Who knows which direction the Houston Texans will go with their 53-man roster, but here is an early prediction.
Some of the roster spots for the 2020 Houston Texans are set in stone. Actually, the Texans news with this 53-man roster projection in mid-May is the fact that the belief is the Texans will have more of a veteran team for 2020.
Houston Texans head coach/general manager Bill O’Brien believes this season will lean more toward the veterans in the league, so don’t be surprised to see more of a veteran team with the Texans this season as well, especially at the skill positions as the team practices this offseason haven’t happened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The uncertainty of when the country will reopen has affected, and will continue to affect, the Texans and all NFL teams, but that doesn’t stop the guessing game that is trying to project the 53-man roster of the Texans for the 2020 season.
We all know the names like Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt and David Johnson all will be wearing Houston Texans uniforms when Week 1 arrives if all are healthy, but what about some of the younger players, the draft picks and free agent signings? Will they make the team, too?
From the looks of things, and just how O’Brien is viewing the upcoming NFL season, being a young player on this roster might not be best for business, but the great thing about the league is anything can happen. There have been many underdog stories for not only the NFL, but in the past for the Houston Texans as well.
Next is a way too early 53-man roster prediction where the feeling, at least during the current situation, will lean more toward veterans and players who have NFL experience.
Quarterbacks (2)
Deshaun Watson, A.J., McCarron
The players for this group is easy to predict as the starting quarterback will be Deshaun Watson, and the second-string and only backup will be A.J. McCarron for the 53-man roster. Remember, all teams this season can add two more players from the practice squad each game, so don’t be surprised if undrafted rookie Nick Tiano is a part of that every now and again, because he’ll no less make the practice squad with this franchise, unless the Texans keep a third quarterback.
As for Watson, what is there to say that hasn’t been said about him? Watson will be in his fourth season this year, has great experience, has played in some of the biggest games in franchise history, and hopefully by the time the season starts will be locked into a brand-new contract extension with the franchise.
Watson has matured as a quarterback since he was drafted 12th overall in 2017, and it has been fun watching him progress as a quarterback, plus show he’s one of the toughest players in the league, as he’s taken a good number of hits during his career.
As for McCarron, having the veteran backing up Watson is ideal for the Houston Texans, and he is entering another season with this offense and the franchise. He already has worked with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, so it should be business as usual for the two quarterbacks on the Texans.