A look at the Houston Texans final 53-man roster to get to the league mandated number.
Quarterback
(2) Tom Savage, Deshaun Watson
Analysis: Texans opt to go with two quarterbacks heading into the season. Says more about Watson and the team being comfortable with where he is as a quarterback.
Running Back
(7) Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, D’Onta Foreman, Tyler Ervin, Jordan Todman, Akeem Hunt, Jay Prosch
Analysis: Texans arrive with a loaded backfield but some of it may be due to injury. Ervin has been splitting time with wide receiver. Foreman, Blue and Hunt were all banged up with various injuries. Todman will take over the kick return duties for the early portion of the year.
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Wide Receiver
(4) DeAndre Hopkins, Braxton Miller, Bruce Ellington, Jaelen Strong
Analysis: Texans go light at wide receiver and two will not be with the team in week one. Fuller will more than likely go to the injured reserve opening up a spot while Strong will be suspended for week one. Ellington and Miller will be used plenty early in the season. Hopkins remains the headliner of the group.
Tight End
(3) C.J. Fiedorowicz, Ryan Griffin, Stephen Anderson
Analysis: No real surprises with this group. This group has been set in stone since the team arrived during the spring.
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Offensive Line
(4) Chris Clark, Kendall Lamm, Breno Giacomini, Julien Davenport
(2) Xavier Su’a-Filo, Jeff Allen,
(2) Nick Martin, Greg Mancz, Kyle Fuller
Analysis: The Texans opt to move on from their guards and depend on Greg Mancz and Kyle Fuller to bring up the depth of this group. The Texans offensive lineman are an interesting group especially with no Duane Brown for the time being.
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Specialist
(3) Jon Weeks, Shane Lechler, Ka’imi Fairbairn
Analysis: The Texans move forward with Ka'imi Fairbairn which changes the game for the special teams. It will be important for Fairbairn to start off strong.
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Defensive Line
(6) J.J. Watt, Christian Covington, D.J. Reader, Joel Heath, Carlos Watkins, Brandon Dunn
Analysis: Small victory for Brandon Dunn who makes the roster coming out of the preseason. It could be because of potential injury issues to the group. The rest of the group remains the same heading to week one.
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Outside Linebackers /Edge
(4) Whitney Mercilus, Jadeveon Clowney, Brennan Scarlett, Ufomba Kamalu
Analysis: Another group with no surprises, this is the group they ended last season with and will continue into 2017 with. Scarlett will get important snaps when Clowney and Mercilus need breaks during the game.
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Linebackers
(5) Brian Cushing, Benardrick McKinney, Zach Cunningham, Dylan Cole, Brian Peters
Analysis: Texans get young in a hurry with Cunningham and Cole coming to the linebacker group. Cole won a spot for his hard nosed approach to the game and will be depended on for special teams. He could find a role in the defense moving forward with continued solid play. The top three linebackers are set with Cushing, McKinney and Cunningham.
Cornerbacks
(5) Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, Kevin Johnson, Treston Decoud, Dee Virgin
Analysis: Credit Dee Virgin for locking up a roster spot at cornerback and he is a physical player at the position. Him and Decoud will be important parts of the special teams unit. Decoud will be called upon in coverage outside of the top three first.
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Safeties
(5) Andre Hal, Eddie Pleasant, Corey Moore, Kurtis Drummond, Marcus Gilchrist
Analysis: The Texans go with a group they trust the most and Gilchrist makes the roster despite an up and down preseason. The top three options are Hal, Moore and Pleasant. The Texans remain confident that Drummond and turn it on as a player.