The Houston Texans open training camp on July 25 at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Texas. The Texans are coming off their second consecutive AFC South title and double-digit-win season. But this time the Texans will have to do it without Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in March, and running back Carlos Hyde, who had a 1,000-yard season in 2019 but wasn't re-signed in free agency. Here is a 53-man roster projection.
QUARTERBACK (2): Deshaun Watson, AJ McCarron
The Texans are set at quarterback with Watson and McCarron, who signed a one-year, $4 million deal with Houston this offseason.
RUNNING BACK (5): David Johnson, Duke Johnson, Karan Higdon, Buddy Howell; Cullen Gillaspia (fullback)
A year after Carlos Hyde had the best season of his career, the Texans will turn to the combination of David Johnson and Duke Johnson. O'Brien is high on Higdon, who spent last season on the Texans' practice squad. But barring injury to either Johnson or Higdon, Howell's biggest contributions will come on special teams.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, Randall Cobb, Kenny Stills, DeAndre Carter, Isaiah Coulter
Unless the Texans choose to trade Stills to a receiver-needy team in training camp to save cap space, this group is likely set. Keke Coutee may have to have a very strong training camp or his role will likely be taken by Cobb, who signed a three-year, $27 million contract this offseason.
TIGHT END (3): Darren Fells, Jordan Akins, Kahale Warring
Jordan Thomas might be the odd man out if Warring can show a lot of growth from his year on injured reserve and is ready to contribute. Warring was a third-round pick in 2019 and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said "the expectation for Kahale is for him to be on top of his game mentally when he comes in, just like all of them, and be able to compete for a spot once we get on the grass."
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Laremy Tunsil, Max Scharping, Nick Martin, Zach Fulton, Tytus Howard, Greg Mancz, Senio Kelemete, Charlie Heck
For the first time since Bill O'Brien took over as head coach in 2014, the Texans will have all five starters on the offensive line returning. Heck, a fourth-round pick this year, could edge out Roderick Johnson to be Houston's swing tackle. Kelemete is a candidate to be cut because of his $3.6 million salary, but his knowledge of the offense in a shortened offseason could keep him in Houston.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): J.J. Watt, Ross Blacklock, Charles Omenihu, Brandon Dunn, Angelo Blackson, Jonathan Greenard
The Texans lost defensive tackle D.J. Reader in free agency to the Cincinnati Bengals, but they expect Blacklock, a second-round pick, to contribute in his place. Houston has high hopes for Omenihu coming off a good rookie season. He will compete for time with Greenard, a third-round pick from this year's draft.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Whitney Mercilus, Brennan Scarlett, Jacob Martin, Duke Ejiofor
This group mostly looks the same from a year ago, but the Texans are hoping to get a contribution for Ejiofor, who spent all of last season on injured reserve.
Mercilus had 7.5 sacks in the 2019 regular season, but only two came after Watt tore his pectoral muscle and was put on injured reserve. Without Watt on the field to attract double- and triple-teams, Mercilus had to deal with more attention. Martin showed promise in a limited role in 2019 after being acquired in the Jadeveon Clowney trade.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Zach Cunningham, Benardrick McKinney, Dylan Cole, Peter Kalambayi
O'Brien and the Texans think highly of Cunningham, who is in the last season of his rookie contract and is set for a big pay day, whether it's in Houston or elsewhere. Last season, he and McKinney were excellent at stopping the run, but struggled against the pass. Cole is coming off a lost 2019 season due to a torn ACL. This will be his third year in the NFL, and he has shown promise on special teams and provides quality depth when healthy.
CORNERBACK (7): Bradley Roby, Lonnie Johnson, Gareon Conley, Vernon Hargreaves, Keion Crossen, John Reid, Phillip Gaines
Johnson and Conley are expected to start outside, with Roby in the slot. This group looks very similar to the cornerback unit from last season, with the exception of veteran corner Johnathan Joseph, who signed a one-year deal with the Titans in March. Houston will hope Hargreaves, a former first-round pick, taps into his potential and pushes Johnson, entering his second season after an up-and-down rookie campaign, for snaps.
SAFETY (5): Justin Reid, A.J. Moore, Eric Murray, Michael Thomas, Jaylen Watkins
Reid played through the entire 2019 season with a torn labrum, missing only one game, but needed surgery during the offseason. New defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said he could see Reid "taking a huge jump" in his third season if he is 100 percent healthy. The Texans could still add to this position in training camp, but if they do not, Murray is expected to start alongside Reid. Thomas and Watkins might primarily contribute on special teams.
SPECIALIST (3): Ka'imi Fairbairn, Bryan Anger, Jon Weeks
All three re-signed with Houston in the last year and are expected to retain their roles in 2020.