The Houston Texans want more from their offense this season after a tough 2024 season. Bobby Slowik went from hot head coaching candidate after the 2023 season to being fired at the end of last season, and Nick Caley hopes to jump-start the group after coming over from the Los Angeles Rams.
Tapping into the Sean McVay coaching tree isn’t a bad way to help your offense, but it wasn’t the only way Houston is trying to put more points on the board this season. A log jam at one of the spots has left a recent disappointment on the outside looking in, and it sets up an important training camp for the third-year wideout.
Texans WR Xavier Hutchinson Remains on Chopping Block Heading Into Training Camp
Xavier Hutchinson came to Houston in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft after a productive career at Iowa State. In three seasons with the Cyclones, Hutchinson caught 254 passes for 2,929 yards and 15 touchdowns and led the Big 12 in receptions in all three seasons, including a career-high 107 catches in 2022.
The Texans' receiving room has had some breakout players over the past couple of seasons, including Nico Collins and Hutchinson’s draft classmate, Tank Dell. But while Dell ascended to a starting role, Hutchinson hasn’t had the same luck with 20 catches for 207 scoreless yards over his first two seasons. More concerning is that Hutchinson didn’t step up after Dell suffered a major leg injury last December, prompting the Texans to trade for Christian Kirk and select Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in April’s draft.
Hutchinson may have taken his fellow Iowa State alumni under his wing in the past, but it’s a delicate situation considering both players could take his job next month. While Higgins and Noel have both earned praise during the offseason program, Hutchinson has remained far behind with Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle noting that he and fellow cut candidate John Metchie didn’t do much to save their jobs during OTAs.
Perhaps a strong camp would be what Hutchinson needs to get back in the good graces of DeMeco Ryans’ staff. But with Caley now in charge, he could be more inclined to lean on the guys he brought in rather than take on a reclamation project.
It’s bad news for a player like Hutchinson, and he could be looking to audition for his next job when the Texans take the field for training camp.