Cade Stover’s broken foot and indefinite sidelining upend Houston’s TE depth, cueing a potential roster upgrade. Stover was a rising factor in two-TE sets; with Irv Smith out for the season, the Texans must lean on Harrison Bryant or Luke Lachey from the practice squad while exploring veteran options in free agency. Jake Andrews’ day-to-day status keeps interior line concerns on the radar. Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios are inching back from hamstring injuries, but timetable remains open.

Fantasy takeaway: Stover’s absence tightens the Texans’ TE target share, elevating Bryant and Lachey as immediate speculative adds with upside if they seize the opportunity, while the team’s free-agent pursuit could alter the midseason TE landscape.

Cade Stover's broken foot leaves Houston with a gaping TE hole and could trigger IR moves or practice-squad elevations. Harrison Bryant or Luke Lachey from the Texans’ practice squad look likely to step in, while Irv Smith Jr. is already down for the count and Brevin Jordan is out for the season. Dalton Schultz remains a veteran anchor, but the target distribution could tilt toward Bryant or Lachey in the coming weeks. The Rams test will also shape how Houston uses two-TE sets going forward.

The Houston Texans have added Iowa tight end Luke Lachey with their final selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, picking him 255th overall. Lachey joins a team with a new offensive coordinator, Nick Caley, who has notable experience with tight ends. Coming from the renowned Iowa tight end lineage, expectations are that Lachey may secure a spot on the active roster. He has shown steady improvement during his college career, recording 28 receptions for 398 yards and four touchdowns in 2022, followed by 28 receptions for 231 yards in 2024.

Despite his skills, Lachey is primarily viewed as a blocking tight end at this stage, which will place him in competition for snaps with second-year player Cade Stover, particularly in red zone situations. His evaluation by NFL.com highlights his potential as a versatile tight end capable of playing both in-line and as a move tight end, though questions remain about his core strength and ability to escape man coverage effectively.