We're a little more than a week out from the start of the regular season. The Houston Texans' 53-man roster is out. And their practice squad is nearly complete, too.
Welcome to JMA's mailbag, where I answer readers' questions once a week in the regular season and once a month in the offseason. I'll get back to our regularly scheduled programing after Week 1.
To ask a question, use the form below, message me on X, or send me an email at jonathan.alexander@houstonchronicle.com.
You guys had a ton of questions this week, it took me a little longer than normal.
Let's get to it (questions may be lightly edited for clarity and/or brevity):
Q: Who do you expect to be the starting wide receivers Week 1? -AB
JMA: Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel.
I expect Kayshon Boutte to eventually emerge as the team's No. 2 receiver, but that will likely take some time as C.J. Stroud and Boutte must develop chemistry first.
Q: Based on Nick Caserio's press conference Tuesday, do you think C.J. Stroud gets extended before the season starts, during the season or after? -Saucy
Q: If you had a guess, do you think the Texans work out a decision with C.J. before the season starts? -Owen
JMA: Based on my reporting, it's more likely that the Texans reach a deal with Stroud next offseason. As I reported Tuesday, the Texans and Stroud aren't far off on numbers. The Texans made a competitive offer to Stroud, and both sides seem to be pleased with how conversations have gone so far.
But it seems Stroud's camp is dug in on what it wants, and the Texans are dug in on what they've offered.
Both sides are content on waiting until after the season to get something done. By next offseason, if Stroud performs well, that number could look a lot higher.
I went more in detail on it here.
Q: What could hold this defense back from being elite? -FondofHouSports
Do you believe the offensive line will be improved?
JMA: Injuries. This team has all the talent to be elite again, they have the same coaching staff and an impressive scheme. The only thing that could hold it back is injuries.
As for your second question, yes I do believe they'll be improved. Keylan Rutledge looks the part. He plays with an edge. And Evan Brown seems to be as solid as they come at center.
The Texans' offense as a whole is way ahead of where it was a year ago. The offensive line might not be elite this season, but it can certainly improve.
Q: Do you think Kayshon Boutte can be a legitimate No. 2 receiver for the Texans? - Robert R.
JMA: Why not? Chemistry will take time between Boutte and Stroud. And I don't think there will be immediate success.
But it will develop over time. Boutte will be motivated to play well, being in a contract year. Yes, I think he can become a legitimate No. 2.
He was the best deep-play threat in New England last year. He can certainly be that for Houston as well.
Q: With five tight ends on the 53-man roster, could we expect four of them to be active gameday? And play a lot of 12 or 13 personnel?-Veera
JMA: I'd expect the Texans to make three to four active on gameday and use a lot of 12 and 13 personnel. They feel that by doing that, they can better disguise the run and pass than playing six offensive lineman.
Offensive coordinator Nick Caley wanted to do that last season, but Cade Stover and Brevin Jordan got hurt in the preseason. The Texans carried only two tight ends on their initial 53-man roster. Carrying five gives them optionality.
Q: With the perceived improvement across the offensive line, do you foresee a scenario where both David Montgomery and Woody Marks can eclipse 800-plus yards rushing?
And if so, do you think that could vault the offense into top-10 territory?-Clayton Anderson
JMA:It's hard to make a prediction like that without knowing how healthy each running back will be. But I do think the offensive line and the running backs are improved enough that both could eclipse 800 yards if everyone does remain healthy.
I think Montgomery and Marks are going to be in for a near even split because they can be utilized in different ways. Both looked good in training camp, especially when facing other teams.
I don't know if this is a top-10 offense. I haven't seen that yet. But I do believe it has the ability to be a top-15 offense.
Q: Is anything being done to add a stronger, more experienced linebacker to that group? Will the Texans find another known talent at receiver to add depth to an unproven WR room?-Pappy7189
JMA: The Texans like what they have at linebacker currently. Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o will get the bulk of the snaps when they play their nickel formation. When they go in their 4-3 base defense, they'll likely roll with rookie Wade Woodaz or linebacker Jake Hansen, who are both expected to be healthy by the season opener.
Unless there are injuries, I don't expect the Texans to add more experience to that group.
As for receiver, it doesn't appear so, either. If anything, the Texans have the option to bring Lewis Bond up from the practice squad to the gameday roster. And after four weeks, Tank Dell could return.
Q: Do you think we'll see more Derek Stingley Jr. or Kamari Lassiter in the slot this season from what you've seen in training camp? -Saint
JMA: I do not see either player playing in the slot. Both players are primarily outside corners. Lassiter has experience in the slot when injuries occur.
But the Texans have Jalen Pitre as their nickel corner. So they don't have a need for Stingley or Lassiter to be in the slot.
Q: What do we do at wide receiver to get some consistency? Every year, we have a guy get hurt for a year or more. Nico (Collins) misses time every year. How do we build more depth with trustworthy pieces?-Cade Powell
JMA: You acquire as much talent as you can.
I do think the Texans have done a decent job of trying to acquire talent, starting with the acquisition of Kayshon Boutte, who has the talent to be a No. 1 wide receiver.
If Tank Dell is healthy by the time he is eligible to return, then that is an added bonus as well. Otherwise, if none of these moves work, they'll need to get more receivers earlier in the draft or trade for another receiver.
Q: With British Brooks being one of three RBs on 53-man roster, what role do you think he plays this season?-Ashton
JMA: Brooks will be the third running back and will play a huge role on special teams. That's where he's made his money since coming into the league, and that's where he'll continue to do so.
Brooks lost weight this offseason, too, in hopes he could move around quicker and fit more into the running back role than fullback.
Q: What's the process like in terms of finding out inside insight news/info on the Texans? Do you reach out to coaches, staff members inside the organization, etc? What's that process like?-Graffa_Oh!
JMA: I appreciate the question.
To keep it simple, the process is getting to know people, forming genuine connections with them, earning their trust, operating with integrity and always being open to listen.
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Q: When I watch players interact after games, (if you don't know the score) it is hard to tell the players from the losing team from the winners. It feels like fans often take losses harder than players. Is this true?-UnnecessaryApo2
JMA: It depends. I think with the increase in gambling, a lot of fans have money on games, so sometimes there's a lot at stake for them.
I think for some players, this is their life, and what they've trained for since they were children. Many of them are competitive and want to win.
But for others, this is a job. This is how they make their money and feed their families for now.
As long as you do your best in your job, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing when you value life outside of work, or when you don't let every loss negatively affect you.
Q: With five TEs on the roster, who do you see as inactive for the Bills (opener)? Who do you think would be a good matchup advantage against that defense?-Benjamin S.
JMA: I'd expect Brevin Jordan to be inactive for the simple fact that he hasn't practiced in a month, and likely isn't expected to practice until the week of the game. I could also imagine Cade Stover being inactive and the Texans running with three tight ends.
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There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Mailbag: Do Texans have enough at WR? Will C.J. Stroud get a deal done before season or after?.