that could get open quickly was a hurdle he often struggled to clear. Tank Dell was clearly a favorite target of Stroud’s when he was available, and besides him, route-runners like Stefon Diggs, Robert Woods, or Noah Brown absorbed plenty of Stroud’s attention when they were on the Texans. The guy has a thing for receivers that can get open fast, maybe that’s a reflection of how quickly he gets pressured or how fast his eyes dart to the check-down option, but regardless of the reason, Stroud is getting exactly what he’s looking for in Lewis Bond. It’s time for Bond to prove it against more and more NFL talent, though. His 4.59s 40-yard dash was clearly a red flag to general managers everywhere back in April, so it’ll only be a matter of time before this weakness makes itself apparent at the professional level. But, if he’s able to respond to this weakness with even twitchier movement during the preseason, the Texans might have found more depth at one of their few shallow spots on the roster. It will be very interesting to see how the competition for the final WR spot unfolds this preseason between Bond, practice squad receivers Jared Wayne and Josh Kelly, and former Tennessee Titans returner Jha’Quan Jackson. Bond has his limitations, but his excellence on offense might overpower any deficiencies in speed or special teams ability. #3: OT James Neal III (#70)
Height: 6’ 6” Weight: 325 lbs. Age: 23 Year drafted/signed: 2026 (UDFA) by Texans
After receiving the most lucrative contract of any Texans undrafted rookie this year, plenty of eyes drifted towards LT during training camp to see what former Iowa State Cyclone James Neal III has to offer the Houston Texans. So far, he hasn’t exploded onto the scene, so tonight’s preseason game will be a great opportunity for him to strike a good first impression. A three-year starter (primarily at LT) for Iowa State, Neal moves with impressive fluidity for his size and can be a mighty force in the run-game. He mixed his time between LT and LG in 2024, showing some versatility, but his primary role in college was LT, where his run-blocking improved and his pass-blocking…remained inconsistent and mediocre. His pass protection varied greatly from game-to-game, but when James Neal was on a heater, he’s hard to beat. Whether or not he’ll be able to push Blake Fisher for the #2 LT spot remains to be seen, but he may impress enough this preseason to earn a roster spot over similar depth linemen like C Eli Cox, LG Jarrett Kingston, or UDFA teammate RT Sam Hagen. That four-year, $3.13 million contract speaks volumes on Houston’s investment in keeping Neal.
Texans UDFA guarantees from Over the Cap & @nfltrade_rumors: – OT James Neal III gets the most guaranteed money & could compete with Blake Fisher for the OT4 spot with a good camp. – DBs Collin Wright & Stephen Hall stick out as players who could fight for a roster spot in… pic.twitter.com/acpMNXkBJU — Jacob (@JacobBarzilla) May 21, 2026
Personally, I think Seth Payne’s take on Jame Neal on his YouTube channel a month ago hits the nail on the head:
…the last few years, guys who had over $200,000 guaranteed: Jared Wayne, British Brooks, Eli Cox, and Junior Tafuna; all still in the organization, all guys that I think they like the upside of. – Seth Payne, Houston Texans: Does James Neal III Have What It Takes to Make the Roster?
Besides Tafuna, who was released on waivers last Wednesday and subsequently claimed by the New York Jets, the players Payne mentioned remain on Houston’s roster despite having very little regular season experience. Some of these players just seem to gel with the Texans’ organization and are absorbed as developmental prospects that hang on the practice squad or the periphery of the 53-man roster. So, maybe we won’t see James Neal III excel at LT this preseason, but he could be pushing for a backup spot on the depth chart in a year or two. Regardless, he will certainly get playing time tonight and throughout this preseason, and if there’s anywhere on the team where it would be nice for Houston to strike some gold by accident, it’s the offensive line. DEFENSE: #1: CB Collin Wright (#37)
Height: 6’ 0” Weight: 195 lbs. Age: 22 Year drafted/signed: 2026 (UDFA) by Texans
If there’s one surprise player that has absorbed the most attention this training camp, it’s undrafted CB Collin Wright out of Stanford. Merely one glance at Texans twitter and you’ll find multiple reporters singing Wright’s praises and spreading the gospel of this diamond-in-the-rough discovery:
Graham Mertz INTERCEPTED by Collin Wright. pic.twitter.com/OyEATS2Whz — Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelV) August 4, 2026
Series 3: Play 1: David Montgomery 3 yards Play 2: Will Anderson sack Play 3: incomplete Play 4: Collin Wright INT on Stroud. I’m telling yall, the rookie is nice. He’s not making it to the P-Squad. — Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) August 10, 2026
Born in Missouri City, Wright’s right at home with the Houston Texans both literally and spiritually, his patience and awareness of the opposing offense fitting well with DeMeco Ryans’ “SWARM” mindset. He’s been all over opposing receivers during camp, and has stepped in front of multiple passes and come down with an interception. He’s been an exceptional playmaker in training camp, but this preseason, he’ll have to prove that these July highlights weren’t just a fluke, and that he’s worth just as much to the team as veterans like Tremon Smith or more talented defenders like Ja’marcus Ingram. I tend to agree with Toro Times’ analysts Clayton Anderson’s position on Collin Wright:
Even though the Texans normally tend to lean on veteran leadership as much as they can afford to (depending on the position), Wright’s immediate impact has opened the door to the possibility that a secondary featuring him and the younger Smith would provide Houston with a much higher ceiling for electric playmaking behind their frontline starters. – Clayton Anderson, Collin Wright’s dominant camp could force a change in the Texans’ cornerback plans
At just 6’0”, 195 lbs. and a lack of acceleration that shows up on tape, there’s plenty of reason to be suspicious of Wright’s training camp hype. After all, training camp isn’t anything like a live-action NFL game, where his lack of height and speed will be routinely targeted by coaches such as L.A.’s shiny new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. His ability to read the quarterback and jump routes will be tested this preseason, but if he’s able to keep the ball rolling for at least a couple more weeks, he’ll practically lock a roster spot down in 2026.
Matt Burke on Collin Wright: “He’s made a play on the ball everyday he’s been here from the Spring until now. He’s just always around the ball. Very sharp kid, very intelligent. Very happy with where he’s been so far.” https://t.co/9fIDtKgVFtpic.twitter.com/3FkieFzfSO — Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) August 9, 2026
#2: LB Wade Woodaz (#30)
Height: 6’ 4” Weight: 235 lbs. Age: 22 Year drafted/signed: 2026 (4th, 123rd overall) by Texans
After Texans LB Jake Hansen was reported to be “week-to-week” after suffering an ankle-injury on the second day of training camp, a shiver of panic streamed through the Texans fanbase as one of the thinnest positions on the roster became even thinner. LBs Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o have the starting roles locked down, but E.J. Speed’s partially-torn quadriceps injury in May and subsequent surgery means the #3 LB spot was up for grabs entering training camp. Many expected Jake Hansen, the most experienced depth linebacker on Houston’s team, to fill in for Speed without much fuss, but now that Hansen is out for most of the preseason, the third-linebacker competition becomes even murkier. Right now, the remaining linebackers on the 90-man roster are:
LB Wade Woodaz (Rookie) LB Marte Mapu LB Jake Hummel LB Aiden Fisher (Rookie) LB Jamal Hill LB K.C. Ossai
Since Hansen’s injury, rookie fourth-round pick Wade Woodaz out of Clemson has taken the #3 LB spot in training camp and occupies the spot directly behind Azeez Al-Shaair on the unofficial preseason depth chart. This is a good early sign that his instincts and aggressive playstyle are translating to the speed of the NFL, but his position on the roster won’t be solidified until he excels in the preseason. Considering the lack of experience behind Al-Shaair and To’oTo’o, the Texans coaching staff will be motivated to give every linebacker some playing time in order to create the best pecking order until E.J. Speed returns, so Woodaz will have to make the best of his snaps since he may not get many. Another complication thrown into this race is DeMeco Ryans’ insistence that the depth spots at linebacker will be partially determined by the player’s impact on special teams. This is good news for Woodaz considering his collegiate success on special teams, but it’ll be another hoop for him to jump through to keep the edge on Marte Mapu, Jake Hummel, and Jamal Hill. Mapu and Hummel were signed by Houston this offseason primarily because of their excellent play on special teams last year, and Jamal Hill has previous experience on Houston’s special teams, so Woodaz will have to make a very good impression early on if he’s fixing on making the final 53-man roster. He’s gotten into scuffles with both the offense and defense during training camp…does that count for anything?
Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz on his passion for special teams, a stat he learned at Clemson and wired up special teams coach Frank Ross. pic.twitter.com/tObtbe8pyO — Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) August 11, 2026
#3: DE Solomon Byrd (#50)
Height: 6’ 3” Weight: 250 lbs. Age: 26 Year drafted/signed: 2024 (7th, 239th overall) by Texans
Earlier, when talking about LT James Neal III, I mentioned the possibility that the Texans’ brass sees Neal as a “project player,” or a player that we won’t see return on investment until they’ve hung around on the practice squad for a few years. To me, Solomon Byrd has been the exact definition of a “project player” for the past three years on the Houston Texans. He’s had a heavy presence in both the 2024 and 2025 preseasons, and has only 21 regular season snaps to show for it. Despite that, though, Byrd remains a popular player among the coaching staff and has made his presence known in training camp, even breaking out into a fight with rookie Wade Woodaz:
Solomon Byrd & Wade Woodaz with the first scuffle of practice during a special teams drill. It got broken up but Byrd was still looking for more. — Jacob (@JacobBarzilla) August 9, 2026
Now, in year three, it’s time for Solomon Byrd to put it all together and make the leap to the initial 53-man roster. He’s balled out at training camps, he’s had big plays in the preseason, and he’s had time to develop behind the scenes. His get-off speed and range make him an ideal backup pass-rusher that could plug right into the hole Derek Barnett vacated, but he’ll have to prove he’s ready for that responsibility this preseason. On top of that, Houston bringing back DE Jadeveon Clowney puts another established veteran in Byrd’s way. One way Byrd can make up for this new roadblock is by trying to add more on special teams, maybe attempting to replace the role that DE Denico Autry filled in blocking field goals! It won’t be easy finding regular season snaps at this position group, but if Byrd can prove that he adds enough juice to be in the same conversation as Jadeveon Clowney or Dylan Horton, then he’ll have made good on Houston’s investment in him the last few years. Although, if Byrd is once again a practice squad warrior that is doomed to play fewer than 50 snaps the entire regular season, then he likely will never get an opportunity to play on the Texans again. He’ll have ample opportunity to prove himself again this preseason, where he’ll be duking it out with DEs Dominique Robinson, Ali Gaye, Logan Hall, and undrafted rookie Sebastian Harsh for playing time. I like his chances of taking a big step forward in his pass-rush abilities, but only time will tell if it will be enough to overpower the veteran presence of Hall or Robinson.
With the Texans needing DE depth I think Solomon Byrd could be somebody who earns some snaps in that room. Had a strong OTA/Camp last year along with 9 pressures + sack in preseason (NGS) but Texans took Horton & others instead. Could be the next Lineman for Rod Wright & Demeco… pic.twitter.com/QXulQKq5YX — Jacob (@JacobBarzilla) April 2, 2026
And that’s my list! There will be plenty of Texans players giving it their all tonight that I didn’t mention, these are just the six players I hope to see a lot of tonight to gauge where they might end up on the depth chart, or if they’ll miss it entirely. What players are you most interested in watching tonight, or this preseason? What players on the edge of the 53-man roster do you think will need a good performance tonight to stay alive in the race to August 30th? What players do you think will rise to the occasion this preseason, and what players do you think will see their stock fall? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below! Go Texans! Beat the Chargers!