It's almost time for the Houston Texans to finalize their initial 53-man roster for the 2025 NFL season. Saturday afternoon's preseason showdown with the Detroit Lions is the Texans' final stop before Tuesday's roster deadline, meaning it's important for players on the bubble to give it their all this weekend.
Although there's still time for veterans and rookies to prove themselves to head coach DeMeco Ryans' staff, others have already sealed their fate with a poor preseason performance. That includes one recent Houston draft pick whose stock continues to drop with each passing day.
Texans OT Austin Deculus' Time in Houston Will Run Out Next Week
It was just over three years ago when the Texans used a 2022 sixth-round pick on offensive tackle Austin Deculus. The Mamou, LA native enjoyed a solid run during his five seasons with the LSU Tigers, including a 2019 CFP National Championship victory, and the hope was that he could contribute to Houston's offensive line depth.
Deculus' time during the 2022 and 2023 seasons was spent in a reserve role, playing only 97 snaps while balancing between blocking and special teams duties. He was eventually waived in November 2023 and was claimed by the New York Jets shortly after, only to never play a game for the AFC East franchise. He spent most of the 2024 campaign on the New Orleans Saints' practice squad but didn't see any action with them, either, leading to his Texans return in December.
With concerns mounting around Houston's offensive line, rolling the dice on Deculus seemed like a solid risk at the time. Ryans already knows the 6-foot-5, 321-pound blocker from two seasons ago, leaving time to tell if a reunion would foster any success.
Instead, Deculus has struggled to provide the Texans' quarterbacks with much protection this preseason. The veteran OT has surrendered three QB pressures (2 hurries, 1 hit) across 49 passing downs through two exhibition outings, resulting in a pitiful 39.4 Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade — not exactly the kind of number Houston fans want to see from C.J. Stroud's protection.
The fact that Deculus played 43 offensive snaps last week after seeing 34 in the preseason opener suggests that the Texans' staff still isn't sold on him. He's already been cut by Houston once in his brief NFL career, and failing to step up against the Lions will likely be the final nail in the coffin for his time in town.