WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS- The Houston Texans enter the 2025 NFL season with a renewed sense of optimism, especially on the defensive side of the ball and in special teams. After a 2024 campaign that saw flashes of brilliance with just a few moments of inconsistency, the Texans’ front office, coaching staff, and players have spent the offseason fine-tuning schemes, bolstering depth, and adding key playmakers. With a blend of young talent and seasoned veterans, Houston’s defense and special teams look poised to take a significant step forward this year.
Houston will spend August 4-7 at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur for a partial training camp before heading to play the Minnesota Vikings for a preseason game on August 9 at 4:00 PM. It will be televised by the NFL Network.
With the offense getting settled in for 2025, the Texans defense may have just as much say whether or not their upcoming season is good, great, or indifferent.
After finishing fourth in yards allowed per carry in 2024 and fourth in sacks, the Texans are looking to improve even more. With defensive end Will Anderson, Jr. leading the way, and being assisted in his lead by Danielle Hunter, the defensive side of the ball has some real playmakers that could wreak havoc on opponent offenses just as it did a season ago. Some prognosticators are expecting Houston to put a top 5 caliber defense on the field each week.
Last season, Anderson, Jr. logged 37 tackles and had 11 sacks and a big increase in production is expected from the third-year, former Alabama Crimson Tide player. Hunter, a 10-year veteran defensive end, teamed up with Anderson in 2024 and had 12 sacks making them one of the better sack duos in the entire league.
Houston is bringing back almost the entirety of its defense from last season with the only major change being adding CJ Gardener-Johnson who replaced Eric Murray in the defensive backfield. Gardener-Johnson had six interceptions last season and was a major contributor for the Philadelphia Eagles in their Super Bowl run. Houston even went out and brought a couple former players back to the franchise in Sheldon Rankins and Tremon Smith. Rankins played a year at Cincinatti, but didn’t have the productive season he wanted, but in 2023 with the Texans, he was a key part of the defense. Smith has seen success as a Texan in the past as well. The familiarity between not only the returning players from last season, but also those two from before, will make Houston even deeper.
Tim Settle will return to once again anchor things in the middle of the D-line. The tackle had 24 tackles last season and recorded five sacks and was a key contributor in the top 4 rush defense. He will be joined by Hunter and Folorunso Fatukasi.
The linebacking unit is steady with Henry To’oTo’o (54 tackles in ’24), EJ Speed (93 tackles), and Azeez Al-Shaair (45 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles). The team really likes Al-Shaair as he has been productive on the field when given a chance and he just recently had a pick-6 in a scrimmage situation in training camp last weekend.
At corner, Derek Stingley, Jr. and Kamari Lassiter return to form a highly productive combo. Stinger’s five interceptions and 18 passes defended led the team and he also made 37 tackles. Lassiter batted away 10 passes and picked of three passes. With those two shutting down receivers, Houstin’s backend should be strong and will make things easier on Gardener-Johnson and fellow safety Calen Bullock and nickelback Jalen Pitre.
Tommy Townsend is handling the punting duties and last season averaged a whopping 48 yards per punt. Ka’Imi Fairbairn is back as well and will handle the placekicking. In 2024, Fairbairn knocked in almost 86 percent of his field goal tries with a long of 59 yards.
Look for Braxton Berrios to resume return duties after being limited to just six games last season. When healthy and available, Berrios is one of the more dangerous return men in the league.
