Texans add RB Owen Wright to 90-man roster, waive punter Jack Stonehouse

The Houston Texans announced Saturday that they have signed running back Owen Wright to their 90-man roster, a move that came with a corresponding transaction in the special teams unit. In the same roster action, the Texans waived punter Jack Stonehouse, shifting the team’s personnel priorities as it continues to build out its fall depth chart.

Wright’s addition puts another ball carrier into the Texans’ backfield mix, a standard offseason and training-camp step for teams evaluating who can contribute in multiple roles. For Houston, it is also a roster-management move that can affect how coaches structure practice reps, particularly when the team wants enough running-back bodies for protection and change-of-pace work.

The Texans’ decision to waive Stonehouse highlights how quickly roster space gets rationed once preseason preparations reach full motion. A 90-man roster move can carry a domino effect, forcing teams to balance development at multiple positions instead of concentrating resources in a single unit. Waiving a specialist also opens the door for other teams to claim him, which is why these decisions often come with an element of risk-reward for the club doing the cut.

From a roster-building standpoint, transactions like these are usually less about one player’s immediate résumé and more about the ongoing sorting process. The NFL offseason evaluation window places a premium on adaptability, since fringe players may be asked to contribute on offense, special teams, or both depending on injuries, performance in practice, and coaching preferences.

For Wright, the next step is simple: earn trust in the Texans’ system through camp availability and day-to-day execution. Running backs are evaluated on fundamentals that show up across almost every rep, including vision, decision-making, pass protection assignments, and how well the player handles adjustments to blocking schemes.

For Stonehouse, the waiver move changes his immediate path. If he is not claimed, he could re-enter the Texans’ orbit later through re-signing or a different roster arrangement, but the waiver process itself is designed to give other teams a chance to pick up a punter they believe can compete for work.

What to watch next is how Houston’s backfield rotation looks following Wright’s signing and whether the waiver claim process affects the Texans’ special teams depth. Even when a move seems minor on the surface, these adjustments can reveal which players the team is positioning for larger roles as preseason evaluations tighten.