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Braxton Berrios Braxton Berrios DNP again Friday Fri, Sep 12, 2025, 4:18 PM Berrios (hamstring) remained sidelined at Friday's practice. Analysis: Berrios has yet to practice this season and looks poised to miss his second straight game to open the 2025 campaign. With Christian Kirk (hamstring) also hobbled, the Texans once again may use a committee approach at wide receiver behind Nico Collins this coming Monday night versus Tampa Bay.
Christian Kirk Christian Kirk Not practicing Friday Fri, Sep 12, 2025, 12:10 PM Kirk (hamstring) wasn't spotted at Friday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Analysis: Kirk also missed Thursday's session, which gives him one more chance to practice ahead of Monday night's game against the Buccaneers. If Kirk is ruled out for the contest, look for some combo of Xavier Hutchinson, Justin Watson and Jaylin Noel to log added slot reps alongside fellow WRs Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins.
Christian Kirk Christian Kirk Still not practicing Thu, Sep 11, 2025, 4:32 PM Kirk (hamstring) didn't practice Thursday. Analysis: Per Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle, coach DeMeco Ryans noted that both Kirk and Braxton Berrios -- who missed the Texans' season opener with respective hamstring injuries -- are "doing well on their recovery" and that the team will "see how they go this week" ahead of Monday night's game against the Buccaneers. If Kirk remains sidelined Week 2, Xavier Hutchinson, Justin Watson and Jaylin Noel would be candidates to absorb slot reps alongside fellow WRs Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins.
Braxton Berrios Braxton Berrios Not practicing Thursday Thu, Sep 11, 2025, 3:15 PM Berrios (hamstring) is not participating in Thursday's practice, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports. Analysis: Berrios' hamstring injury prevented him from suiting up Week 1 against the Rams, and he remains absent from practice heading into Monday's game against the Buccaneers. With Christian Kirk (hamstring) also still not practicing Thursday, the Texans' wide receiver corps could again be notably depleted Week 2.
Harrison Bryant Harrison Bryant Officially joins active roster Wed, Sep 10, 2025, 6:11 PM Houston signed Bryant from its practice squad to its active roster Wednesday. Analysis: With major contributor Cade Stover bound for the Texans' injured reserve list Wednesday, the team is trying to add depth to its 53-man roster at tight end. As of right now, Bryant and starter Dalton Schultz are the only healthy tight ends on Houston's active roster.
Cade Stover Cade Stover Officially placed on IR Wed, Sep 10, 2025, 2:42 PM The Texans placed Stover (foot) on injured reserve Wednesday. Analysis: Stover suffered a broken foot during Houston's loss to the Rams in Week 1, and he'll now have to miss at least four games before being eligible to return to practice from IR. The Texans' tight end corps was heavily depleted even before Stover's injury, with Brevin Jordan (knee) and Irv Smith (ankle) both done for the year, hence the team's decision to sign Harrison Bryant off the practice squad to back up starter Dalton Schultz.
Cade Stover Cade Stover Suffers broken foot Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 1:03 PM Stover suffered a broken foot in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Analysis: Stover started the Texans' Week 1 contest and recorded a team-high four catches for 22 yards versus Los Angeles before sustaining the injury. He was in a walking boot after the loss and is now likely to miss multiple weeks, though the team has yet to confirm the injury. With Brevin Jordan (knee) and Irv Smith (ankle) both on injured reserve and done for the season, Houston is already severely shorthanded at tight end. Veteran Harrison Bryant and seventh-round rookie Luke Lachey are currently on the practice squad as options behind Dalton Schultz.
Cade Stover Cade Stover Leads TEs in snaps Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 7:17 AM Stover caught four of four targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams. Analysis: Stover's 36 snaps on offense were more than starter Dalton Schultz (34), which is surprising but unlikely significant. The Texans' passing attack struggled, and there were many packages used to jumpstart a dormant offense. Stover has history with quarterback C.J. Stroud at Ohio State, which gives him a level of fantasy intrigue, but Schultz is still considered the best fantasy option at tight end in Houston.
Justin Watson Justin Watson Targeted twice in opener Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 7:10 AM Watson caught both of his targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams. Analysis: Watson surprisingly had the third-most offensive snaps (35) among the wideouts. Part of that is due to hamstring injuries to Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios, but that Wilson was on the field more than either of the two rookie wideouts, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, is noteworthy. Houston's offense, particularly the passing game, stumbled through a lethargic performance and may not be indicative of target and snap distributions going forward.
Xavier Hutchinson Xavier Hutchinson Two catches in loss Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 7:04 AM Hutchinson caught two of two targets for 30 yards and ran the ball once for another five yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams. Analysis: Hutchinson benefitted from the absences of Christian Kirk (hamstring) and Braxton Berrios (hamstring) and played 43 offensive snaps (68 percent). That was second most on the club behind Nico Collins (53) and more than the two wideouts selected in the second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft -- Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. It's hard to take anything definitive away from the season opener, when Houston's offense and quarterback C.J. Stroud were not operating at peak efficiency. So, good for Hutchinson that he was on the field often, but there were times in 2024 when he was given starter-level snaps, but it rarely panned out to be fantasy gold.
Dare Ogunbowale Dare Ogunbowale Rare fumble seals team's fate Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 6:54 AM Ogunbowale had two carries for nine yards, caught both of his targets for 17 yards and lost a fumble in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams in Week 1. Analysis: The lost fumble is all anyone will remember from Ogunbowale's day. It came late in the fourth quarter with the Texans inside the Los Angeles 20-yard line, and it was the team's final offensive play of the game. Ogunbowale had the ball punched from his arms, and then the Rams killed the clock. It was just the third fumble (second one lost) in nine NFL seasons. On a positive note, his 17 snaps were the second most in the backfield behind Nick Chubb (32) and ahead of Dameon Pierce (seven) and Woody Marks (seven). Pierce is still considered the second back, but the way the game unfolded led to Ogunbowale, Houston's third-down back, being on the field more often.
Woody Marks Woody Marks Light usage Week 1 Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 6:44 AM Marks had three carries for three yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams in Week 1. Analysis: Marks, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, entered the regular season as the fourth back on the depth chart, and nothing about Sunday's usage changed that. He's solidly behind Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale and will have to be patient and wait for his opportunities.
Dameon Pierce Dameon Pierce Minimal run in opener Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 6:29 AM Pierce had three carries for five yards and didn't catch his only target in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams in Week 1. Analysis: With Joe Mixon (foot) on the reserve/non-football injury list, there were opportunities for the healthy backs, but Pierce was granted just seven snaps. Nick Chubb (32 snaps) got the bulk of the work, while Dare Ogunbowale (17) operated as the third-down back and was on the field in obvious passing situations, particularly late in the game as Houston attempted a comeback. There's not much to read into Sunday's game other than that the Texans offense under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley was a disappointment.
Dalton Schultz Dalton Schultz Leads team with five targets Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 10:44 PM Schultz brought in three of five targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams. Analysis: Schultz led the Texans in targets on a low-volume passing day, but the end result was still lackluster from a fantasy perspective. The good news for the veteran tight end is that he remained the No. 1 tight end option for QB C.J. Stroud despite posting mediocre numbers in 2024. Schultz should be considered a low-ceiling fantasy option heading into next Monday's tilt against Tampa Bay.
Jayden Higgins Jayden Higgins Leads receivers with 32 yards Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 10:33 PM Higgins finished with two receptions on three targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams. Analysis: Higgins wound up leading the Texans in receiving yards despite posting such meager totals. It was a missed opportunity for the second-round rookie, who was elevated into the starting lineup in place of the injured Christian Kirk (hamstring). It is unclear how long Kirk will remain out, but Higgins didn't do enough to inspire confidence in fantasy managers heading into next Monday's tilt against Tampa Bay.
Nick Chubb Nick Chubb Leads backfield with 60 yards Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 10:24 PM Chubb took 13 carries for 60 yards while failing to bring in his only target in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams. Analysis: Chubb was the Texans' lead back as expected Sunday, receiving 10 more carries than the next running back on the depth chart. The 29-year-old flashed glimpses of his former All-Pro form with a healthy average of 4.6 yards per carry. Catastrophic injuries derailed the end of Chubb's tenure with Cleveland, but a clean bill of health could result in a career renaissance with Houston. With Joe Mixon (foot/ankle) still without a timetable to return, Chubb is worth a look against the Buccaneers next Monday if he went overlooked in drafts.
C.J. Stroud C.J. Stroud Ugly start to 2025 Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 8:53 PM Stroud completed 19 of 27 pass attempts for 188 yards, no touchdowns and one interception while taking five carries for 32 yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams. Analysis: Stroud struggled to finish drives Sunday, leading three lengthy possessions that ended in field-goal attempts. A second-half interception cemented the signal-caller's poor outing and a loss to begin the 2025 campaign. Stroud and his fantasy managers were hoping for a better start after the offense petered out down the stretch last season. Houston will have an extra day to figure things out offensively before hosting the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football in Week 2.
Nico Collins Nico Collins Posts dud in Week 1 Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 7:04 PM Collins was held to three receptions (on five targets) for 25 yards in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Rams. Analysis: Houston's entire aerial attack sputtered out of the gates, failing to produce any touchdowns or a receiver with more than 32 yards. Collins' receiving line marks the wideout's worst fantasy output since Week 14 of the 2023 season. This was not the kind of start fantasy managers were hoping for from the unquestioned No. 1 receiving option for the Texans. Perhaps the eventual return of Christian Kirk (hamstring) will help open things up for C.J. Stroud and the rest of the passing game following an abysmal Week 1 performance. Collins is too talented to be held down on a regular basis, so make sure to stick with your studs heading into next Monday's tilt against the Buccaneers.
British Brooks British Brooks Won't play Week 1 Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 2:03 PM Brooks (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Rams. Analysis: The Texans will go with a four-man backfield that includes Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and Woody Marks, which means Brooks will be in street clothes for Sunday's regular-season opener. Brooks' next chance to play is Week 2 against the Buccaneers on Monday, Sept. 15, though he's unlikely to play in that contest unless there's an injury in Houston's backfield.
Xavier Hutchinson Xavier Hutchinson Could see added snaps Sunday Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 11:27 AM Hutchinson could be a candidate to get starter-level snaps in Sunday's season opener versus the Rams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Analysis: Per Rapoport, the 2023 sixth-rounder has impressed behind the scenes, and with Christian Kirk (hamstring) sidelined, the snaps that don't go to top pass catcher Nico Collins are up for grabs. In that context, Hutchinson, along with rookie wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, should have added opportunities Sunday. The Texans' Week 1 snap counts will thus be telling, but Hutchinson is a player to monitor, especially if Kirk misses additional time.