logo
46 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No.46?

46 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No.46?

USA Today6 days ago
The Houston Texans are less than 50 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 worn No. 46 since the inaugural season in 2002.
Texans players to wear No. 46
No. 46 currently belongs to undrafted free agent linebacker Jackson Woodard. During his time at Arkansas and UNLV, Woodard started over 30 games and recorded 116 tackles with nine being for a loss, two and a half sacks, four pass deflections, and an interception in 2023 with the Rebels. The following year, he'd be named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Since Woodard is an undrafted free agent and has yet to take a snap, he can't be the G.O.A.T. of No. 46. Frankly, there's only one answer and his number might eventually be displayed in the rafters as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Best Player: Jon Weeks
Not only is Weeks the only player to wear the number in franchise history, he's also the longest-tenured Texan. After bouncing around the league for three seasons, the former Baylor product became the longtime option for the Texans on punts, PATs and more.
After 14 years, the Texans chose to go in a different direction. It was a shocking move on both sides, but Weeks will close out his career playing for the San Francisco 49ers, hopefully helping the NFC West franchise claim a title. As for the Texans, general manager Nick Caserio hopes that Weeks will forever be remembered for his efforts during his tenure as the longest Texan.
"Hopefully Jon's number will be in the rafters here when he retires from football," Caserio said on Wednesday. "Meant a lot to this organization. Made a significant impact in the community.
"Hold him in the highest regard. He meant a lot to me personally in the time we were together. Wishing him and his family nothing but success. Always going to be a part of the Texans organization. I think that's a good example of only thing that's consistent in this league is change.
"We wish him and his family well and embrace him with open arms when he comes back to the Texans."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NFL power rankings: As preseason nears, who are Eagles' main threats?
NFL power rankings: As preseason nears, who are Eagles' main threats?

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

NFL power rankings: As preseason nears, who are Eagles' main threats?

NFL power rankings with the 2025 preseason set to begin July 31 (previous rank in parentheses): 1. Philadelphia Eagles (1): The offense returns virtually intact, former coordinator (and new Saints head coach) Kellen Moore a notable exception. Coordinator Vic Fangio is back for a second year running the defense, though that unit will need to adapt from significant losses in free agency. Last year's club was one of the very best of the past quarter century and seems to have an excellent shot at repeating − especially when you consider proven NFL players like RB AJ Dillon, CB Adoree' Jackson and OLBs Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche are all projected to be among the backups. 2. Baltimore Ravens (2): How talented is this secondary? Chidobe Awuzie, a Round 2 pick in Dallas eight years ago, projects as the dime back after former Green Bay Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander joined up as the fifth first-rounder likely to play ahead of him on this unit. Stopping the pass was a big problem here a year ago but could be a strength as QB Lamar Jackson and Co. make their latest run at a Super Bowl. 3. Kansas City Chiefs (4): With G Trey Smith and DE George Karlaftis extended, the only piece of semi-pressing team business remaining is a new deal for All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie − and that may have to wait. Resolution on WR Rashee Rice's post-legal status would also be nice, but even having him back for some portion of this season is a win over his injury-aborted 2024 campaign. K.C.'s biggest issue, the O-line notwithstanding, could be a quickly narrowing gap with their AFC West competitors. 4. Buffalo Bills (5): The only franchise to play in four consecutive Super Bowls − all infamous losses in the 1990s − is now the only team with 78 wins (playoffs included) over a six-season stretch without reaching a Super Bowl. Will Josh Allen's (and the Mafia's) suffering finally end in 2025? 5. Los Angeles Rams (3): No team pushed Philly closer to the precipice in the 2024 playoffs than the Rams. No team might be more heavily reliant on a seemingly brittle component − Matthew Stafford − than the Rams, their 37-year-old quarterback sidelined so far this summer by a balky back. He's missed 11 starts over the past three seasons. But if he's generally available in 2025, LA could wind up in SF for SB60. 6. Green Bay Packers (8): They bring a compelling mixture of young talent but also continuity, an aspect that could distinguish them from their NFC North rivals, who are all undergoing some measure of major upheaval at a key spot. 7. Washington Commanders (6): If you'd told their fans a year ago that the 2025 Commanders would reach the divisional round of the postseason, imagine what the excitement level would have been. Now? That might seem like a major disappointment for a team led by a quarterback, albeit the amazing Jayden Daniels, heading into just his second season. 8. Denver Broncos (13): While coach Sean Payton and QB Bo Nix might be this team's most recognizable faces, a defense that ranked seventh overall in 2024 might wind up being its strength. 9. Detroit Lions (7): The departures of coordinators Ben Johnson (Bears) and Aaron Glenn (Jets) for head coaching gigs have drawn deserved offseason focus for the impact in Motown. But HC Dan Campbell also lost six other assistants as other teams try to replicate Detroit's recent success. Most of the Lions' copious talent remains, but it remains to be seen if the revamped staff can maximize it following a 27-7 regular-season mark over the past two seasons. 10. Pittsburgh Steelers (16): If the Aaron Rodgers era lasts eight months, this season could be the sterling silver Stairway to Seven. If the Aaron Rodgers era lasts seven months, this season will be a slag pile that could land some folks on the scrap heap. But it seems off to an encouraging start in steamy Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 11. San Francisco 49ers (14): With many of their top players, like RB Christian McCaffrey and LT Trent Williams, healthy again − and armed with a last-place schedule that is the league's easiest based on opponents' collective winning percentage (.415) in 2024, they're well positioned for a major rebound. Still, with WR Brandon Aiyuk still on the mend from his 2024 ACL/MCL tear, WR Jauan Jennings seeking a raise, and the defense trying to recover from several departures, the beginning of the season could be something of a speed bump. 12. Arizona Cardinals (17): Below average under rookie coach Jonathan Gannon in 2023 to average last season, the Cards are hoping to sustain the upward trend into the postseason. 13. Houston Texans (10): Will they regret building their ground game around RBs Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb and Dameon Pierce, who are all in various states of disrepair? 14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9): With LT Tristan Wirfs (knee surgery), arguably the Bucs' best player, and WR Chris Godwin (ankle) stuck on the PUP list amid yet another offensive coordinator change, it's worth wondering if the perennial NFC South champs fall into an early season hole. 15. Los Angeles Chargers (11): While the eye injury to RB Najee Harris and retirement of WR Mike Williams have generated the summer headlines, the main concern here might be the defense given the Bolts allowed an average of more than 25 points over their final five games of last season ... and that was before they lost Joey Bosa and several others in free agency. 16. Seattle Seahawks (15): As a member of the Vikings, QB Sam Darnold dealt the 2024 Seahawks a death blow last December in Lumen Field. Now the 12s can only hope he's the real deal and won't serve a self-inflicted coup de grâce in November. 17. Minnesota Vikings (18): Maybe it's apples to Granny Smith apples, but let's attempt some contextualization. QB J.J. McCarthy attempted an average of 22.1 passes during his final (championship) season at Michigan in 2023. During his rookie absence in 2024, Darnold never threw fewer than 24 in a game for Minnesota on the way to his first Pro Bowl honors. Should be interesting to see how long HC Kevin O'Connell keeps the training wheels on McCarthy. 18. Cincinnati Bengals (12): In case you were wondering just how bad this defense might get without All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson − though he's at least ready to end his holdout and stop getting fined − no one else had more than five sacks or 23 pressures in 2024. He had a league-leading 17½ and 54, respectively. 19. New England Patriots (20): Highly regarded new coach. Talented second-year quarterback. An offseason loaded with major moves. Don't be surprised if their 2024 win total (4) doubles. NFL OFFSEASON GRADES: Patriots, Bears only teams to get A's, so how did rest do? 20. Chicago Bears (19): Highly regarded new coach. Talented second-year quarterback. An offseason loaded with major moves. Don't be surprised if their 2024 win total (5) doubles. 21. Dallas Cowboys (22): Tyler Guyton, last year's first-rounder, avoided a catastrophic camp injury and could be ready by Week 1. But whether he's in the lineup or not, this team needs much better play from the left tackle spot if QB Dak Prescott is going to survive the full season. 22. Jacksonville Jaguars (26): The attention is understandably focused on WR/CB Travis Hunter, the second pick of the 2025 draft. Much more should be focused on QB Trevor Lawrence, the first pick of the 2021 draft − and upon whose shoulders, surgically repaired and otherwise, this franchise's fortunes will rise or fall. 23. New York Jets (25): They've got certifiable stars, a new coach who seems to be galvanizing the entire organization, a compelling haul of rookies and ample buzz around new QB1 Justin Fields. But given how often potential and production are inversely related in the New York market, Glenn and Co. have plenty to prove despite all the promise. 24. Atlanta Falcons (27): Amid the runaway speculation about QB2 Kirk Cousins' future here … it might be here. With all of 230 snaps as a rookie, QB1 Michael Penix Jr. hasn't played much more than 2024 draft mate McCarthy, who also effectively replaced Cousins. But now two years removed from his Achilles tear plus arm and shoulder woes in 2024, don't be surprised if "KFC" comes out of the bullpen at some point and plays much better than he did late last season. 25. Carolina Panthers (23): If third-year QB Bryce Young is to sustain last year's late-season momentum, he'll need what was by far the league's worst defense to put him in far fewer compromising positions. 26. Las Vegas Raiders (21): Maybe the departure of DT Christian Wilkins proves to be addition by subtraction. But it also leaves the defense in an even more precarious position while further incentivizing opponents to double- and triple-team DE Maxx Crosby. 27. Miami Dolphins (24): Speaking of defenses that have shed Wilkins − and CB Jalen Ramsey and S Jevon Holland and DL Calais Campbell − if the Fins' pass rush can't live up to its dominant potential, then this offense might have to win a lot of shootouts. 28. Tennessee Titans (31): They got QB Cam Ward atop the draft and, to the degree it wasn't already, it's full speed ahead with the rookie now that backup Will Levis has opted for season-ending shoulder surgery. Could be a rough, if hopeful, ride in Nashville. 29. New York Giants (28): They didn't get QB Cam Ward atop the draft − but reportedly tried − instead coming back into the bottom of Round 1 for Jaxson Dart. But it's currently full speed ahead with veteran Russell Wilson … even if he's unable to get this offense into third gear. 30. Indianapolis Colts (30): Legend has it that legendary coach and analyst John Madden uttered the phrase, 'If you've got two quarterbacks, you have none.' Not sure many folks will be playing "Madden NFL" with this Colts team. 31. Cleveland Browns (29): Given the open question here at quarterback, the offense would most obviously benefit from a strong rushing attack. But Chubb left and rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned due to ongoing legal issues. Jerome Ford, who rushed for a team-best 565 yards in 2024, stands to get a heavier workload than the DUDE Wipes that seem to underpin much of the team's marketing efforts. 32. New Orleans Saints (32): Derek Carr − gone. Tyrann Mathieu − gone. The core of what was a top-10 scoring defense four of the past five seasons − gone. Hope at the outset of the 2025 season − a camp holdout. All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.

Rams have timetable for Matthew Stafford's recovery from sore back but don't plan to make it public
Rams have timetable for Matthew Stafford's recovery from sore back but don't plan to make it public

Hamilton Spectator

time5 hours ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Rams have timetable for Matthew Stafford's recovery from sore back but don't plan to make it public

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Rams have a timetable for quarterback Matthew Stafford's recovery from a sore back, but Los Angeles coach Sean McVay does not plan on making it public to avoid the perception of a possible setback. Stafford is missing his second straight week of training camp because of an ailment that has been bothering him in recent weeks. McVay has been steadfast in his optimism that Stafford, 37, won't miss the season opener against Houston on Sept. 7. 'At this point, there is a plan in place. But what I don't want to do is give you guys a date and then, you know, if that does change, then there's assumptions that I would imagine that I would have if I was in your guys' shoes that can lead you to think, 'Oh man, something's really up,'' McVay said Tuesday. 'So we are week to week with him. ... What I don't want to do is set a timetable with you guys, and then, if for whatever reason as we're continuing to gain information, that changes. But what I can say is I feel good about this is the smartest plan for him, and we're very confident that he'll be ready to roll against the Texans, and we'll take it a week at a time.' Stafford has guided the Rams into the playoffs in three of his four seasons with the team, leading them to a Super Bowl title in their home stadium to cap off his first year in Los Angeles following the 2021 campaign. But the veteran going into his 17th season also missed games in 2022 and 2023 because of injuries, prompting the Rams to add a proven backup in Jimmy Garoppolo before last season. The presence of Garoppolo, who has started 64 games for New England, San Francisco, Las Vegas and the Rams, is allowing the Rams to continue preparations for the season during camp at Loyola Marymount University as they would have with Stafford running the offense. McVay described Garoppolo as one of the main reasons the Rams can afford to be patient with Stafford's health. 'There's nobody like Matthew, we know that, but to be able to have somebody that has done all the things that you're mentioning, going into Year 12, played in big games. ... Now we're still able to evaluate the other 10 around him, and we're able to kind of continue on with the installations where that hasn't always been the case with us if we needed to be smart and rest Matthew,' McVay said. 'We'll certainly be really excited when we get No. 9 back out here for us, but in the meantime, I've been really pleased with Jimmy.' ___ AP NFL:

Rams have timetable for Matthew Stafford's recovery from sore back but don't plan to make it public
Rams have timetable for Matthew Stafford's recovery from sore back but don't plan to make it public

San Francisco Chronicle​

time5 hours ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Rams have timetable for Matthew Stafford's recovery from sore back but don't plan to make it public

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Rams have a timetable for quarterback Matthew Stafford's recovery from a sore back, but Los Angeles coach Sean McVay does not plan on making it public to avoid the perception of a possible setback. Stafford is missing his second straight week of training camp because of an ailment that has been bothering him in recent weeks. McVay has been steadfast in his optimism that Stafford, 37, won't miss the season opener against Houston on Sept. 7. 'At this point, there is a plan in place. But what I don't want to do is give you guys a date and then, you know, if that does change, then there's assumptions that I would imagine that I would have if I was in your guys' shoes that can lead you to think, 'Oh man, something's really up,'' McVay said Tuesday. 'So we are week to week with him. ... What I don't want to do is set a timetable with you guys, and then, if for whatever reason as we're continuing to gain information, that changes. But what I can say is I feel good about this is the smartest plan for him, and we're very confident that he'll be ready to roll against the Texans, and we'll take it a week at a time.' Stafford has guided the Rams into the playoffs in three of his four seasons with the team, leading them to a Super Bowl title in their home stadium to cap off his first year in Los Angeles following the 2021 campaign. But the veteran going into his 17th season also missed games in 2022 and 2023 because of injuries, prompting the Rams to add a proven backup in Jimmy Garoppolo before last season. The presence of Garoppolo, who has started 64 games for New England, San Francisco, Las Vegas and the Rams, is allowing the Rams to continue preparations for the season during camp at Loyola Marymount University as they would have with Stafford running the offense. McVay described Garoppolo as one of the main reasons the Rams can afford to be patient with Stafford's health. 'There's nobody like Matthew, we know that, but to be able to have somebody that has done all the things that you're mentioning, going into Year 12, played in big games. ... Now we're still able to evaluate the other 10 around him, and we're able to kind of continue on with the installations where that hasn't always been the case with us if we needed to be smart and rest Matthew,' McVay said. 'We'll certainly be really excited when we get No. 9 back out here for us, but in the meantime, I've been really pleased with Jimmy.' ___

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store