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Texans Have Much to Prove in Preseason Opener
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Texans Have Much to Prove in Preseason Opener

Originally posted on The Lead  |  By Cody Taylor  |  Last updated Aug 8, 2025 3:32 PM ET

Football is back, and from now until Feb. 8, we will all be glued to the television, enjoying the 2025 NFL season.

The Houston Texans open their preseason against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, and it will be the first look at the 2025 edition of the team. The way the preseason is played now, there should not be much, if any, CJ Stroud, Nico Collins, Will Anderson Jr, or Derik Stingley Jr, except a series or two.

That doesn’t mean tune out. There is plenty to look forward to and observe as we see how well the rookies and new signings come together.

The Playcaller

It is not lost on those who watched the 2024 version of the Houston Texans that the offense grew stale. The offensive play-calling became predictable, and there weren’t many chances to change out of bad situations. After Stefon Diggs went down, teams basically doubled up Nico Collins, then dared CJ Stroud to get another pass catcher to pop. Was Dare Ogunbowale on the field? It was a pass out of the backfield and then punt or kick a field goal.

It grew old, and it was frustrating.

Enter Nick Caley: A new voice in the organization tasked with getting the offense where it needs to be and to where it can go. Coming from Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, a new level of creativity should follow. Giving CJ Stroud more ownership of the offense and getting a balance in the running game will be paramount for the success of the 2025 version of the Texans. How the offense looks on Saturday will be a preview of what to expect going into the season. Caley needs to get the offense firing immediately.

The Iowa State duo

On the subject of offense. The Texans lost Stefon Diggs to the New England Patriots in free agency, but they did not wait long to fill the gaps in the wide receiver room. Houston traded for veteran Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars and drafted the dynamic duo of wide receivers, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, from Iowa State.

Everything shown in training camp shows two young receivers ready to contribute in their rookie years. After Diggs and Tank Dell went down, the offense became incredibly Nico Collins and Joe Mixon-dependent. There wasn’t much there in terms of offensive juice, and it showed in the divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. These gentlemen look to provide the sparks that were missing. Watching their first opportunities in a live NFL game should bring Texans fans hope.

The Elephants in the Room

Who are the usual suspects when the Texans struggle? The offensive line. Any sports talk show discussing the Texans always seems to revolve around the mistake of trading away Laremy Tunsil or potential issues with the line. Saturday night will be the first look at how this unit gels with Caley’s offense scheme. It will also be the first look at second-round tackle Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota. 

How the offensive line plays will determine how far the team goes. CJ Stroud was sacked 52 times in the 2024 season, second to only Caleb Williams (68), and has been sacked 90 times in two seasons. That is awful, and if the Texans want to enter the class of the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens, the big men up front have to keep CJ upright. They need to elevate their game to avoid being ranked as the worst offensive line unit in the NFL.

Saturday, regardless of it being preseason, will be a giant spotlight on the offensive line. 

This article first appeared on The Lead and was syndicated with permission.

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