Top surprises, wildcards, award candidates for 2024 Houston Texans season
TEXANS ON TAP
30 August
TEXANS ON TAP
The Houston Texans season is right around the corner, and now we officially know what the roster looks like in 2024.
One of the surprise cuts was receiver Noah Brown, who has struggled to stay healthy. The Texans elected to go with one veteran receiver for depth, Robert Woods.
Which makes sense, if you're going to roll with one older receiver, go ahead and pick the one who has been more healthy, and has a much better career resume overall.
However, it didn't take long for Brown to find another team, he's already signed with the Commanders and might be their second-best receiver behind Terry McLaurin, pending health.
Running back Cam Akers was the fan favorite to make the team, and the fans got their wish. If Dameon Pierce continues to struggle, the Texans shouldn't hesitate to give Akers some opportunities.
Another positive development on offense is the depth on the o-line. Nick Broeker, Kendrick Green, Jarrett Patterson, and Blake Fisher inspire more confidence should the Texans need them this year.
What about defense?
It really looks like the Texans nailed their first two defensive draft picks. Both Kamari Lassiter and Calen Bullock are expected to start for the team.
Lassiter is already penciled in as the No. 2 corner, and Bullock should get reps at safety with Jimmie Ward when Jalen Pitre lines up as the nickel defender.
Pitre's ability to play nickel this year certainly gave DeMeco and company the confidence to let Desmond King go. King didn't make the team last season either, but joined later in the season due to poor play and injuries at the position.
Finally, one big disappointment has to be linebacker Christian Harris being placed on short-term IR, which means he'll miss at least the first four games.
Predictions
When looking at the Texans schedule, we see the team finishing with either a 10-7 or 11-6 record. Either way, we believe the Texans win the division and head back to the playoffs.
Could CJ Stroud win MVP?
It's a real possibility. He's only behind Patrick Mahomes according to the odds in Vegas. If not Stroud or Mahomes, Josh Allen could get the nod if he has another big season after losing receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in the offseason.
What about DeMeco?
Most Texans fans feel like DeMeco Ryans was robbed for Coach of the Year last season. Do the Texans have to take another massive step forward for him to bring home the hardware in 2024?
Be sure to watch the video above for the full conversation!
Dylan Cease pitched brilliantly into the ninth inning and Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Donovan Solano hit consecutive homers in the eighth for the San Diego Padres, who beat the AL West-leading Houston Astros 4-0 on Wednesday.
Machado homered twice for the Padres, who won two of three against the Astros and stayed two games ahead of Arizona for the first NL wild card. The Astros came in with a five-game division lead over Seattle.
Cease (14-11), who threw his first career no-hitter on July 25 at Washington, took a one-hitter into the ninth before Mauricio Dubón beat out an infield single to shortstop. Cease struck out Jake Meyers but then shortstop Xander Bogaerts booted Jose Altuve's grounder for an error that allowed Dubón to take third, and that was it for the right-hander after 103 pitches.
Cease retired the first 15 Astros batters before allowing a single to right field by Jason Heyward to open the sixth. Cease then retired the side.
Cease struck out five and walked none. Tanner Scott got two outs for his 21st save.
Machado, who has 29 homers, lined a shot to left-center off Framber Valdez opening the sixth.
Tatis, who struck out in his first three at-bats, hit reliever Kaleb Ort's first pitch into the first row in left-center leading off the eighth. It was his 19th. Machado followed with a shot deep into the seats in left and Solano hit a liner to left, his seventh. That was it for Ort, who threw just nine pitches.
Valdez (14-7) went seven innings, allowing one run and five hits while striking out six and walking two.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: 1B/DH Luis Arraez got the day off to rest his sore left knee, which he jammed into home plate while being thrown out on Monday night. Arraez started at DH on Tuesday night.
UP NEXT
Astros: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.29 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday night in the opener of a four-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels, who will go with LHP José Suarez (1-2, 6.80).
Padres: Hadn't announced their starter for Friday night's home series opener against the Chicago White Sox.