The Houston Texans concluded their preseason schedule on August 28, 2026, with a 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. This defeat marked the Texans’ third consecutive preseason loss, resulting in a winless preseason for the team, a feat not seen since 2003.
During the game, quarterback Brett Rypien completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. The Texans struggled with ball security in the rainy conditions, committing four turnovers and multiple fumbles. The team’s offense also had difficulty scoring in the second half throughout the preseason, with a 47-yard field goal by Fairbairn in the third quarter marking their first second-half score, and Rypien’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Zay Jones being their first second-half touchdown.
Despite the winless preseason, reports from joint practices held with the Carolina Panthers earlier in August indicated a strong performance by the Houston defense and an offense capable of moving the ball effectively with players like C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, and David Montgomery. However, the team has been dealing with a significant number of injuries, including season-ending ACL tears for quarterback Graham Martz and wide receiver Jayden Higgins, and an Achilles tear for Dylan Horton. Major free agent acquisition offensive tackle Braden Smith also sustained a foot injury, and defensive lineman Ali Gaye was sidelined with an injury. Other players, including Jaylen Noel (hamstring) and Wade Woodaz (thumb), have also faced disruptive injuries.
In response to these injuries, the Texans’ front office made emergency moves, signing veteran wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones, and trading for Kayshon Boutte from New England. While some injured players like Smith, Noel, and Woodaz are expected to return, the team faces roster attrition as they prepare for the regular season.
