The Texans are close to finalizing their 53-man roster, but head coach Bill O'Brien won't be revealing any names yet.
"Really, right now, we're still in the process," O'Brien said Friday. "We're almost done. It's like I was saying the other day, it's a very difficult time because it's just been a really good group of guys to work with, whether it was the 90 guys or 75 guys. We've had guys that came in here and practiced hard, lifted hard, conditioned hard, but at the end of the day, you have to get down to 53 and then a 10-man practice squad. We're still in the process of doing that. Out of respect to those guys, we're going to hold off on announcing all the right now."
Because of their 2013 season record, Houston will have first priority in picking up free agents that hit the waiver wire. Evaluating talent on other rosters that could fit on the Texans squad has been an ongoing process by general manager Rick Smith and pro personnel director Brian Gaine. Even with all the preparation, it can be tough to predict how it affects the chemistry of the team, according to O'Brien.
"It's difficult because obviously you have guys here that have worked very hard," O'Brien said. "It always goes back to doing what's best for the team. Whatever we think can improve the team, if we think it can improve the team, then we'll always look to do that. At the same time, it's what's best for the team. If what's best for the team is to make sure that we keep the locker room intact basically as it is right now or as it will be when we get down to 53, then that's what we should do also."
While the team has not yet announced any cuts, some players have taken to Twitter to announce the news. https://twitter.com/ZachPotterTE/status/505414199942840320
The Texans have until 5 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 30 to submit their final roster. Practice squad signings will begin on Sunday at 11 a.m.
