Training camp and the preseason are often the NFL’s harshest proving grounds. Every summer, players across the league learn that a job once considered safe is suddenly vulnerable. This is especially true as hungry newcomers push veterans to the brink. The Houston Texans are no exception. After an up-and-down 2024 season and a rocky start to 2025 preparations, head coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio are staring down tough choices. Two projected first-stringers now find themselves in danger of losing their starting roles just weeks before kickoff.

Promise and Pressure

Some blame CJ Stroud ’s sophomore slump, while others point to a receiving corps plagued by injuries. Whatever the cause, the result was the same: the Texans fell short down the stretch last season. The

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