Texans news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The Texans open 2026 at home against the Bills on Sep 13, 2026.
Stroud plays the final year of his rookie deal after extension talks were tabled.
Background
Houston opens the 2026 regular season against Buffalo at Reliant Stadium, the first home season opener under head coach DeMeco Ryans. The Texans carry a nine-game regular season winning streak from last season, and a win would make it 10 straight, a franchise record. Houston beat Buffalo 23-19 in Week 12 last November, sacking Josh Allen eight times, tied for the single-game franchise record. Buffalo has lost its last five regular season meetings in Houston plus the 2019 AFC Wild Card game there.
How it unfolded
- Sep 8, 2026Former Dolphins QB Mark Gronowski signs with the Houston Texans. C.J. Stroud says 'Pressure is a privilege' entering his pivotal fourth season.
- Sep 9, 2026The Week 1 injury report for Texans vs. Bills is published, along with top storylines for the NFL Week 1 matchup.
- Sep 10, 2026A Texans news roundup covers Stroud's offseason transformation, the team's view of the opener against Buffalo, and Laken Tomlinson signing with the Cowboys. Four bold predictions for the Texans in 2026 are also published.
- Sep 11, 2026A Texans roundup is published ahead of Texans vs. Bills.
- Sep 12, 2026Bills coverage previews the Texans. Sources say Stroud and the Texans tabled extension talks; Stroud will play out 2026 on the final year of his four-year, $36.28 million rookie contract, with a $25.9 million fully guaranteed fifth-year option for 2027.
- Sep 13, 2026The Texans open the 2026 regular season against the Buffalo Bills at Reliant Stadium, the first season opener at home under head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Who’s saying what
- Party
- Stroud calls the pressure of his pivotal fourth season 'a privilege'.
- Official
- General manager Nick Caserio says once Week 1 kicks off, contract talks will be tabled until next year.
- Party
- Bills right tackle Spencer Brown thinks things will go much differently against Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter now that he and left tackle Dion Dawkins are fully healthy.
Still unverified
The Texans and C.J. Stroud made a run at completing a contract extension before the regular season begins, but both sides agreed to wait until after this season, league sources told ESPN and NFL Network. Sources say Raiders' Brock Bowers has a knee procedure and is out 'a game or two'. Seahawks QB Darnold is set for an MRI but there is 'great news' so far on his hip injury.