Michael Connor, Wade Smith and Stan Norfleet  react to the Houston Texans final preseason game vs. the Carolina Panthers on the Locked On Texans Squad Show.

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The Houston Texans have one final preseason game before the roster gets trimmed down to 53 players — and for several players, this is their LAST chance to prove they belong.

There are roster battles all over this team, and tonight gives players fighting for a spot one more opportunity to make their case.

Jawhar Jordan has been dealing with injuries and hasn't been seen much since around the second week of training camp. At this point, I'm not expecting him to make the 53-man roster.

But what about Noah Whittington? Can he do enough to lock up a spot?

British Brooks is back at practice, and his special teams ability — along with his ability to play fullback — could give him a legitimate path to sticking around.

At tight end, Brevin Jordan isn't making my roster. But can Cade Stover change that conversation with one final strong performance?

And there are some tough decisions on defense. I'm taking Naquan Jones over Mario Edwards and Bryce Hall over Tremon Smith — but tonight could change things.

Plus, we have to talk about Kayshon Boutte.

Mike Vrabel revealed that Boutte would have been an inactive game-day player for the Patriots. Instead, Boutte landed with the Houston Texans — and it could turn into a WIN-WIN situation for both the player and the team.

So who is going to stand out tonight?

Who is fighting for their Texans roster spot?

And which players are running out of chances?

We're breaking it all down on Locked On Texans.

🔥 IN THIS EPISODE:

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The Houston Texans are coming out of joint practice with plenty to talk about — and one goal should be staring everyone in the face: 50 SACKS.

Can the Texans defense get past 50 sacks during the 2026 NFL season? Straight up, that should be the goal.

Will Anderson Jr. is coming off the kind of dominant performance against the Patriots in the playoffs that showed just how disruptive he can be. Now, WAJ says he feels like he can produce performances like that routinely.

And if that's true?

That's scary for the rest of the NFL.

Because when Will Anderson Jr. is consistently winning like that, everybody else on the Houston Texans defensive line has an opportunity to eat.

In today's Locked On Texans, we're breaking down the latest Houston Texans joint practice update, Will Anderson Jr.'s comments, and whether Houston has enough pass-rushing firepower to reach the 50-sack mark.

We're also looking directly at two newcomers who could play a HUGE role in getting Houston there:

Can these additions help take pressure off Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter? Can the Texans create enough interior disruption to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks? And what would a 50-sack Houston Texans defense look like over the course of an entire NFL season?

We're talking Texans football, Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans defense, NFL sacks, joint practice, pass rush, Kayden McDonald, Logan Hall, Danielle Hunter, C.J. Stroud and the 2026 Texans season.

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The Houston Texans just sent a message in joint practice with the Carolina Panthers — and there’s plenty to be excited about.

The Texans dominated the Panthers, and the biggest takeaway might have been the performance of the offensive line. Houston reportedly got strong work up front, including against Panthers star defensive tackle Derrick Brown. With Evan Brown and Keylan Rutledge reportedly expected to be part of the starting five, there are plenty of questions about what this offensive line can become heading into the 2026 NFL season.

But then there’s the defense…

We already know what Will Anderson Jr. can do. We already know what this Texans defensive front is capable of. But hearing just how dominant Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter were during joint practice has us thinking BIG about what this pass rush could look like this season.

The Texans recorded 47 sacks during the 2025 regular season.

Could this defensive front blow past that number in 2026?

PLUS: We take the temperature of Texans fans and find out how confident they really are in the offense — and the answer might surprise you.

Houston Texans fans are BUYING IN.

🔥 Texans vs. Panthers joint practice

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How long before Marlin Klein becomes a star for the Houston Texans?

The rookie tight end believes he can do it all — and after learning from Dalton Schultz, Klein is already picking up valuable lessons that could accelerate his development. But his impact may go well beyond the box score.

Houston made an assertive effort to revamp its running game, and Klein could have a major role in how that new-look Texans offense operates. Add in C.J. Stroud, who I expect to actively look for Klein whenever the opportunity presents itself, and there’s a real chance this tight end becomes a bigger part of Houston’s offense as the season progresses.

The numbers won't always tell the full story. Blocking. Motion. Formation versatility. Creating space. Making life easier for the guys around him.

But don't be surprised if Marlin Klein becomes one of the most important pieces of the Houston Texans offense by the end of the season.

We’re breaking down Klein’s development, his connection with Dalton Schultz, C.J. Stroud’s potential involvement, and why his role could grow quickly.

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The Houston Texans won’t play their starters in the final preseason game, so that makes joint practice with the Carolina Panthers even more important.

What do we need to see from Houston?

The rushing attack needs to keep showing signs of life. Fringe roster players need to make their cases. And young wide receivers like Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins have another opportunity to create some momentum after making plays in practice.

Plus, the Panthers have struggled to cover tight ends — which could make this another big week for Houston’s TE room.

And then there’s Bryce Young vs. the Texans defense.

We already know Houston’s defense is going to give Carolina a serious test. The question is: what should Texans fans be watching for when these two teams share the field in joint practice?

Today, John Hickman is joined by Julian Council of Locked On Panthers to get the Carolina perspective before diving into what these practices could mean for Houston heading into the regular season.

Then, John closes the show by breaking down the latest ESPN Fantasy Football Rankings:

The preseason is almost over. The starters may not play, but there’s still plenty to watch.

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The afternoon drive is rolling — and this time, we’re talking Houston Texans football with defensive tackle Naquan Jones.

Jones is down 15 pounds, moving quicker, playing with more versatility and fully embracing what the Texans want from him. And yes… that even means dropping into coverage.

But here’s the real question: How big of a role can Naquan Jones actually have for the Houston Texans?

The numbers don’t tell the full story.

We break down Jones’ development, his versatility, the Texans defensive line depth, and why his impact could be much bigger than the box score suggests.

If you’re a longtime Locked On Texans listener or a new Texans fan looking for straight-up football talk, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss.

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The Houston Texans just traded for Kayshon Boutte — and this could be MUCH bigger than a simple roster move.

John Hickman and Big Sarge break down why Boutte could be a needle mover for C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense, especially after the loss of Jayden Higgins.

Boutte gives Houston something it desperately needs: an X receiver who can threaten defenses downfield without needing a massive target share. He had six games with at least three catches of 14+ yards, showing the explosive-play ability that could completely change how defenses approach the Texans.

And here's the BIG part: what does Kayshon Boutte mean for Nico Collins?

With a legitimate deep threat on the outside, Nico could see more favorable coverage and even MORE opportunities to take over games. Boutte also brings an impressive contested-catch element, posting a 56.3% tight-window/contested-catch rate during the 2025 NFL regular season with the New England Patriots — second-highest in the league.

That's exactly the type of weapon C.J. Stroud can use.

PLUS:

🏈 Jaylin Noel returns to practice and talks about Year 2 in Nick Caley's offense, how he's grown while dealing with an injury, and what he's learned along the way.

🚨 Dylan Horton is out for the season. How big is this loss for the Texans defense?

The Texans needed an X receiver.

They needed another explosive weapon.

And they needed someone who could make life easier for Nico Collins.

Did Houston just find all three in Kayshon Boutte?

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Michael Connor, Stan Norfleet and John Hickman discuss life without Jayden Higgins and make season predictions on the Locked On Texans Squad Show.

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The Houston Texans may have found their answer at center — and Evan Brown has a strong case to be the BEST option in the building.

In this Locked On Texans Afternoon Drive, we sit down with Brown for a football conversation about his week leading up to the Texans’ preseason matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, what it was like knowing he would be the starter at center, and how his time in Houston has shaped his approach.

And there’s a bigger reason why Brown’s emergence matters.

C.J. Stroud is about to have his first starting center with 1,000+ career snaps at the position. That experience could be huge for Houston heading into the regular season.

Brown also potentially gives the Texans something else they need: stability. Keeping Brown at center allows rookie Keylan Rutledge to continue developing at guard — the position where he has played and appears most comfortable.

So is Evan Brown actually the Texans’ best option at center?

We’re talking Evan Brown, C.J. Stroud, Keylan Rutledge, Texans offensive line, Nick Caley’s offense, preseason football, Houston Texans football and what Brown could mean for this offensive line moving forward.

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