season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/sneaky-houston-texans-trade-candidates-entering-2025-training-camp');   ga('set', 'title', '2 sneaky Houston Texans trade candidates entering 2025 training camp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/X-sneaky-Houston-Texans-trade-candidates-entering-2025-training-camp.jpg"></figure><h1>2 sneaky Houston Texans trade candidates entering 2025 training camp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-08T04:59:24-07:00">July 8th, 4:59am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-08T04:59:24-07:00">July 8th, 4:59am</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Fresh off consecutive trips to the AFC Divisional Round, the Houston Texans are entering 2025 training camp with both momentum and mounting pressure. After riding the electric rise of quarterback CJ Stroud to an unexpected playoff berth in his rookie year, Houston came crashing back to earth in 2024. A sophomore slump from Stroud and a second-half slide saw the team stumble into the playoffs. Of course, it was only to exit once again short of their Super Bowl aspirations.</p><p>The result? A franchise sitting at a fork in the road. Houston has ith sky-high expectations, a ticking financial clock, and the uncomfortable reality that this window to contend might already be shrinking.</p><h2><b>High Hopes, Tight Margins</b></h2><p>The Texans went all-in during the 2024 offseason, aiming to take advantage of anf unexpected Super Bowl window that opened during <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-cj-stroud-aggressive-mindset-after-uneven-mnf-performance">Stroud’s spectacular rookie campaign</a>. However, Stroud <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-cj-stroud-ugly-interception-chargers-harsh-criticism">hit a sophomore slump</a>. As such, Houston barely clawed its way into the playoffs with little hope of a deep postseason run.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CJ-Stroud-is-sacked-by-Joshua-Williams.jpg"><figcaption>Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>They still have the advantage of Stroud’s rookie contract, but they need to recalibrate quickly to make the most of it. Houston has only $11.6 million in cap space. They also have high-priced veterans like Danielle Hunter, Dalton Schultz, Tytus Howard, and Joe Mixon eating up a big chunk of the budget. Now, the Texans are under pressure to make every dollar count during their shrinking championship window.</p><p>Houston remains a favorite to win the AFC South for a third straight year. They surely have the talent to be dangerous in the playoffs. However, if the team gets off to a slow start, it could trigger a trade-deadline sell-off.</p><p>After starting last season 6-2 and finishing 4-5, another late-season slide could prompt the front office to jumpstart a rebuild by offloading expensive veterans in return for draft picks and cap relief.</p><p>With major contract extensions looming for Stroud <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-will-anderson-jr-best-nfl-tackle">and emerging defensive standout</a> Will Anderson Jr, Houston would be wise to start clearing financial space and invest in younger, cheaper talent through the draft.</p><p>Here are two veterans flying under the radar who could surprisingly be dealt before Week 1.</p><h2><b>Veteran Target Could Be First Domino to Fall</b></h2><p>Schultz has been one of Stroud’s most reliable weapons since joining the Texans. The former has served as a security blanket across the middle and in red-zone situations. That said, for all of his production and leadership, Schultz’s <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/hou/houston-texans">presence on the roster</a> may be more of a luxury than a necessity in 2025.</p><p>Why? Because of his contract, age, and the emergence of younger, cheaper options.</p><p>Schultz inked a multi-year deal with Houston after a strong stint in Dallas. Sure, he’s lived up to expectations on the field. However, his cap hit is beginning to look hefty, especially in the context of the Texans’ dwindling financial flexibility. With Houston’s long list of future expenses looming, Schultz is a logical candidate if the Texans start making business-first decisions.</p><p>Several factors support this scenario. First, the Texans have quietly restocked their pass-catching corps through the draft and free agency. This includes tight end depth that could make Schultz more expendable. If Brevin Jordan finally puts it all together, Houston may decide to flip Schultz for a mid-round pick while he still has strong market value.</p><p>Second, teams across the league are always looking for a dependable tight end with experience and proven production. If a contender suffers an injury at the position or simply wants to bolster their red-zone packages, Schultz could fetch interest in late August or early September.</p><p>The fact is that Schultz is exactly the kind of player who gets traded when a good team tries to stay great by getting younger, cheaper, and more sustainable.</p><h2><b>Versatile Lineman Could Be a Surprise Asset on the Block</b></h2><p>Tytus Howard has been a mainstay on Houston’s offensive line since being drafted in the first round back in 2019. He offers stability in both guard and tackle roles. Still, heading into the 2025 season, his future with the team is less certain than ever.</p><p>The Texans’ line has been undergoing a quiet transformation over the past two seasons. They have brought in younger talent to challenge for starting spots. That trend, combined with Howard’s sizable contract, opens the door for a potential pre-Week 1 deal.</p><p>Note that Howard’s name has already surfaced in trade rumors this offseason. His versatility makes him a valuable asset. That’s especially true for teams dealing with injuries up front or those looking to solidify depth before the grind of the regular season. A team like the Steelers, Raiders, or even the Packers could easily see value in adding a plug-and-play lineman with experience and playoff reps under his belt.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Houston_staying_optimistic_on_Tytus_Howard_injury_return_before_Week_1.jpg"></figure><p>More telling, though, is Houston’s approach in camp. The Texans have been rotating younger linemen at multiple positions. They will test out different combinations and openly evaluate the long-term fit of each piece. If one of their draft picks or recent signings starts outperforming expectations, the coaching staff may decide it’s time to move on from Howard.</p><p>Trading Howard wouldn’t just save money; it would be a clear signal that the team is serious about sustaining success with a younger core.</p><h2><b>Sneaky Moves Could Shape Houston’s 2025 Fate</b></h2><p>Yes, the Texans are still considered legitimate contenders. On the flip side, the reality is more fragile than it appears. If this season begins the way the last one ended, Houston’s front office could take swift action. And when the time comes to retool, players like Dalton Schultz and Tytus Howard could be among the first casualties of a roster reset designed to keep the Texans competitive in the long run.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2 sneaky Houston Texans trade candidates entering 2025 training camp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-j-j-watt-donates-10000-ex-teammate-battling-cancer');   ga('set', 'title', 'J.J. Watt donates $10,000 to former Texans teammate battling cancer');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/JJ-Watt.jpg"><figcaption>Thomas Shea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>J.J. Watt donates $10,000 to former Texans teammate battling cancer</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-06T09:15:22-07:00">July 6th, 9:15am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-06T09:15:22-07:00">July 6th, 9:15am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans are gearing up for an important 2025 NFL season. Houston made it back to the playoffs in 2024 <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-most-blame-divisional-round-loss-chiefs">but could not get past Kansas City</a>. Now the Texans <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/perfect-houston-texans-move-roster-2025-training-camp">need to hit the ground running in training camp</a> to get the season started on a good note. One former Texans star is helping out one of his former teammates after a brutal medical diagnosis.</p><p>Former Texans linebacker Bryan Braman is <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45675050/former-texans-eagles-lb-bryan-braman-rare-form-cancer" rel="noopener">undergoing treatment</a> for a rare and aggressive form of cancer, per ESPN. Braman’s lifetime agent described the situation as extremely serious.</p><p>Texans legend JJ Watt is doing what he can to help Braman afford his cancer treatments.</p><p>Watt, who was teammates with Braman in Houston, made a $10,000 donation to Braman’s GoFundMe. The GoFundMe raised more than $52,000 on Saturday morning. Braman also received donations from other former teammates.</p><p>His GoFundMe <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-bryan-bramans-healing-journey" rel="noopener">now stands at over $80,000</a>.</p><p>Braman’s agent Sean Stellato <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2025/07/04/in-the-fight-of-his-life-ex-texans-linebacker-bryan-braman-battles-rare-form-of-cancer-jj-watt-donates-10000/" rel="noopener">shared an update</a> with KPRC2 in Houston on Friday.</p><p>“At Stellato Sports, Bryan Braham has always stood for strength, resilience and leadership,” Stellato told KPRC 2 in Houston. “He is a pillar and a staple of the underdog. Now, in the face of cancer, he embodies those qualities more than ever. If there is one person that I know that can beat cancer, it is Bryan Braman, who I have always considered family. He’s in the fight of his life.”</p><p>Braman, a native of Spokane, Washington, has already undergone treatment in Seattle. He is with his family while he undergoes further treatment.</p><p>Braman joined the Texans in 2011 as an undrafted free agent. His biggest moments came on special teams, including multiple blocked punters during his career. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2012.</p><p>Braman’s brightest moment in the NFL came as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. He left the Texans to join the Eagles in 2014 when he signed a two-year, $3.15 million contract in free agency.</p><p>Braman had a short stint with the Saints in 2017 before joining the Eagles in December. His timing was perfect, joining the Eagles just before the playoffs during their 2017 Super Bowl run. He made an impact right away, blocking a punt during Philly’s divisional round win against Atlanta.</p><p>In fact, Braman went out on top as Philadelphia’s victory in Super Bowl 52 was his final NFL game.</p><p>Hopefully Braman can make a fully recovery as soon as possible.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

J.J. Watt donates $10,000 to former Texans teammate battling cancer

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-give-500000-support-texas-hill-country-flooding');   ga('set', 'title', 'Texans give $500,000 in support after Texas Hill Country flooding');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Houston-Texans-logo-on-back-of-a-helmet.jpg"><figcaption>© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Texans give $500,000 in support after Texas Hill Country flooding</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-05T09:52:17-07:00">July 5th, 9:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-05T09:52:33-07:00">July 5th, 9:52am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-houston-donates-500000-amid-deshaun-watson-drama">Houston Texans are lending a helping hand after recent flooding</a> in the state of Texas. Houston is giving $500,000 to <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1941519048073957446" rel="noopener">help in relief efforts</a>, per ESPN.</p><p>“We are heartbroken by the loss and damage that are neighbors in the Texas Hill Country have endured,” Texans owners Janice, Hannah and Cal McNair said in part in a statement.</p><p>More than 20 people have died due to flash floods that occurred in the state in recent days. There are many more people still unaccounted for, including children.</p><p>“We are especially devastated to hear about the children who are missing and we are praying they are reunited with their families soon. Our hearts will remain with everyone affected and in addition to our donation, we will continue to support the search, rescue and recovery efforts in the coming weeks,” the owners added.</p><p>Texas Hill Country is an area in the southern and central part of that state. The governor of Texas issued a disaster declaration following the floods.</p><h2><b>The Texans will join city to help in relief efforts</b></h2><p>The Texans are expected to continue coordinating with emergency response teams in the coming days. This is due to the large amount of destruction the flooding has done to the hill country area. Houston’s firefighters and first responders are heavily <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2025/07/05/heartbroken-texans-donating-500000-to-benefit-texas-hill-country-community-after-devastating-floods/" rel="noopener">involved in rescue efforts</a>, per KPRC News.</p><p>The floods have occurred <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/1-obvious-houston-texans-trade-candidate-entering-2025-training-camp">just days before the start of Texans training camp</a>. Training camp begins in mid-July for the team, as well for the NFL’s other franchises.</p><p>The Houston area is well-versed in how bad flooding can be. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey sent hurricane force winds and strong rain through the area, causing damage. Many Texans players including J.J. Watt <a href="https://x.com/jjwatt/status/1941329611167764866?s=46" rel="noopener">stood up to help</a> the city.</p><p>“Devastated reading about these flash floods in Texas. Please bring those girls home safely,” Watt said on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday following these recent rains.</p><p>During the 2024 season, the Texans made the playoffs before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Texans give $500,000 in support after Texas Hill Country flooding

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/2-way-too-early-2026-nfl-draft-prospects-houston-texans-monitor');   ga('set', 'title', '2 way-too-early 2026 NFL Draft prospects Houston Texans must monitor');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/X-way-too-early-2026-NFL-Draft-prospects-Houston-Texans-must-monitor.jpg"></figure><h1>2 way-too-early 2026 NFL Draft prospects Houston Texans must monitor</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-03T07:50:18-07:00">July 3rd, 7:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-03T07:50:18-07:00">July 3rd, 7:50am</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans are no longer the rebuilding squad people penciled in as a weekly “W” just a couple seasons ago. They’re young, bold, and hungry. They also have just enough playoff experience to be taken seriously. On the flip side, Houston also has plenty of unfinished business to fuel its offseason obsessions. And as always in today’s NFL, success starts and ends in the trenches. With the 2025 season still to be played and the 2026 NFL Draft still a season away, two college prospects stand out as names Texans fans should have circled in red ink.</p><h2><b>Progress or Plateau?</b></h2><p>First thing’s first, the 2024 Texans notched double-digit wins, claimed the AFC South crown, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/chargers-most-blame-ugly-wild-card-loss-texans">picked up a Wild Card victory</a> over the Chargers. Those are all clear signs of progress.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Texans-QB-CJ-Stroud.jpg"><figcaption>Denny Medley-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>On the other hand, CJ Stroud regressed from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-cj-strouds-limited-otas-worries-nfl-insider">breakout star to just average</a>. What began as a dark horse Super Bowl bid ended in a season with a zero point differential. That’s a telling stat that made the campaign feel underwhelming relative to the lofty preseason expectations.</p><p>Still, it’s a new year and a refreshed Texans squad. The front office addressed its offensive shortcomings by parting ways with OC Bobby Slowik. They just brought in former Patriots and Rams assistant Nick Caley. Add in revamped offensive line and wide receiver groups, and there’s no shortage of new faces aiming to push Houston closer to its elusive first Super Bowl appearance.</p><p>They’re not quite a title favorite, sure. However, with the AFC South still lacking a true powerhouse, a third straight division title remains well within reach.</p><p>Here we’ll try to look at two players who are way-too-early 2026 NFL Draft prospects the Houston Texans must monitor.</p><h2><b>The Blindside Builder</b></h2><p>The Texans have reshaped their offensive line room. This time, though, they have a level of urgency that reflects just how narrow their window might be. After allowing 52 sacks in 2024, the front office made the bold decision <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/commanders-news-laremy-tunsil-trade-nfl-coordinator-on-edge">to move on from All-Pro left tackle</a> Laremy Tunsil. In his place, a committee of veterans and younger prospects now compete for the chance to protect Stroud’s blind side.</p><p>Enter Austin Barber, the 6’6″, 314-pound left tackle from Florida who could end up being one of the most polished pass protectors in next year’s draft class. Barber started 12 games last season. He was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise underwhelming Gators squad. What makes Barber so appealing is his technique. His hand placement is clean and purposeful. His footwork is efficient. Barber’s ability to move in space makes him a natural fit for Caley’s zone-heavy run schemes.</p><p>With second-round rookie Aireontae Ersery likely to slide between guard and tackle, the Texans could absolutely benefit from another plug-and-play edge protector. Barber isn’t a generational talent, but his floor is that of a multi-year starter. As such, he offers Houston insurance and maybe even a long-term answer at one of football’s most important positions.</p><h2><b>A Mean Streak in the Middle</b></h2><p>The 2025 Texans might be set along the offensive line, but they certainly aren’t set for 2026. The trio of Cam Robinson, Trent Brown, and Laken Tomlinson were all brought in as short-term stopgaps. They each have one-year contracts. That leaves a gaping question mark across the entire left side of the line moving forward.</p><p>That’s where Alabama mauler Jaeden Roberts could come in.</p><p>At 6’5″ and 325 pounds, Roberts is built like a refrigerator with arms. He also plays with the same unforgiving physicality. A redshirt senior with strong fundamentals, Roberts has been a steady presence on the interior for the Crimson Tide. Yes, he may lack the first-step explosiveness of a Tyler Booker. That said, Roberts brings his own brand of nastiness, particularly in run blocking. That’s where he often finishes defenders into the dirt.</p><p>Houston’s interior line could use that identity shift. As much as Caley wants to open up the playbook, the Texans still need to line up and push people around when it counts. Roberts offers just that. He is a tone-setter who brings toughness, durability, and leadership. He may start at left guard, but his frame and movement skills offer flexibility to slide to right guard or even center in a pinch.</p><p>If the Texans want to continue building a bully-ball identity in January football, Roberts is the kind of player who helps you punch defenses in the mouth.</p><h2><b>Looking Ahead</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Houston-Texans-safety-Jalen-Pitre-celebrates-after-making-an-interception-during-the-second-quarter-against-the-Indianapolis-Colts-at-NRG-Stadium.jpg"><figcaption>© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Houston has tasted playoff wins. Now it’s about playoff consistency. They need to find the final pieces <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/hou">that elevate the roster</a> from “exciting young team” to true AFC powerhouse. With contracts expiring and new systems being installed, the offensive line will again be a point of emphasis. Watching players like Barber and Roberts closely this fall isn’t just due diligence. It’s future-proofing.</p><p>Because if Stroud is to take the next leap, it won’t just be about the weapons on the outside. It’ll be about the five men up front keeping him upright. The front office must ensure they’ve got options if the current ones don’t last.</p><p>And these two prospects? They might be just what Houston needs to finish the job.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2 way-too-early 2026 NFL Draft prospects Houston Texans must monitor

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/1-obvious-houston-texans-trade-candidate-entering-2025-training-camp');   ga('set', 'title', '1 obvious Houston Texans trade candidate entering 2025 training camp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/C.J.-Stroud-could-use-a-top-wide-receiver.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>1 obvious Houston Texans trade candidate entering 2025 training camp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-26T22:07:45-07:00">June 26th, 10:07pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-26T22:10:23-07:00">June 26th, 10:10pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>If there’s one thing the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/2-hottest-texans-takes-2025-minicamp">Houston Texans</a> want to prove in the 2025 season, it’s that they have an offense that can compete with the best teams in the AFC.</p><p>The Texans have demonstrated quite a bit of consistency the last two years because they have won back-to-back AFC South Division titles. While quarterback <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StroCJ00.htm">C.J. Stroud is responsible</a> for quite a big of the team’s success, the Texans appeared to be a team on the rise when they won the division title in 2023, but they struggled to get back to the same position last year.</p><p>The Texans had a difficult time coming up with strong offensive performances last year, and many observers wanted to point the finger at Stroud because he did not demonstrate the kind of growth in Year 2 that they were expecting after a brilliant year as a rookie.</p><p>But a closer look reveals that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/houston-texans-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-2025-nfl-season">the Texans</a> did not have the kind of talent at the receiver position that would have led to a brilliant season from Stroud. The Texans have several functional receivers, but they don’t have anything close to a superstar.</p><p>Perhaps Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio is thinking about a trade with training camp right around the corner. If he is looking at a top-flight wide receiver, he will have to part with a player of similar talent. He might want to consider trading Danielle Hunter.</p><p>Hunter has been a superstar throughout his career. The 30-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowler. Hunter is entering his second season with the Texans after signing a free-agent contract prior to the 2024 season.</p><p>Prior to that, he spent eight seasons with the <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/">Minnesota Vikings</a>, and he had several dominant seasons.</p><p>Hunter is an excellent pass rusher who has had double-figures in sacks six times throughout his career. He had a career-best 16.5 sacks in 2023, and he followed that up with 12.0 sacks last season.</p><p>While Hunter has been quite consistent throughout his career, he had back-to-back injury-plagued season in 2020 and 2021. He did not play at all in 2020 and was on the field in just 7 games in 2021.</p><p>If the Texans were to trade Hunter, he could bring an elite receiver in return. That could be just the <a href="https://roobetalternatives.com/five-quarterbacks-under-heavy-pressure-in-2025/">thing that Stroud needs</a> to get to the elite level among AFC quarterbacks.</p><h2><b>Jets could use a pass rusher like Hunter</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Danielle-Hunter-could-bring-the-Texans-quite-a-bit-in-return.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is a defensive specialist. He served as the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator before he was named as head coach in New York.</p><p><a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyj/">The Jets</a> appear to have a fairly decent defense led by defensive end Will McDonald. He had 10.5 sacks last season, but he is not stout against the run. He checks in at 236 pounds, and that means bigger offensive tackles can limit what he does when they get in the first shot.</p><p>Quinnen Williams can be a star at defensive tackle, but he is up one moment and hard to find the next. The linebacking crew is decent, but the Jets don’t have stars in that area.</p><p>If the Texans sent Hunter to the Jets, the New York defense would have the kind of muscle that Glenn would like to see. His presence could give the Jets a shutdown defense.</p><h2>Wilson has the skills to upgrade the Texans receiving crew</h2><p>The Texans would want Jets <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WilsGa00.htm">wide receiver Garrett Wilson</a>. The New York offense has been quite inconsistent the past two season, but despite halting play at the quarterback position, Wilson has become a star. He caught 101 passes last year for 1,104 yards and 7 touchdowns.</p><p>He has incredible skill when it comes to getting off the line of scrimmage and he also has wonderful hand-eye coordination. That means if his quarterback throws him a pass in the same area code — as opposed to a perfect pass within his frame — Wilson is going to make that catch.</p><p>That would have to comfort Stroud quite a bit.</p><p>Yes, losing Hunter would be a significant blow. However, Wilson has a chance to turn the Texans into a much better offensive team than they have been in the past.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 obvious Houston Texans trade candidate entering 2025 training camp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-peyton-manning-drops-careful-take-cj-stroud-down-year-2');   ga('set', 'title', 'Peyton Manning drops ‘careful’ take on C.J. Stroud’s ‘down’ Year 2');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Peyton-Manning.jpg"><figcaption>© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Peyton Manning drops ‘careful’ take on C.J. Stroud’s ‘down’ Year 2</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-26T15:29:47-07:00">June 26th, 3:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-26T15:30:13-07:00">June 26th, 3:30pm</time><address><a>Guillermo Guajardo</a>Guillermo Guajardo is a dynamic sports presenter with experience on various television channels and digital platforms, most recently with A Tiempo.TV. He is also a multidisciplinary artist with 10 years of experience in acting, directing, writing, and hosting. His work in film has been recognized at international festivals, earning awards for both his performances and directorial projects.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>C.J. Stroud, the talented quarterback for the Houston Texans, has been busy this offseason addressing the chatter <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-cj-stroud-reacts-fans-booing-texans-embarrassing-loss-ravens">about a potential “down year” in 2024</a>. However, he received a strong endorsement this week from none other than Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. At Fanatics Fest, Manning <a href="https://x.com/TexansCommenter/status/1937875381509398997" rel="noopener">brushed aside the criticism aimed</a> at Stroud, highlighting the young quarterback’s impressive growth and consistent playoff performance as standout qualities for someone so early in their career.</p><p>At just 22 years old during the 2024 season, Stroud has already led the Texans to the<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/peyton-manning-defends-cj-stroud-down-year-accusations-texans-playoffs" rel="noopener"> playoffs in both of his first two seasons.</a> Manning pointed out that he didn’t secure a playoff victory until his sixth year in the NFL, making Stroud’s progress all the more remarkable.</p><p>After a stellar rookie season that earned him Pro Bowl recognition and the title of Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud faced heightened expectations. Although his 2024 numbers saw a slight decline — with 3,727 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions — he still managed to keep the Texans atop the AFC South. Manning stressed that the second year can bring a fresh set of challenges, especially when defenses have more film to analyze, according to Yahoo Sports.</p><p>Stroud also dealt with injuries to key offensive players like Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins, which contributed to his dip in production. Additionally, the Texans allowed 52 sacks in 2024, the second-highest in the league, which added more pressure on Stroud in the pocket. Still, he led the Houston Texans to another playoff victory, demonstrating his composure and leadership at the right time.</p><p>Manning’s remarks at Fanatics Fest stressed how quickly Stroud is progressing and learning NFL defenses. He said usually teams get used to young quarterbacks after their first year, and in their second year, they adjust to what the teams do to make him make decisions differently. He also added that Stroud has experience and uses film study to make his adjustments. With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-bobby-slowik-out-as-offensive-coordinator">Texans also shaking things up at offensive coordinator</a> after Bobby Slowik’s exit, the third-year QB will be stepping into a new system to develop in, as noted by Texans Commenter on X.</p><p>If Peyton Manning’s insights mean anything — and they certainly do — it looks like the Houston Texans have found a <a href="https://www.si.com/college/ohiostate/buckeyes-in-the-nfl/ohio-state-legend-gets-strong-message-from-peyton-manning" rel="noopener">long-term franchise quarterback</a> who’s just beginning his journey.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Peyton Manning drops ‘careful’ take on C.J. Stroud’s ‘down’ Year 2

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/perfect-houston-texans-move-roster-2025-training-camp');   ga('set', 'title', '1 perfect Houston Texans move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-perfect-Houston-Texans-move-to-fill-out-roster-before-2025-training-camp.jpg"></figure><h1>1 perfect Houston Texans move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-23T21:53:17-07:00">June 23rd, 9:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-23T21:53:17-07:00">June 23rd, 9:53pm</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans are no longer a feel-good upstart. Truthfully, they’re a legitimate AFC threat. However, after back-to-back AFC South titles and consecutive wild-card wins, there’s a creeping sense that they may have hit a plateau. Sure, they’re still trending upward under head coach DeMeco Ryans. That said, the AFC is brutally competitive. To keep pace with the true contenders, Houston can’t afford any roster inefficiencies.</p><p>Of course, quarterback CJ Stroud is already a top-tier talent. Still, his second-year dips exposed a few cracks that could become full-on fault lines if the Texans don’t make one final smart move before training camp.</p><h2><b>Upgrades, Setbacks, and a Big Gamble</b></h2><p>For the second straight season, the Texans won the AFC South and advanced to the Divisional Round by winning a Wild-Card game. However, their 2024 campaign lacked the same electric spark of 2023. Stroud had a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-cj-strouds-limited-otas-worries-nfl-insider">good but uneven year</a>. His decision-making and composure remained strong. On the flip side, he was sacked a troubling 54 times and saw a dip in downfield accuracy.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CJ-Stroud-DeMeco-Ryans.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Injuries didn’t help either. Wide receivers Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs both suffered major setbacks, with Diggs missing several games. Dell’s injury likely sidelines him for all of 2025. Diggs <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/patriots-news-new-england-makes-final-decision-stefon-diggs-video-incident">then left for New England</a> in free agency. As a result, general manager Nick Caserio pivoted quickly. He traded for Christian Kirk and selected Jayden Higgins (Round 2) and Jaylin Noel (Round 3) in the draft.</p><p>The offensive line also underwent a major overhaul. Gone is five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil, now a Washington Commander. Former first-round pick Kenyon Green was also shipped out. In came Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson, Ed Ingram, Trent Brown, and rookie Aireontae Ersery. They add volume but not guaranteed quality. Caserio went all-in on quantity, but as any Texans fan knows, O-line chemistry doesn’t develop overnight. So while there’s optimism around the new-look offense, it’s built on shaky ground.</p><p>Here we’ll try to look at the perfect Houston Texans move <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/hou">to fill out their roster</a> before the 2025 training camp.</p><h2><b>The Perfect Move</b></h2><p>Amid all the offensive reshuffling, one player has quietly been squeezed out: John Metchie III.</p><p>The 2022 second-round pick has had a tumultuous journey. He fought through a leukemia diagnosis to make his NFL debut in 2023. That was an inspirational moment that rightfully earned league-wide respect. However, in the cold calculus of roster building, emotional narratives only go so far. With Houston investing heavily in new pass-catchers and leaning heavily on Nico Collins and a (hopefully) healthy Dell, there simply isn’t enough room or opportunity for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-texans-wr-john-metchie-scores-first-nfl-touchdown-sensational-play-vs-lions">Metchie to make a consistent impact</a>.</p><p>That’s not a knock on Metchie’s talent. At just 24 years old, he still has untapped upside and the toughness to contribute in the right environment. That said, Houston no longer looks like the place for him to blossom. If anything, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/christian-kirk-trade-grading-texans-jaguars-blockbuster-deal">keeping him clogs a wide receiver room</a> already desperate for clarity and chemistry.</p><h2><b>Why Trading Metchie Benefits Houston</b></h2><p>From a roster management perspective, dealing Metchie checks all the boxes. First, it frees up a valuable roster spot for a more pressing need. They can perhaps acquire an experienced offensive lineman to stabilize the shaky front or a veteran tight end to bolster red-zone production.</p><p>Second, it generates trade capital. Metchie won’t fetch a Day 1 or Day 2 pick, of course. Still, a mid-rounder or a conditional pick is more than feasible. Teams like the Panthers, Patriots, or even the Titans are in search of young receiver depth with upside. Any of them would benefit from taking a chance on a high-character player like Metchie.</p><p>Third, and most importantly, it sends a clear signal that the Texans are prioritizing fit and function over sentiment. That’s the type of edge needed in a deep AFC. The Texans aren’t a rebuilding team anymore. They’re a playoff fixture.</p><h2><b>Metchie’s Legacy and a Fresh Start</b></h2><p>Let’s be clear. This isn’t an indictment of Metchie. What he accomplished by returning to the field after battling acute promyelocytic leukemia is nothing short of heroic. He should be applauded, not discarded. However, he deserves more than a WR5 role with limited snaps and a crowded depth chart.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Houston-Texans-WR-John-Metchie-III.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>A trade gives him a chance to reset and develop chemistry with a quarterback who needs him. He needs to be in a place where he can carve out a real role. It’s a win-win move: Metchie gets a fresh start, and Houston clears the fog in their receiving corps.</p><h2><b>Final Word</b></h2><p>The Texans don’t need a blockbuster move before training camp. They’ve done most of the heavy lifting. But great teams sweat the small details. Dealing John Metchie III is the kind of small, smart move that could pay off down the line.</p><p>It clarifies the wide receiver rotation, avoids potential friction, and gives Houston the flexibility to address lingering O-line issues or defensive depth. Metchie’s story will continue, just not in Houston—and that’s okay.</p><p>To elevate from playoff team to Super Bowl contender, the Texans need every piece to fit. Trading John Metchie III ensures the puzzle comes together just a little bit tighter.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 perfect Houston Texans move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/2-hottest-texans-takes-2025-minicamp');   ga('set', 'title', '2 hottest Texans takes coming out of 2025 minicamp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-hottest-Houston-Texans-takes-coming-out-of-2025-minicamp.jpg"></figure><h1>2 hottest Texans takes coming out of 2025 minicamp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-20T11:03:20-07:00">June 20th, 11:03am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-20T11:03:20-07:00">June 20th, 11:03am</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It looks like <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-cj-stroud-tytus-howard-position-change-2025">Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud</a> is past the injury concerns, and one of his linemen <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-c-j-stroud-injury-concerns-squashed-mandatory-minicamp">has embraced a position change</a>. Those are a couple of storylines, but here are the three hottest takes coming out of the 2025 Texans minicamp.</p><p>It starts with the arrival of Nick Chubb. If the Texans can get anywhere near the production of Chubb in his prime, they might just make a run at the Super Bowl. Of course, that may be a stretch as the seven-year veteran has only played in 10 games over the last two seasons. He’s three years removed from a 1,525-yard explosion with 12 touchdowns.</p><p>But the hope remains for the 29-year-old running back to get healthy and star for the Texans.</p><h2><b>Texans RB Nick Chubb ready for fresh start</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Houston-Texans-RB-Nick-Chubb.jpg"><figcaption>Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Chubb said the decision <a href="https://www.houstontexans.com/news/key-storylines-from-day-2-of-minicamp-1-minute-recap" rel="noopener">to join forces</a> with the Texans didn’t seem difficult, according to houstontexans.com.</p><p>“I’ve always been a fan of Coach DeMeco (Ryans), and I know some guys on the team,” Chubb said. “I know Joe Mixon. I know what he’s about. (And) I know the opportunity I had here with this team, being an up-and-coming team. The past two years, they’ve really turned it on. I had a chance to come here and win a lot of games surrounded by a great group of people.”</p><p>Texans players have embraced the signing, including defensive end Danielle Hunter.</p><p>“I’ve watched him,” Hunter said. “He’s a tough runner, hard runner. The ability that he’s able to bring for his team, running through guys and making plays, that’s a plus for the team. We could always use something like that.”</p><p>Ryans said he believes Chubb can still <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/article/texans-rb-nick-chubb-ready-152301192.html" rel="noopener">be a difference-maker</a>, according to yahoo.com.</p><p>“We all know the caliber of player that Nick can be when he’s healthy and when he’s at the top of his game,” Ryans said. “He’s a dynamic player. He’s a game changer. So, we’re just easing him in. We’ll see how far he gets.”</p><p>Both Ryans and Chubb acknowledged the injury history.</p><p>“We understand its history,” Ryans said of Chubb. “But, we don’t dwell on that. We’re giving him an opportunity. We’ll see how it turns out for us here in Houston.”</p><p>Chubb added, “Injuries happen,” Chubb said Wednesday. “With the injury I had, it takes about two years to get back. So I’m over the hump. I was able to get a full year in of doing the things I do best. Now I’m feeling good as I have been in a long time.”</p><h2><b>Texans WR Jayden Higgins opening eyes</b></h2><p>Higgins has <a href="https://x.com/TexansCommenter/status/1932629391147717079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1932629391147717079%7Ctwgr%5E275ac67f1d270288396bc2e5a75c6df214e277b8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.battleredblog.com%2F2025%2F6%2F11%2F24447260%2Fis-houston-texans-rookie-jayden-higgins-another-nico-collins" rel="noopener">burst onto the scene</a> with the Texans, according to a post on X by Houston Stressans.</p><p>“It’s really exciting to see Jayden’s growth process in the short amount of time that he’s been here,” Ryans said. “I’ve seen a guy who has steadily got better, every single week. You’ve seen him make even more plays. To see a rookie who’s come in and showing that he can be an impact player for us.</p><p>“We saw it as coaches watching his film from the college game. But I think it just means a lot to the entire team … actually seeing him thrive in practice. It’s really awesome to see the work that he’s doing and the plays that he’s making.”</p><p>Higgins came to the Texans as their first pick, even though it didn’t happen until the second round. Some NFL observers immediately tabbed the pick as a steal. And Higgins has been living up to that hype so far.</p><p>However, there is one area where Higgins has gotten dinged. And that is, he doesn’t always catch everything that comes his way. Higgins had a drop rate <a href="https://medium.com/@jacobabarzilla/texans-draft-thoughts-grades-320151aa591e" rel="noopener">of over 7%</a> in college (according to Jacob Barzilla of medium.com). It’s something he will need to fix with the Texans if he wants to become a star. Otherwise, he could flame out early in his career.</p><p>Also, Barzilla said Higgins has an issue that could hurt him in the long run.</p><p>“For a bigger WR he caught with his body a little too much for my liking, which is something that can be fixed pretty easily,” Barzilla wrote. “But we have seen this be the fall of some bigger WRs in the NFL (Quentin Johnston).”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2 hottest Texans takes coming out of 2025 minicamp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-houston-signs-ex-raiders-first-round-cornerback-damon-arnette');   ga('set', 'title', 'Texans sign ex-Raiders first-round cornerback');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Former-Raiders-cornerback-Damon-Arnette.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Texans sign ex-Raiders first-round cornerback</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-18T13:15:55-07:00">June 18th, 1:15pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-18T13:15:55-07:00">June 18th, 1:15pm</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-nick-chubb-update-after-injuries-over-the-hump">Houston Texans are taking a chance</a> on a former first-round pick to potentially improve the cornerback room. Houston managed to sign Damon Arnette, who was initially picked by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2020 NFL Draft, to a new deal.</p><p>Arnette recently played for the Houston Roughnecks in the UFL <a href="https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/1935388004165517727" rel="noopener">before signing a contract</a> with the Texans, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. This is the first time since the 2022 season that the 28-year-old cornerback has been signed to an NFL team.</p><p>“NFL comeback story: Texans are expected to sign former Raiders first-round CB Damon Arnette, per source, who now returns to the NFL for the first time since 2022. Arnette just finished playing with the UFL’s Houston Roughnecks, recording 18 tackles, a sack, and a pick-six. Now he stays in Houston but with an NFL team.”</p><p>Damon Arnette went viral during his rookie season after posting controversial videos of himself brandishing a customized firearm on social media and delivering verbal threats. The Raiders released him in 2021 after he was arrested on gun and drug charges. He was given a second chance by the Kansas City Chiefs shortly after. However, the Chiefs released Arnette after he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.</p><p>Since then, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/las-vegas-raiders/raiders-news-ex-first-round-pick-legal-trouble-again-arrest-drug-gun-possession">Damon Arnette had another arrest</a> on drug and gun charges in 2024. His contract with the Texans is for one year. Despite the multiple off-the-field issues throughout his career, Houston is giving him an opportunity to prove himself at the professional level once again.</p><p>The Texans have a solid group of cornerbacks. Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter hold it down on the outside, while Jalen Pitre is the starter in the slot. Arnette will likely have to prove himself as a depth option for Houston if he hopes to avoid being cut to make the final roster. He’ll also have to avoid any off-the-field problems to stay in the league this time around.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Texans sign ex-Raiders first-round cornerback

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/texans-news-historic-rookie-dazzles-minicamp');   ga('set', 'title', 'Historic rookie dazzles at Texans minicamp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Texans-rookie-wideout-Jayden-Higgins.jpg"><figcaption>© Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Historic rookie dazzles at Texans minicamp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-17T07:11:32-07:00">June 17th, 7:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-17T07:11:44-07:00">June 17th, 7:11am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans have found a new star in their wide receiver room. Rookie Jayden Higgins is impressing teammates and coaches this summer. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/houston-texans-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-2025-nfl-season">Higgins was selected in the second round by the Texans</a>, and he is <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45525143/houston-texans-five-things-learned-minicamp" rel="noopener">making a lasting impression</a> at minicamp.</p><p>“It’s been really exciting to see Jayden’s growth process in the short amount of time that he’s been here,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said, per ESPN. “I’ve seen a guy who’s steadily got better every single week. You’ve seen him make even more plays. Seeing him today, this is the most plays that he’s made. In our last week of camp, to see a rookie who’s come in and showing right now that he could be an impact player for us, I think it means a lot.”</p><p>This is good news for Texans fans. That is because Higgins became the first second-round pick to ever get a fully-guaranteed rookie contract, per the outlet.</p><p>Higgins played his college football at Iowa State. He was the 34th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Last season at Iowa State, he finished the season with 87 receptions for 1,183 receiving yards. Higgins caught nine touchdown passes for the Cyclones.</p><h2><b>The Texans are hoping for another strong season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/C.J.-Stroud-on-Jan.-18-2025.1.jpg"><figcaption>Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Houston would certainly love to have Higgins make a name for himself in the offense. The squad has one of the league’s youngest starting quarterbacks in C.J. Stroud, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2023.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-cj-stroud-tytus-howard-position-change-2025">The Texans have big expectations for 2025</a>. Houston has made the NFL playoffs the last few seasons, but are looking for a trip to the AFC Championship game. The squad hasn’t been able to post some postseason wins, despite winning the AFC South in 2023 and 2024.</p><p>Higgins joins a wide receiver room that already includes Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. Texans fans will surely be keeping an eye on Higgins as training camp opens in the weeks ahead.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Historic rookie dazzles at Texans minicamp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/houston-texans-danger-getting-cut-2025-minicamp');   ga('set', 'title', '2 Houston Texans in danger of getting cut after 2025 minicamp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-Houston-Texans-in-danger-of-getting-cut-after-2025-minicamp.jpg"></figure><h1>2 Houston Texans in danger of getting cut after 2025 minicamp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-16T06:34:55-07:00">June 16th, 6:34am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-16T06:34:55-07:00">June 16th, 6:34am</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans entered the 2025 NFL offseason with high hopes of turning promise into postseason consistency. Armed <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/cj-stroud-net-worth">with a franchise quarterback</a> in CJ Stroud and a feisty young defense, the pieces were theoretically in place for a playoff push. However, an underwhelming minicamp has put several veterans on notice. With a wave of promising rookies gunning for reps, roster spots are far from guaranteed. Two wide receivers, once expected to be pivotal to the Texans’ rise, now find themselves at the center of serious cut or trade rumors.</p><h2><b>A Messy Offseason</b></h2><p>The offseason started a bit rocky for the Texans, as their biggest weakness became even worse. They had one of the worst offensive lines in 2024, which played a major role in Stroud’s sophomore slump. Houston <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/commanders-news-how-deebo-samuel-laremy-tunsil-trades-will-change-commanders-offense">responded by trading away left tackle</a> Laremy Tunsil. He allowed the second-lowest pressure rate at the position but also a league-leading 17 penalties.</p><p>Sure, the Texans got good value from Washington for Tunsil. However, current starting left tackle Cam Robinson is a massive downgrade. They also swapped guard Kenyon Green for safety CJ Gardner-Johnson. In addition, they signed veteran Laken Tomlinson and made a trade with the Vikings for Ed Ingram.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Eagles-Texans-trade-grades-for-C.J.-Gardner-Johnson-deal.jpg"></figure><p>Houston got the better player in the deal, but they weakened an already weak unit while adding to a secondary filled with talent. Christian Kirk may have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/christian-kirk-trade-grading-texans-jaguars-blockbuster-deal">been the Texans’ best addition</a> this offseason because they got him for next to nothing. More on him later, though.</p><p>The Texans’ draft class was the front office’s saving grace in the offseason.. Second-round pick Aireontae Ersery is a mountain of a man, and he has starting upside in the NFL. They selected a pair of productive Iowa State wide receivers in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Note that Stefon Diggs is gone and Tank Dell is expected to miss a chunk of the upcoming season.</p><p>Houston also inked contract extensions for superstar cornerback Derek Stingley Jr and versatile safety Jalen Pitre. Both are foundational pieces of the secondary. It was smart to lock them down long term. Now, while the defense looks solid, the competition on offense, particularly at wide receiver, could lead to some difficult veteran decisions in the coming weeks.</p><p>Here we’ll try to look at the two Houston Texans players who may be in danger of getting cut after their 2025 minicamp.</p><h2><b>1. Veteran Addition Facing a Rookie Surge</b></h2><p>When the Texans landed Christian Kirk in a quiet trade this offseason, it felt like a low-risk steal. The former Jaguars standout is still just 28 and had been a reliable weapon when healthy. But “when healthy” is the key phrase. Kirk is coming off a season-ending collarbone injury and didn’t look 100 percent during minicamp drills. Even more concerning? Houston may not need him as much as it initially seemed.</p><p>The Texans used two of their top three picks on Higgins and Noel. Both have shown early chemistry with Stroud and flashed big-play potential in 7-on-7 work. Higgins, in particular, has drawn praise for his size and ball-tracking ability. Meanwhile, Noel’s route running has already made him a favorite in the slot.</p><p>Kirk is entering the final year of his contract. He is set to count just under $5 million against the cap. If the Texans cut him before Week 1, they could save around $2 million. That’s not game-changing money. Still, it might be enough to tip the scales if the rookies continue outperforming him in camp.</p><p>Even worse, Kirk isn’t a core special teams player. This limits his value as a depth piece. Right now, the writing may already be on the wall. Unless he has a standout performance in training camp and the preseason, Kirk could be one of the more surprising veteran cuts this summer.</p><h2><b>2. A Fan Favorite on the Outside Looking In</b></h2><p>John Metchie III’s NFL journey has been as inspirational as it has been frustrating. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2022, Metchie missed his entire rookie year but courageously returned to the field the following season. Unfortunately, the production hasn’t followed. In two years, Metchie has tallied just 412 receiving yards, one touchdown, and has yet to crack the 50 percent snap share mark in any season.</p><p>The Texans have been patient, but that patience may have run out.</p><p>Of course, Houston has aggressively added to its receiving corps over the last few years. They have Nico Collins (2021), Tank Dell (2023), Xavier Hutchinson (2023), and now Higgins and Noel (2025). They also had a one-year rental with Stefon Diggs. At this point, Metchie isn’t just battling for a role. He’s battling to stay employed.</p><p>There were whispers around the league last offseason that teams had inquired about Metchie’s availability. He’s still just 24 years old, so a fresh start might be his best hope of rebooting his career. A trade would likely net a late-round pick. More importantly, though, it could give Metchie the reps and confidence he needs. That’s something he’s unlikely to get in a crowded Texans receiver room.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screen-Shot-2023-06-01-at-3.03.25-PM.png"></figure><p>Unless he dramatically changes the narrative during preseason action, Metchie feels like the odd man out. His story is compelling, but the NFL is a business, and his on-field résumé simply hasn’t been enough <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/hou">to justify a roster spot</a> in 2025.</p><h2><b>Tough Decisions Ahead</b></h2><p>The Texans are transitioning from rebuilding to contending, and that shift always comes with painful cuts. While Christian Kirk and John Metchie III both offer intriguing upside, their hold on a roster spot is tenuous at best. With promising rookies on the rise and competition heating up, Houston’s coaching staff may have to make cold decisions in pursuit of long-term success.</p><p>One thing is certain: the Texans’ wide receiver room will look very different by Week 1 — and perhaps a little younger, faster, and more cost-effective too.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2 Houston Texans in danger of getting cut after 2025 minicamp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/houston-texans/houston-texans-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-2025-nfl-season');   ga('set', 'title', '2 Houston Texans underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-Houston-Texans-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-in-2025-NFL-season.jpg"></figure><h1>2 Houston Texans underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-15T20:04:16-07:00">June 15th, 8:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-15T20:04:16-07:00">June 15th, 8:04pm</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Texans made waves in 2023 by exceeding expectations with CJ Stroud under center and DeMeco Ryans establishing a culture of competitiveness. However, their 2024 campaign saw regression—particularly up front. Now, Houston enters 2025 with question marks clouding its playoff aspirations. Still, where there’s doubt, there’s also room for surprise. Beneath the surface <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/depth/_/name/hou">of this loaded roster</a> lies a pair of overlooked players—one rookie and one veteran. They could shake up the Texans’ depth chart and play pivotal roles this fall. If Houston is to recapture its momentum, these sleepers will have to wake up the league.</p><h2><b>Risks Not Reinforcements</b></h2><p>It’s hard to look at this offseason as a success for the Texans. They already struggled on the offensive line last year. Laremy Tunsil was their only offensive lineman who earned a PFF overall grade above 70.2, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-add-ex-vikings-tackle-after-laremy-tunsil-trade">and they traded him away</a> during a pivotal time in Stroud’s rookie-contract window.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Texans-news-CJ-Stroud-delivers-words-of-wisdom-after-Wild-Card-win-over-Chargers.jpg"></figure><p>Houston tried to make up for it by bringing in a lot of new bodies. That said, there is no guarantee they will jell. The team did get better at receiver. This raises both the ceiling and floor—and the secondary looks stacked. Still, the interior defensive line remains a concern, especially when factoring in their struggles up front last season. This contributed to the offense regressing.</p><p>Yes, many thought the offensive line would be a priority for the organization this offseason. That said, the Texans’ most significant move in the trenches was trading away Tunsil. That leads to more skepticism about Stroud’s protection as the coaching staff is currently sorting out who’s playing where and who the starting five will be this season.</p><p>Amid all the uncertainty, a few new faces—and one familiar one—are primed to carve out surprising roles in 2025.</p><h2><b>1. The Sleeper Who Could Rescue the WR Room</b></h2><p>Following a receiver-heavy draft class, Houston’s aerial attack is suddenly flush with talent. They are easily five deep at wideout. This introduces a bit of murkiness behind WR1 Nico Collins <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-news-houston-nico-collins-contract-10-million-cap-space">when it comes to target share</a> and snap distribution. Last season, the Texans’ receiving corps underwhelmed, in part due to injuries. It combined for 214 catches, 2,616 yards, and 16 touchdowns on 325 targets. That’s a stat line that left plenty on the table.</p><p>Enter Jayden Higgins, a big-bodied playmaker who took a unique path to NFL relevance. He began carving out his collegiate resume at Eastern Kentucky with a steady two-year stretch before leveling up at Iowa State. There, his game exploded. He was a vertical weapon, posting a blistering 18.5 yards per catch. He was also a high-volume alpha with 87 grabs for 1,183 yards and nine scores as a senior. Higgins proved he could win in multiple roles and against quality competition.</p><p>At 6’4, 215 pounds, Higgins brings a rare blend of size, strength, and speed. Sure, he still needs refinement when redirecting and separating against tight coverage. However, he’s an assertive hands-catcher who excels in contested situations and can bully defenders on back-shoulder fades or over the middle.</p><p>Note that Tank Dell’s availability for early 2025 is in question <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/texans-tank-dell-gets-encouraging-injury-update-but-theres-a-catch">due to a lingering knee issue</a>. As such, Higgins could carve out an immediate role in the slot or as a WR3. This gives hime a legitimate shot to climb the Texans’ depth chart as the season unfolds. His versatility could be a stabilizing force in a passing game that’s looking for consistency behind Collins and Christian Kirk.</p><p>Should Higgins earn the trust of Stroud early, he could post numbers that turn heads and rewrite expectations for a rookie drafted outside of Day 1 or 2. He’s built like a starter, and in Houston, opportunity might meet preparation sooner than most expect.</p><h2><b>2. The Veteran Edge Lurking for Another Big Moment</b></h2><p>Derek Barnett played just 38 percent of the Texans’ defensive snaps in 2024. That’s easily the lowest in any season in which he suited up for more than one game. He also compiled 5.0 sacks, tied for 72nd-most in the NFL. So what is he doing here?</p><p>Well, he led the league with two fumble recoveries returned for a touchdown last year. Yes, fumble recoveries are generally luck-driven occurrences. Still, Barnett, the former Philadelphia Eagle, also put an undeniable amount of work into those scores. He initiated the first turnover by knocking the ball away from Cooper Rush in Dallas on Monday Night Football, then sprinted 28 yards to the house. Yes, the second, during the Week 18 finale, was the result of some offensive bumbling by the Titans. That said, Barnett did carry an opposing player on his back into the end zone to finish off that 36-yard run.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eagles-derek-barnett-nfl-rumors-eagles-rumors-derek-barnett-trade.jpg"></figure><p>So much of success in the NFL is determined by factors outside of one’s control. But Barnett put himself in position to score when the ball bounced his way. That effort and awareness clearly earned him respect inside the building. With Houston investing heavily in young edge rushers, Barnett’s reps may be under threat. However, that’s exactly what makes him an intriguing sleeper.</p><p>He’ll likely rotate behind Will Anderson Jr and Denico Autry. Still, Barnett’s knack for splash plays and locker-room leadership should ensure he sticks. If injuries hit or the young guns falter, Barnett could once again be the unsung hero who flips the script with a single game-changing play.</p><h2><b>Final Word</b></h2><p>The Texans may have had a turbulent offseason, but that turbulence brings opportunity. Jayden Higgins and Derek Barnett aren’t household names—yet. But as the 2025 season unfolds, don’t be surprised if they’re two of the biggest reasons Houston stays in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024 SEASON STATS
RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YDS	TOUCHDOWNS	POSITION RANK
0	117	0	-

2024 SEASON STATS
RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YDS	TOUCHDOWNS	POSITION RANK
0	117	0	-

Xavier
Hutchinson

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