Houston Texans Depth Chart 2026-27 - CBS Sports

Offensive Positions

POS	Starter	Second	Third+
Quarterback	C. Stroud Texans' C.J. Stroud: Strong offseason, per OC C.J. Stroud Texans' C.J. Stroud: Strong offseason, per OC	D. MillsDavis Mills	G. MertzGraham Mertz
Running Back	D. Montgomery Texans' David Montgomery: Viewed as three-down back David Montgomery Texans' David Montgomery: Viewed as three-down back	W. Marks Texans' Woody Marks: 'Lots of opportunities' on tap Woody Marks Texans' Woody Marks: 'Lots of opportunities' on tap	J. JordanJawhar Jordan B. BrooksBritish Brooks N. WhittingtonNoah Whittington E. HullEvan Hull J. PitsenbergerJosh Pitsenberger
Wide Receiver	N. CollinsNico Collins	J. Higgins Texans' Jayden Higgins: Drawing praise as WR2 Jayden Higgins Texans' Jayden Higgins: Drawing praise as WR2	J. Noel Texans' Jaylin Noel: Impresses at minicamp Jaylin Noel Texans' Jaylin Noel: Impresses at minicamp X. Hutchinson Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Back for Year 4 with Houston Xavier Hutchinson Texans' Xavier Hutchinson: Back for Year 4 with Houston T. Dell Texans' Tank Dell: Shows good progress in minicamp Knee - ACL + MCL: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo Tank Dell Texans' Tank Dell: Shows good progress in minicamp Knee - ACL + MCL: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo L. Bond Texans' Lewis Bond: Makes noise during OTAs Lewis Bond Texans' Lewis Bond: Makes noise during OTAs J. WatsonJustin Watson J. KellyJosh Kelly J. WayneJared Wayne T. SaundersTreyvhon Saunders D. SobkowiczDaniel Sobkowicz J. JacksonJha'Quan Jackson
Tight End	D. Schultz Texans' Dalton Schultz: Set to lead Houston's TE corps Dalton Schultz Texans' Dalton Schultz: Set to lead Houston's TE corps	F. MoreauFoster Moreau	B. Jordan Knee: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo Brevin Jordan Knee: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo M. Klein Hamstring: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo Marlin Klein Hamstring: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo C. StoverCade Stover L. Pryor Quadriceps: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo Layne Pryor Quadriceps: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo L. HansenLouis Hansen
Left Tackle	A. ErseryAireontae Ersery	B. FisherBlake Fisher	J. Neal IIIJames Neal III D. GrahamDerrick Graham
Left Guard	W. TellerWyatt Teller	E. BrownEvan Brown	J. KingstonJarrett Kingston
Center	K. RutledgeKeylan Rutledge	J. AndrewsJake Andrews	J. PattersonJarrett Patterson E. CoxEli Cox
Right Guard	E. IngramEd Ingram	F. NwaiwuFebechi Nwaiwu	—
Right Tackle	B. SmithBraden Smith	T. BrownTrent Brown	S. HagenSam Hagen

Defensive Positions

POS	Starter	Second	Third+
Left Defensive End	W. Anderson Jr.Will Anderson Jr.	D. HortonDylan Horton	A. GayeAli Gaye S. ByrdSolomon Byrd
Right Defensive End	D. HunterDanielle Hunter	D. RobinsonDominique Robinson	S. HarshSabastian Harsh
Left Defensive Tackle	T. TogiaiTommy Togiai	L. Hall Leg: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo Logan Hall Leg: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo	K. Hamilton Ankle: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo Kyonte Hamilton Ankle: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo J. TafunaJunior Tafuna
Right Defensive Tackle	S. RankinsSheldon Rankins	K. McDonaldKayden McDonald	N. JonesNaquan Jones D. BaileyDominic Bailey
Strongside Linebacker	E. Speed Quadriceps: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo E.J. Speed Quadriceps: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo	J. HillJamal Hill	—
Middle Linebacker	A. Al-Shaair Thumb: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo Azeez Al-Shaair Thumb: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo	W. WoodazWade Woodaz	A. FisherAiden Fisher J. HummelJake Hummel K. OssaiK.C. Ossai
Weakside Linebacker	H. To'oTo'oHenry To'oTo'o	M. MapuMarte Mapu	J. Hansen Chest: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo Jake Hansen Chest: Questionable for Week 1 vs. Buffalo
Right Cornerback	K. LassiterKamari Lassiter	J. SmithJaylin Smith	J. IngramJa'Marcus Ingram C. WrightCollin Wright
Left Cornerback	D. Stingley Jr.Derek Stingley Jr.	T. SmithTremon Smith	S. HallStephen Hall
Slot Cornerback	J. PitreJalen Pitre	A. HuzzieAlijah Huzzie	B. CodringtonBrandon Codrington
Strong Safety	R. BlankenshipReed Blankenship	M. StewartM.J. Stewart	K. RamseyKamari Ramsey
Free Safety	C. BullockCalen Bullock	J. ReedJaylen Reed	K. MerriweatherKaevon Merriweather

Special Teams Positions

POS	Starter	Second	Third+
Punter	K. KroegerKai Kroeger	J. StonehouseJack Stonehouse	—
Kicker	K. FairbairnKa'imi Fairbairn	—	—
Long Snapper	A. BrinkmanAustin Brinkman	—	—
Holder	K. KroegerKai Kroeger	—	—
Punt Returner	J. Noel Texans' Jaylin Noel: Impresses at minicamp Jaylin Noel Texans' Jaylin Noel: Impresses at minicamp	B. CodringtonBrandon Codrington	—
Kick Returner	J. Noel Texans' Jaylin Noel: Impresses at minicamp Jaylin Noel Texans' Jaylin Noel: Impresses at minicamp	W. Marks Texans' Woody Marks: 'Lots of opportunities' on tap Woody Marks Texans' Woody Marks: 'Lots of opportunities' on tap	T. SmithTremon Smith B. CodringtonBrandon Codrington