82 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 82?
The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we're counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast.
Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let's take a look at who has won No. 82 since the inaugural season in 2002.
Texans players to wear No. 82
No. 82 currently belongs to third-round pick Jaylin Noel, whom the Texans believe can be a quality starting slot option after two promising years at Iowa State. The 5-foot-10 pass-catcher is an explosive athlete who makes up for his overall route-running skills with strength after contact and solid hands.
After posting back-to-back 60-plus catch seasons while totaling over 800 receiving yards, Noel's value as a third-round pick might make him a steal in the AFC South for C.J. Stroud and new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. Still, he's yet to play a snap with the Texans, so he can't be the greatest player to ever wear No. 82.
Could that change after the 2025 season? Perhaps. Mostly because the list is boring after one other name in the last two decades.
WR Jaylin Noel (2025)
WR Dionate Johnson (2024)
WR Steven Sims (2023-2024)
WR Isaiah Coulter (2020)
WR Wendall Williams (2016)
WR Keshawn Martin (2012-2014)
LS Clark Harris (2008)
TE Ben Steele (2006)
TE Billy Miller (2002-2004)
Best Player: Steven Sims
Because of a punt return, Sims wins by default. While the Texans fell short in the 2023 AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Sims gave Houston a chance with his 67-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Outside of that, no one has done a thing to warrant consideration. Noel, with multiple touchdown receptions this fall, would qualify for the title after one season.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Texans DB Jalen Pitre, LB Christian Harris miss consecutive training camp practices
Two more name to watch for this upcoming week Two starters for the Houston Texans' defense missed practice back-to-back days, but for one player, it's not much of a concern. For the other? Time could be pressing if he plans on securing a starting job for the upcoming season amid a contract year. Nickel defender Jalen Pitre and linebacker Christian Harris missed Saturday's practice, though both were in attendance among the fans and greeted folks after drills. For Pitre, Saturday marked the second consecutive practice missed with an undisclosed injury. For Harris, he's yet to see action in any practice because of a lower-body injury that hindered his playing time last year. Despite being cleared from starting the season on the PUP list, Harris hasn't taken snaps during teams drills. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said that Pitre, like all players, would be on their "own timeline" regarding a return. For Pitre, he's not expected to miss much time and could be back at practice by Monday morning. Pitre, who inked a three-year, $42 million extension this offseason, was having a career year after moving to the nickel from safety in 2024 before a chest injury cut his season short. In the early stages of training camp, he's impressed in coverage, picking off C.J. Stroud on the second day of practice for a return for a touchdown. "He's been a guy who's been very consistent for us, no matter where we've put him or what we've asked him to do. He's just my type of player," Ryans said. "He's all over the field, always up for the challenge. Whatever the down is, he's going to be around the football and making plays and it was evident today.' Harris, who enters the final year of his rookie deal, hopes to return to his 2023 form. When Ryans arrived from San Francisco, no one benefitted more than Harris, who notched 101 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles and a pick-six in the wild-card round victory over the Cleveland Browns. With both Henry To'oTo'o and E.J. Speed seeing extended time in the starting lineup, every practice missed for Harris could inch closer to him finding a new home in 2026. The Texans return to practice on Monday.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Texans defense puts on a show with three interceptions during Saturday's open practice
Azeez Al-Shaair pick six on CJ StroudHe was trying to rip the backside slant to Nico Collins and got stumped One bad performance from the Houston Texans' offense might not be an omen for the regular season. A third great morning for the defense, however, should send fear down opposing offensive coordinators' spines. The Texans picked off three passes during team drills in front of the fans at the Methodist Training Center Saturday morning. Each quarterback tossed an interception, with two resulting in pick-sixes and a swarm of confidence from players in white jerseys. "We try and go out there and get a takeaway every single game," second-year defensive back Calen Bullock said. "If we get multiple, that's lovely. Yeah, that's the standard.' The first pick happened on the opening drive with C.J. Stroud trying to connect with Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins on a slant. Middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was in the right place at the right time and turned the ball the other way, leaving Stroud and the offensive line in the dust. The second interception came from Davis Mills, who has rookie safety Jayden Reed call game while in man coverage. The final pass came from Kedon Slovis, who Myles Bryant intercepted en route to a second house call. "That's who we are. That's what we do," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "So, the defense just being who they are. They're making plays. You had Azeez make a play on the football a couple times. He got his hands on the ball twice. Then Myles had a really good cover snap, playing in great position and was able to finish with the ball in his hand. "Those guys are playing well together.' While Reed and Bryant are fighting for playing time, Al-Shaair is expected to start at the MIKE spot in Year 2. Last season, he didn't live up to the billing of a triple-digit tackler, but his on-field play against the run was promising. In coverage, times were hit or miss. According to Pro Football Reference, Al-Shaair struggled to maintain leverage over tight ends in the postseason, allowing four catches for 36 yards, a touchdown, while also giving up a 122 quarterback passer rating in coverage. This offseason, one of his top priorities was learning how to mature in read and reaction plays in coverage. Al-Shaair joined Kamari Lassiter, Derek Stingley Jr. and the rest of the Texans' defensive back room at the annual 'Cover One Elite Camp,' in Puerto Rico. He was welcomed with open arms and sat back quiet rather than being the vocal presence he tends to turn into on Sundays. Azeez Al-Shaair gave an incredibly insightful answer on how he's developed his leadership introspective, and clearly someone whose presence elevates everyone around him. "It was a chance for us to kind of pass some of the stuff that we know coverage-wise on to him. I'm not saying that he doesn't know how to cover, because obviously he does," Lassiter said. "He's a very elite linebacker. But it's just like, we soak up game from him. And he was able to, a good leader can also listen, you know what I'm saying? So him being able to soak up game from us, that also meant a lot.' How the Texans' offense responds with pads on could be a telling sign for the future identity of this roster entering Year 3 under Ryans and Stroud. There will be a better inclination for how things look starting Monday when light tackling is added into the mix. 'Can you have a bad day and come back and rebound from that?" Ryans said. "I see a lot of great things and a lot of areas we can improve.'
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Derrick Henry says he's still haunted by dropped pass in divisional playoff loss
Mark Andrews is not the only Baltimore Ravens skill position player with deep regrets from the 2025 AFC Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills. While Andrews' mistake is one that's been covered and discussed in volume (and now sets itself up for a good redemption arc story), Derrick Henry made a mistake that flies under the radar. Yes, Henry also dropped a pass in the 27-25 elimination loss to the Bills, but it's one that few people remember. It feels like Henry is the only one who remembers it, but it's still haunting him right now. It came on the Ravens' very first drive of the game- King Henry was wide open, with tons of daylight in front of him, but he couldn't corral the pass from Lamar Jackson. While it was a bad drop, it ultimately had no real bearing on the game's result, as Rashod Bateman completed the drive with a touchdown catch from Jackson. However, Henry is a perfectionist, and his gaffe is still bothering him six months later. "I still think about the pass I dropped early in that game," Henry said while making at an appearance on NFL Network. Asked how often he thinks about this specific dropped pass, he responded: "All the time; it still makes me cringe." Derrick Henry says he still thinks about the pass he dropped in the #Ravens playoff loss to the #Bills. How often? "All the time. It still makes me cringe."@nflnetwork @BaldyNFL — Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) July 26, 2025 The fact that this mistake bothers him so much reveals a great deal about who he is and what he stands for. Although it didn't significantly impact the game, Henry found his drop unacceptable. This mindset reflects the high-level motivation he possesses. You can see this mindset in his intense workout videos, which go viral every offseason and preseason. Henry is dedicated to being the best. In addition to that, he seems to be a good man off the field as well. Henry has been known to give back to the community.
