The Houston Texans are just a couple days away from setting their initial 53-man rosters. A couple days after that they'll pluck a few from the waiver wire possibly and then set their 16-player practice squad. Here's my best guess on what the initial 53-man roster will look like.
Offense (25)
QB (2): Watson, McCarron
RB (4): David Johnson, Duke Johnson, Howell, Gillaspia
WR (6): Fuller, Cooks, Stills, Cobb, Carter, Coutee
TE (4): Akins, Fells, Thomas, Warring
OL (9): Howard, Fulton, Martin, Scharping, Tunsil, R. Johnson, Kelemete, Mancz, Heck
Defense (25)
DL (6): Watt, Dunn, Blackson, Omenihu, Blacklock, Hall
ILB (4): Cunningham, McKinney, Cole, Kalambayi
OLB (4): Mercilus, Martin, Scarlett, Greenard
S (5): Justin Reid, Murray, Moore, M. Thomas, J. Watkins
CB (6): Roby, L. Johnson, Conley, Hargreaves, Crossen, John Reid
Specialists (3)
LS Weeks, PK Fairbairn, P Anger
Practice Squad: (16 total: 14 listed, 2 spots to fill)
WR Hanson, Simmons, Mitchell
OL: Iwuagwu, Hawkins, Qvale
QB: McGough
RB: Higdon
DL: C. Watkins
LB: Bellamy, Adams
DB: Owens, Chesley, Armstrong
IR: Coulter, Stapleton, Ejiofor
Notes :
- Rookie tackle Charlie Heck makes the roster only because the Texans don't want to try to pass their 4th round pick through waivers to place him on the practice squad, which is where he belongs this season.
- Both Carter & Coutee make the roster, because Carter remains the return man for both kicks and punts. Coutee has been given opportunities in practice to take on that role, but is not as sure-handed with the ball, so I wouldn't expect him to get time as PR or KR. Duke Johnson and possibly Randall Cobb would be next in-line.
- Rookie WR Coulter has missed far too much practice time (with an unspecified injury) that he can't realistically be considered for the initial roster.
- FB Gillaspia is a tough call because he's missed nearly all of training camp with a hamstring injury. Depending on the severity, he could be headed to IR with the plan to activate him later in the season. Possibly the same for rookie Jon Greenard (leg injury).
- Some injury concern with Conley, who opened training camp on the PUP list following offseason surgery - he may be slowed early in the season.
- P.J. Hall makes the team, but just barely over Watkins.
- A.J. Moore and Jacob Martin are two players who didn't get many snaps defensively last season who could see a marked increase this season. Moore has been a core special teams ace the last two seasons, but could be the third safety, maybe 2nd in some looks. Martin played in just 21 percent of the snaps last season after arriving via trade from the Seahawks right before the season began. This season he bulked up (added 21 pounds) and will have a chance to certainly double his snap count, possibly triple it as more than just a situational pass rusher.