DeMeco Ryans and the Texans changed things up, including with Wyatt Teller. Getty
Fernando Mendoza had a rough night against the Texans' defense. Getty
The Houston Texans could enter Week 1 with only Logan Hall among the backups to Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter , as Solomon Byrd joined the list of injured players.
Sleeper's Jacob Barzilla noted on X on August 28 that Byrd got up "gingerly" after a play, noting that the Texans' "depth at DE has been destroyed by injuries recently," with Dylan Horton and Ali Gaye both out for the season.
Byrd got poked in the eye, per Barzilla, and was able to return to the field.
He exited a short while later, though, again under his own power, making his way to the blue medical tent after teammate Kaevon Merriweather "rolled up on him," Barzilla updated.
Texans Truth Serum's Jayson Braddock noted , "Depth DEs on the Texans can't catch a break."
Byrd, 26, was a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft, taken 238th overall. He has played in one regular-season game, tallying 2 total tackles and 1 pass deflection. That is despite playing 20 of his 21 snaps on defense, per Pro Football Reference .
According to KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson , though, "Byrd had a strong preseason in fight to make 53-man roster dealing with ankle injury not regarded as serious, per league source."
GettyThe Texans are navigating multiple injuries at defensive end.
In addition to Gaye, Horton and, possibly, Byrd, Jadeveon Clowney has missed several practices with a leg injury. Fellow 2026 free agency signing Logan Hall has also missed time since joining the Texans.
The most important thing for the Texans is that Anderson and Hunter are healthy.
Still, at some point, those injuries will catch up to the Texans. They have already brought in former Jacksonville Jaguars EDGE Derek Parish , but Byrd was having a good night.
"Sebastian Harsh & Solomon Byrd looked good for the depth edge rushers," Barzilla said in his recap post of the eventual 16-13 Texans loss, which made them 0-3 in the preseason for the first time under head coach DeMeco Ryans .
GettyTexans DT Naquan Jones picked up an injury against the Panthers.
Unfortunately for the Texans, Byrd was not their only loss, with Wilson noting, "Naquan Jones had undisclosed injury, too."
Aside from Hall, the Texans have been healthy at defensive tackle. However, this latest setback leaves safety as the only position the Texans have not battled injuries at this offseason and in training camp.
Time will tell if Jones' issue is significant.
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