The Houston Texans may have something special brewing on defense. Even without several of their biggest stars on the field Thursday night, the unit still found a way to make life hard for the Las Vegas Raiders. Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. and the rest of the starters from Houston's No. 1 total defense in 2025 were all watching from the sidelines.
The Texans allowed just 277.2 total yards per game last season, and while the preseason isn't the same test, the defense showed that there may be lots of depth behind those established stars. More sports: 49ers’ Jacob Cowing Dubbed a ‘Winner’ in Preseason The Texans made an immediate impression against Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Fourth-round rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz came up with one of the biggest plays of the night, returning an interception 80 yards for a touchdown.
That gave Houston's defense an early play and showed the younger players weren't simply filling snaps while the starters rested. Then came Kayden McDonald. The second-round rookie defensive tackle recorded an 11-yard sack of Mendoza, giving the Texans another impressive moment up front.
Defensive tackle was an area the team needed to improve, and the Texans used a second-round pick on McDonald, who was considered by many to be the top defensive tackle prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sports news: Eagles’ Ty Robinson is Making an Impression in the Preseason At 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, McDonald certainly has the size to make an impact. His college career at Ohio State was more about stopping the run than getting after quarterbacks, but the Texans will surely be encouraged if he can add that pass-rushing ability to his game.
That could make an already talented defense even more difficult to handle. CBS Sports has dubbed the defense a winner for its performance in the preseason. Houston already has stars such as Anderson, Hunter and Stingley Jr. leading the way.
If players like McDonald and Woodaz can continue showing they belong, the Texans could have a lot more depth than they did a year ago. One preseason performance isn't enough to make any major declarations. Still, watching Houston's younger defenders create turnovers and pressure without the team's biggest names on the field is certainly a good sign.
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