Houston reshapes its opening five on the line minutes before Week 1 vs the Rams. Ed Ingram is out with an abdominal injury, forcing Tytus Howard to guard at right and Cam Robinson to left tackle, with Aireontae Ersery shifting from left to right tackle. Robinson, a new Texans signing, joins the starting unit as Ersery’s versatility is tested. CJ Stroud eyes the protection as Houston aims to spark the run and pass game behind a wholly different front than last year.

Ingram’s exit and the lineup flip place extra emphasis on the Texans’ depth and how quickly the unit jells against Aaron Donald and Co. The Vikings connection of Ingram adds a notable narrative thread to Week 1, but the focus remains on Stroud’s pocket and Houston’s ability to adapt on the fly. The Rams present a stern Week 1 test for a newly constructed line.

The Chicago Bears still haven’t named a Week 1 left tackle as Braxton Jones returns from ankle surgery, with a starter still up for grabs and multiple in-house options pushing to seize the job. Trade chatter around Cam Robinson adds a ceiling for an upgrade, but cap realities keep that idea fluxy. In the meantime, Jones’ health and the growth of backups Ozzy Trapilo, Theo Benedet, and Kiran Amegadjie will shape Chicago’s pass protection for early games.

Texas’ cap situation and Minnesota’s Darrisaw injury context highlight how depth and development at tackle drive midseason decisions more than quick fixes. Chicago leans on versatility across the five-man line, weighing long-term development against immediate protection needs before Week 1.

Texans close the 2025 preseason at Ford Field vs Detroit with rookies Ersery, Higgins and Noel slated to draw early looks as coaches rotate in depth for roster decisions. Starters like CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. are not expected to play, while Dameon Pierce and Christian Harris could see brief action and Cam Robinson may man swing tackle duties. With roughly 14 spots up for grabs, this game doubles as a critical depth evaluation before Week 1. Noon CT kickoff; ESPN+ and NFL Network options, plus local Houston ABC13 coverage.

Growing role for Xavier Hutchinson becomes the centerpiece of Houston’s receiver group, with the staff praising his versatility and willingness to do dirty work. He’s emerged as a reliable short-to-intermediate target for C.J. Stroud and looks locked to make the roster with a potential breakout season.

The Texans’ backfield situation features Nick Chubb as a veteran plug-in, with Nick Chubb showing speed and decisiveness in limited work, while Joe Mixon’s status remains up in the air as he progresses back from injury. Free-agent additions and veteran depth are shaping how Houston approaches the final cuts and the Week 1 landscape.

On the trade-front, several on-the-bubble players—Christian Harris, Dameon Pierce, Cam Robinson, and Justin Watson—are viewed as high-value assets who could yield cheap, productive depth for other teams. The plan emphasizes flexibility, cap considerations, and giving the best players the field, regardless of contract status. Creasing decisions around Trent Brown’s return, the tackle rotation, and Ersery’s hold at left tackle hint at how Houston might structure its O-line for the season.

Overall, the Texans are balancing a win-now push with roster optimization, leveraging Hutchinson’s intangibles, Chubb’s reacquired explosiveness, and savvy handling of veterans to optimize the final 53 before cuts.