Texans Roster Tracker: Every Move Made Ahead of Week 5

Sports admin October 10, 2026 0 Comments

Texans Roster Tracker: Every Move Made Ahead of Week 5

The Houston Texans need answers quickly. They enter Week 5 0-4 after another frustrating start to the season. The Tennessee Titans are also winless at 0-4, setting up an AFC South showdown in Nashville that both teams desperately need to win.

The Texans travel to Nissan Stadium, with their offense needing to find more consistency, while the defense must do a better job of preventing opponents from taking control of games. Houston has also been busy making roster changes ahead of the divisional matchup. The Texans have added depth at quarterback, wide receiver, running back and several defensive positions while opening practice windows for key players returning from injury.

Here’s a complete look at the Texans’ roster moves and transactions heading into Week 5.

Texans Sign Bryce Oliver and Mark Gronowski, Add Three Players to Practice Squad

October 8: Bryce Oliver Signed to Active Roster

The Texans signed wide receiver Bryce Oliver to the active roster on Thursday. The 6-foot-1 receiver played college football at Youngstown State and brings another option to Houston’s receiving group. With the Texans looking for more production through the air, Oliver’s addition gives the team extra depth at a position that has dealt with availability concerns.

October 7: Mark Gronowski Added to Active Roster

Houston signed quarterback Mark Gronowski to the active roster on Wednesday, October 7. The 25-year-old rookie played college football at Iowa and adds another quarterback to the room behind starter C.J. Stroud. Gronkowski’s arrival comes at an important time. Davis Mills remains Stroud’s backup, but the Texans have struggled to find consistency this season. Adding another quarterback gives the team insurance and another developmental option for the future.

The signing does not mean Houston is changing its starting quarterback. Stroud remains the centerpiece of the offense, and Mills remains an important part of the team’s plans.

October 7: Jaden Davis, Chad Muma and Deuce Vaughn Join Practice Squad

Jaden Davis, cornerback- The Miami product gives Houston another defensive back to develop and provides additional depth at a position where injuries can quickly affect the rotation.

Chad Muma, linebacker- The Wyoming product brings NFL experience and adds another option at linebacker. His familiarity with the league could help if Houston needs to call him up.

Deuce Vaughn, running back- The Kansas State product gives the Texans another option in the backfield and additional insurance behind their active running backs.

Texans Injury-Related Moves, Releases and Roster Changes

October 7: Tank Dell, Kayden McDonald and Braden Smith Designations

Houston opened the 21-day practice windows for wide receiver Tank Dell, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald and offensive tackle Braden Smith ahead of Week 5.

Dell has been working his way back from a serious knee injury suffered in December 2024. His return to practice is an encouraging development for an offense that needs more playmakers, however Dell sits out for Week 5 game.

McDonald and Smith also returned to practice. Smith’s availability could be particularly important because Houston needs to improve its offensive-line play and give Stroud more time in the pocket.

October 6: Treyvhon Saunders Released, Jaylin Smith Placed on Injured Reserve

Houston released wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders from the practice squad on Tuesday, October 6. The move opened a spot for other roster options as the team continued adjusting its receiving depth. The Texans also placed cornerback Jaylin Smith on injured reserve.

October 2: British Brooks Placed on Injured Reserve

Running back British Brooks was placed on injured reserve on Friday. The move removes another backfield option from the immediate picture. Houston will need its available running backs to handle their assignments efficiently, particularly if the team wants to establish the ground game and take some pressure off Stroud.

October 1: Noah Whittington Placed on Practice Squad Injured List

Houston placed running back Noah Whittington on the practice squad injured list on Thursday, October 1.

Texans Make Contract Changes to Davis Mills

Houston restructured Mills’ contract in a move that creates additional salary-cap flexibility.

The Texans converted $3.721 million of his salary into a signing bonus and added void years from 2027 through 2030 for salary-cap accounting purposes. The adjustment lowered his reported 2026 cap figure from $8.134 million to $5.427 million, creating $2.707 million in cap savings.

However, Mills is still scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season. His role as Stroud’s backup remains important, especially given Houston’s disappointing start. Mills went 3-0 as a starter in 2025 when Stroud was unavailable, demonstrating that he can keep the offense competitive when called upon.