(SportsRadio 610) - For weeks Texans head coach Lovie Smith has emphasized that the construction of the roster comes down to more than just the 53 they can make active.
"We have a lot of players that have helped us get to this point that won't be with us going forward, but hopefully they can get on (a roster) somewhere else," Smith said. "We don't just look at it like getting down to the 53-person squad. It's about the 69, with the 16 practice squad players and the one international player."
Constructing a roster is always a challenge for teams at any level, no matter what building stage a franchise is in.
In the Texans' case, as they get ready for the 2022-2023 campaign, there are a number of challenging decisions they'll be mulling over before the cut-down deadline Tuesday at 3 p.m. A few might surprise you.
Quarterback (2): Davis Mills, Kyle Allen
Davis Mills enters his first full year as the starter for this team, which was never in doubt. After a slow start to camp and missing time with COVID-19, Kyle Allen settled in nicely. He showed comfortability in Pep Hamilton's offense, accuracy, poise and continuity with receivers.
Running back (4): Dameon Pierce, Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead, Dare Ogunbowale
Pierce hasn't been named a starter by head coach Lovie Smith, but he's clearly the best of the bunch. Pierce got 11 carries in two games this preseason and tallied 86 yards, including six first downs and a touchdown.
Mack makes this roster because he's shown just enough to take some load off Pierce, who won't be a bell cow. Burkhead, 34, should make the squad because he brings a veteran presence, is a good special teams player and pass catcher out of the back field. Ogunbowale, 28, has some juice in the tank and should make his fourth team in six years.
Fullback (1): Troy Hairston
He emerged and caught attention as camp went on. He's a defensive tackle convert and his overall athleticism and versatility as a special teams player should lock him in.
It would be cool if both Paul and Scott Quessenberry joined their brother and former Texan offensive lineman David as players to play for the same organization. Maybe there's a spot for Paul on the practice squad. He's a good player, but was outplayed by Hairston.
Wide receiver (6): Brandon Cooks, Nico Collins, Chris Moore, Chris Conley, Phillip Dorsett, Jalen Camp
Jalen Camp was able to seize an opportunity with an impressive camp and preseason given the absence of rookie John Metchie III in his battle with leukemia.
Camp's size, speed and overall play beat out the likes of Johnny Johnson III and Connor Wedington.
Tight end (3): Brevin Jordan, Teagan Quitoriano, Pharaoh Brown
Veteran Antony Auclair has been injured and watching from the sidelines most of camp. He'll likely start the year on IR given they know what he can do and nobody else in the group has stood out.
Brown and Jordan got a lot of looks during camp and figure to play an important role in Hamilton's offense. Quitoriano, a fifth-round selection earlier this year, could earn his way into more playing time if he improves his blocking and continues to show he can be another pass catching weapon for Mills.
Offensive line (9): Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, Justin Britt, AJ Cann, Tytus Howard, Charlie Heck, Austin Deculus, Scott Quessenberry, Justin McCray
It remains to be seen if Kenyon Green did enough in one preseason game to earn a starting job at left guard. He missed valuable development time in camp due to a concussion, but settled in nicely in his preseason debut against the 49ers.
McCray and Quessenberry give the Texans versatility on the interior line with ability to play either guard and center positions. Texans can continue to bring Green along slowly. Heck, a fourth-round pick in 2020, should make the team. He started all three preseason games at left tackle and kept the quarterbacks clean.
Defensive line (9): Jonathan Greenard, Jerry Hughes, Malik Collins, Mario Addison, Rasheem Green, Roy Lopez, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Thomas Booker IV, Kurt Hinish
The second biggest success story of training camp next to Dameon Pierce raising eyebrows is easily Hinish making the team. The undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame has played like an absolute monster at nose tackle. Hinish commanded the middle, stuffing the run, tallied six tackles for loss and two sacks this preseason, earning a spot to make a helluva one-two punch behind Roy Lopez.
Demone Harris swarmed the football in the preseason, showing he can be a disruptive force and outperformed Derek Rivers but not Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who finished camp hurt. Okoronkwo's bicep injury is not considered serious, and he's show to be very disruptive, and looks to be an excellent fit in Smith defense this year.
Third-year defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, a second-round pick in 2020, is barely an afterthought.
Linebacker (6): Christian Kirksey, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Christian Harris, Blake Cashman, Garret Wallow
This group would push the offensive and defensive line for one of the deepest positions on the team if not for Christian Harris (hamstring) and Garret Wallow (ankle) rehabbing from injuries this preseason. It gave opportunities to Neville Hewitt and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who didn't disappoint. They're just not better than Harris or Wallow when healthy, who along Cashman, provide good depth behind the starters.
Cornerback (5): Derrick Stingley Jr., Desmond King II, Steven Nelson, Tremon Smith, Isaac Yiadom
This group is fast, physical and versatile as they all add value on special teams (Smith and King are kick and punt return men respectively). Tavierre Thomas, who started eight games for the Texans last year, was having a good camp but injured a quad recently will land him on IR to begin the season most likely.
Safety (4): Jalen Pitre, Jonathan Owens, Terrence Brooks, Grayland Arnold
I don't see Eric Murray making the team. I think Arnold earned a spot fair and square and his versatility to also play the nickel and contribute on special teams adds value.
The Texans signed Murray to a two-year $10 million deal this off-season, with a $4,625,000 cap hit this season. By cutting him, it only costs the Texans $625,000 in dead money.
Pitre is going to ball out. He alongside Owens this preseason have developed a good chemistry. Terrence Brooks is a plus special teams player and a good veteran for Pitre to learn a thing or two from.
Specialists (3): Jon Weeks (LS), Ka'imi Fairbairn (K), Cam Johnston (P)
Weeks enters his 13th season in the NFL, all with the Texans.
Fairbairn will begin his 6th season with the Texans having made 60 consecutive field goals inside 40-yards.
Meanwhile, the Texans probably just hope they don't need Johnston near as much as they did in 2021 when he led the league with 88 punts.
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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