HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans open the 2024 NFL regular season at the Indianapolis Colts on Sept.8 at Lucas Oil Stadium, and their roster has Pro Bowlers in five different position groups with a couple of former All-Pro players, as well.
Heading into Year 2 under coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans are viewed as contenders in a loaded AFC, and they could have one of the best offenses in the league. Training camp will give a glimpse of how everything will mesh while watching a couple of intriguing battles. There will be noteworthy veterans fighting for a roster spot, specifically at the receiver position, as well.
Here is the 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): C.J Stroud, Davis Mills, Case Keenum.
This will be the same group as last season. Stroud is the entrenched starter and the Texans love the veteran leadership Keenum brings to the quarterback room that has two players under the age of 26. But if Stroud misses time again (he missed two last season with a concussion), the Texans feel comfortable with Keenum or Mills.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Joe Mixon, Dare Ogunbowale, J.J. Taylor, Dameon Pierce
Mixon is the lead back, but Ryans has raved about Pierce's offseason and envisions a "1-2 punch." Ogunbowale brings special team value as a gunner and an emergency kicker. In 2023, when Ka'imi Fairbairn suffered an injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ogunbowale nailed a 29-yard field goal.
FULLBACK (1): Andrew Beck
Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik used a fullback on 20.7% of offensive plays, fourth highest, in 2023. Expect that number to remain as long as Beck is on the roster.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Xavier Hutchinson, Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Nico Collins, Noah Brown, John Metchie III
The cut from this group is Robert Woods. The Texans signed Woods in March 2023 to a two-year, $15 million contract, and in Year 1, he finished with 426 yards and one touchdown. The Texans could save almost $5 million against the cap if they release him. Their main trio is Diggs, Collins and Dell. But backup options like Hutchinson and Metchie are on cheap, rookie contracts, and Brown is set to earn less than Woods.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Brevin Jordan, Dalton Schultz, Cade Stover
Last year the Texans kept only three tight ends on the active roster and expect the same in 2024. Schultz signed a three-year, $36 million extension so he's a lock. The Texans like Jordan's playmaking and are also excited to see how Stover meshes. General manager Nick Caserio said Stover is as "blue-collar as they come," and he has history with Stroud since both played at Ohio State.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Laremy Tunsil, Charlie Heck, Blake Fisher, Tytus Howard, Shaq Mason, Kenyon Green, Juice Scruggs, Jarrett Patterson, Kendrick Green
The starters are Tunsil, Scruggs, Mason, Howard and Kenyon Green, as each player is either on a big salary and/or was a high-draft pick currently on a rookie deal. With the backups, Kendrick Green and Patterson have experience playing center and guard so that gives the Texans options to step in if any of the interior starters went down.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): Tim Settle, Marcus Harris, Foley Fatukasi, Khalil Davis, Danielle Hunter, Dylan Horton, Derek Barnett, Denico Autry, Will Anderson Jr., Mario Edwards Jr.
The defensive end spots are set. It'll be Anderson and Hunter. The interior will be a battle to watch throughout camp. What gives guys like Fatukasi and Davis the edge over their competitors is talent and familiarity with the scheme. Also Ryans is high on Settle and believes under his scheme, he'll have a productive season.
LINEBACKERS (5): Henry To'oTo'o, Jamal Hill, Neville Hewitt, Christian Harris, Azeez Al-Shaair
The starting duo is Al-Shaair and Harris. The Texans believe this duo can be one of the more physically gifted linebacker combos in the NFL. Al-Shaair finished last season with 163 tackles and Harris came on strong at the end, capping his Year 2 with a pick six in the wild-card round against the Cleveland Browns. Hewitt and To'oTo'o should net a spot because of the value they offer in the special team game.
CORNERBACKS (5): Derek Stingley Jr., Jeff Okudah, Kamari Lassiter, Desmond King II, Myles Bryant
The battle for who starts opposite Stingley is fascinating. It appears Lassiter, who was the Texans first selection this year with the 10th pick in the second round, has the lead in the race ahead of former No. 3 overall pick Okudah after running with the first-team defense during minicamp. If Lassiter continues his strong offseason, he has a shot to wrap that competition up mid way through camp.
SAFETIES (4): Jimmie Ward, Calen Bullock, Jalen Pitre, Eric Murray
The starters are expected to be Pitre and Ward, but if Bullock has a strong camp he could push for a starting role. The third-round pick out of USC has ballhawk skills (nine interceptions in college), and if he can flash that ability, Ryans could put him into the starting role and maybe shift Ward to nickel.
SPECIALISTS (3): Ka'imi Fairbairn, Jon Weeks, Tommy Townsend
Two-thirds of the group remain the same as the Texans punter situation changed. The Texans replaced Cameron Johnston, who signed the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a 2022 All-Pro in Townsend.