Sean Pendergast predicts the final 53
 

Houston Texans 53 Man Roster FINAL Prediction

He's probably pretty close. More at link.

Marlon Mack has been cut. A little surprising, not that Dameon Pierce has overtaken the RB1 role from Mack, but that the other reserve RBs aren't demonstrably better than Mack.

LB Kevin Pierre-Louis has been cut, too, reportedly. He is a 9-yr vet, 30 yrs old... a little surprising as I think he got some run with the 1's and 2's this summer.

S Terrence Brooks is gone. Came from the Patriots and started 3 games for the Texans in 2021 on a one-year contract before re-signing in late March. Was a 3rd rounder of the Ravens in 2014 out of Florida State.

Sean's other projections are looking pretty good.

DT Ross Blacklock, a 2nd pick in 2020 (#40 overall) that was the key return in the DeAndre Hopkins trade to the Cardinals, has been sent with a 7th rounder to the Vikings for a 6th rounder. In 2 seasons, Blacklock played 29 games (3 starts), 36 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Woof. Reunites with former Texans OLB coach Chris Rumph in Minnesota who is now the DL coach there.

OL Max Scharping, another former 2nd round pick, has been cut.

QB/TE Jeff Driskil cut. He (like a lot of other lesser names not mentioned) is probably a good candidate to return to the team on the practice squad.

S Grayland Arnold, who registered a turnover last week, has been released, too.

The main site has listed the practice squad:


Jordan Akins
88 TE 6-4 243 30 5 Central Florida

Grayland Arnold
35 DB 5-10 187 25 3 Baylor

Jalen Camp
17 WR 6-2 220 24 1 Georgia Tech

Jeff Driskel
6 QB 6-4 235 29 7 Louisiana Tech

Drew Estrada
81 WR 6-0 196 25 R Baylor

Jacobi Francis
38 DB 5-11 193 24 R Memphis

Demone Harris
94 DL 6-4 272 26 3 Buffalo

Johnny Johnson III
89 WR 6-1 199 23 R Oregon

Marlon Mack
2 RB 6-0 212 26 6 University of South Florida

Tristin McCollum
39 DB 6-3 195 23 R Sam Houston State

Jimmy Morrissey
79 OL 6-3 303 24 2 Pittsburgh

Adedayo Odeleye
75 DL 6-5 271 24 R Loughborough

Cedric Ogbuehi
77 OL 6-5 308 30 8 Texas A&M

Kevin Pierre-Louis
57 LB 6-0 231 30 9 Boston College

Mason Schreck
47 TE 6-5 252 28 4 Buffalo

Jordan Steckler
70 OL 6-5 305 26 1 Northern Illinois

A lot of veterans on there. Seems as though the "practice squad" has evolved from a developmental taxi squad to a place to stash vets.... The rules must have really gotten lenient...

Covid changed the practice squad, to be a reserve squad in order to try to field a team when different position groups test positive.

Ah, OK. Thanks.