The Houston Texans must cut their roster to 75 by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday and to 53 by 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Here’s a final 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Brock Osweiler, Tom Savage, Brandon Weeden
After Osweiler signed a four-year, $72 million contract in March, he became the starter. So far in camp, Savage has beaten out Weeden for the backup spot. Regardless, the Texans will likely keep three quarterbacks on their roster.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes, Tyler Ervin
The Texans have a lot of depth at the running back position, and the addition of Miller and Ervin, the team’s fourth-round pick, will nudge out Akeem Hunt and Kenny Hilliard.
FULLBACK (1): Jay Prosch
Prosch beat out undrafted free-agent Soma Vainuku for the position.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): DeAndre Hopkins, Cecil Shorts, Jaelen Strong, Will Fuller, Braxton Miller, Keith Mumphery
The Texans made an effort to get Hopkins help during the offseason by using their first- and third-round picks on Will Fuller and Braxton Miller. Undrafted free agent Wendall Williams is fast, but he didn't do enough to make the team.
TIGHT ENDS (3): C.J. Fiedorowicz, Ryan Griffin, Stephen Anderson
Fiedorowicz will be the starting tight end, but Anderson, an undrafted free agent out of Cal, will make the team after his strong training camp.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Duane Brown, Derek Newton, Jeff Allen, Xavier Su'a-Filo, Greg Mancz, Jeff Adams, Chris Clark, Kendall Lamm, Tony Bergstrom
Newton (hamstring) and Brown (quadriceps) are still injured, and they may not return before the end of the preseason games. If Brown starts the season on the physically unable to perform list, Oday Aboushi could make the team as well. Tony Bergstrom hasn’t looked great during camp, but with the injury to rookie center Nick Martin, the Texans will likely keep him.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork, Christian Covington, Devon Still, D.J. Reader, Brandon Dunn
The defensive line is one of the stronger position groups on the team. Still and Covington are competing for the starting job across from Watt, and Reader showed improvement in the second preseason game against the Saints.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Brian Cushing, Benardrick McKinney, Max Bullough, Brian Peters
Cushing has looked like his old self, collecting six tackles in the lone quarter he played in the second preseason game. He has been all over the field in practice, and playing opposite McKinney, Cushing could have a big impact this season. Peters has been a standout on special teams and was tied for the league lead in special-teams tackles last season with 17.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Whitney Mercilus, Jadeveon Clowney, John Simon, Tony Washington, Jr.
Last season, the Texans ranked fifth in the NFL with 45 sacks, and with a healthy Clowney, who looks poised for a breakout season, that number could increase in 2016.
SAFETIES (5): Andre Hal, Quintin Demps, Lonnie Ballentine, Eddie Pleasant, K.J. Dillon
Hal and Demps are locks to start. If Ballentine (knee) starts the season on the PUP list, Kurtis Drummond or Corey Moore could take his place. Pleasant has impressed on special teams, which helped solidify his spot on the roster.
CORNERBACKS (5): Johnathan Joseph, Kevin Johnson, Kareem Jackson, A.J. Bouye, Charles James
Joseph, Johnson and Jackson will be the top three corners, and Johnson has looked especially good entering his second season. During camp, head coach Bill O’Brien has pointed out Bouye’s impact on special teams this preseason.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3): P Shane Lechler, K Nick Novak, LS Jon Weeks
Novak competed with Ka'imi Fairbairn, an undrafted rookie out of UCLA, during camp, but with less than two weeks until the regular-season opener, it appears the veteran has won the competition.