Beat: Texans TE Klein to ‘have some sort of role’

The Texans had five questionable players, including three offensive linemen with illnesses. All three of those linemen will play, and Kayden McDonald and M.J. Stewart were activated off injured reserve to make their season debuts as well as the Texans try to avoid an 0-5 start.

Injuries thinned the Texans’ tight end depth last season. This offseason, the front office signed TE Foster Moreau and drafted TE Marlin Klein, who is currently sidelined by a hamstring injury. Starting TE Dalton Schultz should continue to play a lot of snaps, though he is likely just a high-end TE2. Increasing 12 personnel sets decreases the number of snaps available to the wide receiver position, which could be a problem if the coaching staff decides to employ a rotation at the WR2 spot.

Klein’s hamstring injury is not expected to be a long-term issue. The athletic second-round rookie caught 37 passes for 351 yards and one touchdown over his final two college seasons. The Texans have a decent group of backup tight ends, though many of the veterans have fairly extensive injury histories. Klein may have a chance to earn the TE2 role this season.

An elite athlete at the position, Klein didn’t begin playing football until high school, but totaled 37 passes for 371 yards and one touchdown in his last two seasons at Michigan. While he should still see plenty of playing time in his rookie season, we wouldn’t expect him to contribute much from a fantasy perspective with Dalton Schultz still with the team. Klein is an interesting stash in dynasty leagues but he can be left on the waiver wire in redraft leagues for the time being.

Klein began playing football in Germany before moving to the United States in high school. Because he was late to football, his numbers at Michigan aren’t much to write home about. Over Klein’s last two seasons, he caught 37 passes for 351 yards and one touchdown. He stands 6’6/248 and ran a 4.61-second 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Add in strong burst numbers and he left Indy with a 9.05 RAS. Klein is also a strong blocker despite his lack of reps. His receiving game needs work, but the athletic profile gives him a considerable ceiling. He will get to learn behind Dalton Schultz for a year before potentially taking over in 2027, when Schultz becomes a free agent.

Klein (6'6/215) became Michigan’s third verbal commitment in the Class of 2022 Tuesday morning, joining DT Alex VanSumeren and LB Tyler Martin. While he’s been used at both wide receiver and tight end at the high school level, Klein has been projected as a tight end once he arrives on campus. Currently attending Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Rabun Gap, Georgia, the three-star recruit is actually a native of Germany. Klein’s recruitment picked up during the summer as Power 5 programs such as Boston College, Florida State, Georgia, Louisville and Virginia Tech all tendered offers.