Before training camp officially begins, the Houston Texans are making several moves.
According to the transaction sheet, Houston will place second-year wide receiver Jaylin Noel on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list to begin the season. Noel was expected to compete for first-team reps in the slot after a promising finish to his rookie campaign.
As for the defense, both defensive back M.J. Stewart (quad) and linebacker E.J. Speed (quad) will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Stewart, a longtime special teams standout for the Texans, was carted off with a season-ending injury in Week 11’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after moving into the starting role.
Speed, who signed a two-year deal to return to Houston this offseason, also suffered a quad injury during team workouts in the spring. He underwent surgery and is expected to miss a majority of the 2026 season.
The big takeaway in the moves actually surrounds the one player most Texans fans have been waiting to see. Wide receiver Tank Dell, who missed all of last season with a severe leg injury, will be cleared for all football activities, including contact. Over the last 16 months, Dell has been working his way back to full speed and now has done enough to clear all medical concerns ahead of Wednesday’s first practice.
After missing an entire season due to a dislocated knee and multiple ligament tears, Dell began to make strides during the offseason. In the early stages of OTAs, the former third-round pick caught passes in individual drills and later caught several passes against the team’s secondary.
Entering 2026, the Texans need another weapon. Dell should be the guy, if healthy, to pair alongside Pro Bowler Nico Collins and second-year standouts Jayden Higgins and Noel.
Rookie tight end Marlin Klein, who missed a majority of OTAs with a hamstring strain, also has been cleared to return to football activities.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans place WR Jaylin Noel on NFI list, LB E.J. Speed and DB M.J. Stewart on PUP list
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
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By Cole Thompson, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
