Houston Texans Preseason Review: Key Takeaways and Roster Decisions

Preseason Finale Reactions

• 🙏 JJ Moses expressed gratitude for the team emerging from the preseason without major injuries, emphasizing health for the regular season.
• 🧐 Brandon Scott approached the final game with curiosity about backup performance and roster battles, noting players like Woody Marks and Jaden Higgins who impressed.
• 🤔 Luis Ortiz felt a mix of anticipation and impatience, questioning the real-world applicability of performances from a game where key contributors were absent.
• 📉 The offensive struggles with penalties in the final game were highlighted as a likely point of concern for Coach DeMeco Ryans.

Standout Players and Surprises

• 🏃‍♂️ Braxton Berrios was highlighted for his energy, leadership, and fit within the team's scheme, with a mention of his kick return abilities.
• 🛡️ Rookie Arante Usery was a significant surprise, potentially solving offensive line issues and proving capable at both right and left tackle.
• 🏈 Xavier Hutchinson impressed with his confidence and progress, earning praise from CJ Stroud for his development.
• 🎯 Austin Brinkman, the long snapper, was noted as a surprise due to the team's struggles with snaps when he wasn't in the game, following a long-tenured predecessor.
• 📊 Woody Marks was recognized for quietly making a case for the running back position, exceeding expectations with his performance, especially in the final game.

Biggest Disappointments During Training Camp

• 🤕 The health of key players, particularly Joe Mixon and CJ Gardner-Johnson, was a significant disappointment, raising concerns about their readiness for Week 1.
• 🏥 The season-ending injury to Brevin Jordan was a tough blow, especially given his previous injury struggles.
• 📈 Blake Fisher was a disappointment on the revamped offensive line, appearing to regress in his second year.
• 🏃‍♂️ The entire running back group was called out for a lack of a standout performer until Woody Marks' late emergence, creating uncertainty.

Toughest Roster Cut Decisions

• 🏈 The running back position is considered the most difficult due to the uncertainty surrounding Joe Mixon's injury and the close competition for backup roles.
• 🧑‍🦰 The wide receiver corps presents a good problem to have, with emerging talent like Hutchinson and others creating depth and tough choices.
• 🛡️ The defensive tackle position is also challenging, with players like Tommy Togei forcing their way into a numbers game against established players.
• 🧐 The overall uncertainty at running back, without a clear starter due to Mixon's injury, makes it harder to differentiate between players and make final roster decisions.