DeAndre Hopkins heads up the receiving corps. Tim Warner/Getty Images
The Texans got their roster down to 53 players. Here is a look at the position groups with analysis of each (updates with waiver claims and additional cuts):
Quarterbacks (3)
Deshaun Watson
Brandon Weeden
Joe Webb
Analysis: Joe Webb did not make the initial cut but was reportedly brought back, presumably to help on special teams. Weeden will most likely be the primary backup. Obviously, Watson's health is the key here. If he misses any extended time, the Texans are in trouble, but that was going to be the case no matter who was going to be the backup QB.
Running backs (4)
Lamar Miller
Alfred Blue
Tyler Ervin
Greg Howell
Analysis: D'Onta Foreman starts the season on the PUP list, which means the Texans are pretty thin behind Miller. They finally punted on the fullback position, dumping Jay Prosch. They picked up Howell on waivers from Miami.
Wide receivers (6)
DeAndre Hopkins
Will Fuller
Bruce Ellington
Sammie Coates
Keke Coutee
Vyncint Smith
Analysis: Smith over Braxton Miller might be the only surprise here, but Smith certainly has higher upside. Coutee has not played in the preseason but the staff seems high on him. Should be a pretty solid group.
Tight ends (3)
Ryan Griffin
Jordan Thomas
Jordan Akins
Analysis: The Texans pretty much kept the three players everyone projected, with Griffin and two rookies. There is upside, but not much in the way of experience. Not a strong group on paper.
Offensive linemen (8)
Julién Davenport (T)
Seantrell Henderson (T)
Martinas Rankin (T)
Kendall Lamm (T)
Senio Kelemete (G)
Zach Fulton (G)
Greg Mancz (C)
Nick Martin (C)
Analysis: The weakest position group on the roster could have used some help on the waiver wire. Not much depth or talent here. Rankin has upside, and perhaps Davenport takes a big step in Year 2. But otherwise, if these guys can just be average, it would be a positive.
Defensive line (7)
J.J. Watt
D.J. Reader
Christian Covington
Brandon Dunn
Angelo Blackson
Carlos Watkins
Joel Heath
Analysis: The strongest group on the team and can also include Jadeveon Clowney, who will switch back and forth between line and linebacker. There is depth, talent, and several players who could produce if forced into service.
Linebackers (9)
Benardrick McKinney (ILB)
Zach Cunningham (ILB)
Dylan Cole (ILB)
Brian Peters (ILB)
Jadeveon Clowney (OLB)
Whitney Mercilus (OLB)
Brennan Scarlett (OLB)
Duke Ejiofor (OLB)
Peter Kalambayi (OLB)
Analysis: Another deep, talented group, especially inside. There should be help for special teams as well. The outside players lack experience after Clowney/Mercilus/Scarlett, so that could become a concern if there are injuries, but Ejiofor and Kalambayi have upside.
Cornerbacks (6)
Johnathan Joseph
Aaron Colvin
Kayvon Webster
Kevin Johnson
Johnson Bademosi
A.J. Moore
Analysis: The Texans added A.J. Moore off waivers on Sunday to add some depth. They lack a true No. 1 corner - Joseph is well past his prime - and depth here. This is an area of serious concern.
Safety (4)
Kareem Jackson
Tyrann Mathieu
Justin Reid
Natrell Jamerson
Analysis: Jackson's move from corner and the additions of Mathieu and Reid makes this potentially the best and most versatile safety group the Texans have ever had. Jamerson was picked up on waivers and should help on special teams.
Specialists (3)
Ka’imi Fairbairn (K)
Trevor Daniel (P)
Jon Weeks (LS)
Analysis: Daniel beating out Shane Lechler at punter got a lot of attention, but hey, a punter is a punter. Fairbairn missed the preseason but should be ready to go.
What looked like a minor blip after an emotional series win in Los Angeles has turned into something more concerning for the Houston Astros.
Swept at home by a Guardians team that came in riding a 10-game losing streak, the Astros were left looking exposed. Not exhausted, as injuries, underperformance, and questionable decision-making converged to hand Houston one of its most frustrating series losses of the year.
Depth finally runs dry
It would be easy to point to a “Dodger hangover” as the culprit, the emotional peak of an 18-1 win at Chavez Ravine followed by a mental lull. But that’s not the story here.
Houston’s energy was still evident, especially in the first two games of the series, where the offense scored five or more runs each time. Including those, the Astros had reached that mark in eight of their last 10 games heading into Wednesday’s finale.
But scoring isn’t everything, not when a lineup held together by duct tape and desperation is missing Christian Walker and Jake Meyers and getting critical at-bats from Cooper Hummel, Zack Short, and other journeymen.
The lack of depth finally showed. The Astros, for three days, looked more like a Triple-A squad with Jose Altuve and a couple big-league regulars sprinkled in.
Cracks in the pitching core
And the thing that had been keeping this team afloat, elite pitching, finally buckled.
Hunter Brown and Josh Hader, both dominant all season, finally cracked. Brown gave up six runs in six innings, raising his pristine 1.82 ERA to 2.21. Hader wasn’t spared either, coughing up a game-losing grand slam in extra innings that inflated his ERA from 1.80 to 2.38 in one night.
But the struggles weren’t isolated. Bennett Sousa, Kaleb Ort, and Steven Okert each gave up runs at critical moments. The bullpen’s collective fade could not have come at a worse time for a team already walking a tightrope.
Injury handling under fire
Houston’s injury management is also drawing heat, and rightfully so. Jake Meyers, who had been nursing a calf strain, started Wednesday’s finale. He didn’t even make it through one pitch before aggravating the injury and needing to be helped off the field.
No imaging before playing him. No cautionary rest despite the All-Star break looming. Just a rushed return in a banged-up lineup, and it backfired immediately.
Second-guessing has turned to outright criticism of the Astros’ medical staff, as fans and analysts alike wonder whether these mounting injuries are being made worse by how the club is handling them.
Pressure mounts on Dana Brown
All eyes now turn to Astros GM Dana Brown. The Astros are limping into the break with no clear reinforcements on the immediate horizon. Only Chas McCormick is currently rehabbing in Sugar Land. Everyone else? Still sidelined.
Brown will need to act — and soon.
At a minimum, calling up top prospect Brice Matthews makes sense. He’s been mashing in Triple-A (.283/.400/.476, 10 HR, .876 OPS) and could play second base while Jose Altuve shifts to left field more regularly. With Mauricio Dubón stretched thin between shortstop and center, injecting Matthews’ upside into the infield is a logical step.
*Editor's note: The Astros must be listening, Matthews was called up Thursday afternoon!
The Astros are calling up Brice Matthews, their top prospect on @MLBPipeline
via @brianmctaggart pic.twitter.com/K91cGKkcx6
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 10, 2025
There’s also trade chatter, most notably about Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins, but excitement has been tepid. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but compared to who the Astros are fielding now, Mullins would be a clear upgrade and a much-needed big-league presence.
A final test before the break
Before the All-Star reset, Houston gets one last chance to stabilize the ship, and it comes in the form of a rivalry series against the Texas Rangers. The Astros will send their top trio — Lance McCullers Jr., Framber Valdez, and Hunter Brown — to the mound for a three-game set that will test their resolve, their health, and perhaps their postseason aspirations.
The Silver Boot is up for grabs. So is momentum. And maybe, clarity on just how far this version of the Astros can go.
There's so much more to discuss! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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*ChatGPT assisted.
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