Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans works with Houston Texans tight end Cade Stover (8) before an NFL pre-season football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)
The Houston Texans lost their first preseason game to the Los Angeles Chargers 27-7 at Reliant Stadium on Thursday. Only a few starters played, including the entire starting offensive line for one series. That group scored the Texans' only touchdown.
Houston Texans safety Kamari Ramsey (27) breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Brenen Thompson (89) during the first half of an NFL pre-season football game at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)
Here are the standouts, both good and bad: Risers TE Marlin Klein The Texans were criticized for selecting Klein in the second round of April's draft, but he has made plays throughout training camp. He did it again Thursday on the first drive, making a 31-yard catch from Davis Mills on a seam route. It was the Texans' only explosive offensive play of the game. A few plays later, on fourth-and-1, Klein drew a pass interference penalty that gave the Texans an automatic first down and set up a touchdown. "He really shined today," coach DeMeco Ryans said of Klein. "Everybody saw the pass that he caught. That's where I see he can excel for our offense and open the offense up for us. His catch radius - it's tough to guard him." Ryans said he also liked his run blocking. WR Jared Wayne Wayne has spent much of his time on the Texans' practice squad in recent years and has been called up to the 53-man roster several times. But this is arguably his best chance to make the team, depending on whether the Texans keep six or seven receivers. Wayne had only three catches for 17 yards, but one catch went for a first down and another was a touchdown on a jump ball over a Chargers defender. It was the Texans' only touchdown of the game. LB Jake Pummel Pummel had not made much noise during training camp, but he showed up in the first preseason game. He had four tackles and two tackles for loss in limited action. The Texans signed Pummel in free agency because of his special teams ability. He certainly helped his chances of making the roster Thursday, but likely still has a ways to go. Backup safeties Kamari Ramsey, a fifth-round rookie safety, had the game's biggest play when he intercepted Chargers quarterback Trey Lance late in the second quarter. It appeared to be a miscommunication, but Ramsey was exactly where he needed to be and returned the interception 40 yards. "It was really just eyes on the quarterback and picked it off," said Ramsey, who admitted he had jitters before the game. Safety Jaylen Reed led all defenders with five tackles. Both have a good chance to make the roster. Fallers QB Graham Mertz Mertz's performance did not make him a faller. He suffered what appeared to be a leg injury late in the first half while attempting to scramble for a first down on third-and-long. When Mertz fell to the ground, he grabbed his right knee. Trainers checked on him for several seconds. Mertz walked off under his own power but had a noticeable limp. "Unfortunately, it was non-contact," Ryans said. "We are evaluating. Right now we're looking at a knee injury, ACL. So we'll get that update and see what happens." Mertz previously suffered a torn ACL in his left during his final season at Florida and was still rehabbing it when the Texans drafted him in 2025. Regardless of the injury's severity, the Texans will need to sign another quarterback to play in the preseason as they hope to limit the reps of C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills get in the preseason. Backup edge rushers Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and Jadeveon Clowney all rested Thursday, which meant extended playing time for the Texans' backups. Logan Hall also did not play, but it was unclear why. The backups struggled to generate much pressure on the quarterback. Dominique Robinson was credited with a sack in the first quarter after pushing Lance out of bounds for a 2-yard loss. But even that play took eight seconds to stop. Lance, who played most of the game at quarterback for the Chargers, had far too much time in the pocket. It demonstrated how much the Texans needed to add depth behind Anderson and Hunter before signing Clowney. CB Collin Wright Wright has had one of the more impressive training camps so far, but his performance Thursday was not indicative of that. He gave up only one reception for 16 yards, but he was beaten on another deep pass that would have gone for an explosive play if the receiver had not dropped it. He also whiffed on a tackle near the goal line with 10 minutes left in the second quarter, leading to a rushing touchdown by Chargers running back Amar Johnson. Fortunately for Wright, none of the other backup cornerbacks sto CB Tremon Smith Smith didn't play badly, but the fact that he was in the game late in the fourth quarter of the first preseason game spoke volumes about his standing. These players are battling for roster spots. Smith still has a lot to prove before making the team. He is in an intense competition with Wright and Ja'Marcus Ingram for the final cornerback spot on the roster. Subscribe There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢. This article originally published at Who is moving up, down after Houston Texans preseason loss to Los Angeles Chargers.