Jaelen

Strong

Strong, 25, had been making a case for a roster spot in Cleveland, so this is a tad surprising. His play in the third preseason game, however, likely did him in, as Strong caught just 2-of-7 targets for 11 yards. He dropped a pass and was the target on an interception. Strong played over two-thirds of the snaps that night, a sign he was on the bubble. Strong is running out of chances.

Strong is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in his first and only Jaguars appearance last December. He will be questionable for Week 1. Now 24, the former third-round pick has just 33 career receptions, and has been dogged by attitude questions.

After measuring 6-foot-2, 217 at the 2015 Combine weigh-in, Strong ballooned north of 230 pounds in his rookie offseason, attributing the weight gain to “travel and lost workout time associated with the pre-draft circuit.” Per the Houston Chronicle, Strong has been “one of the more impressive players” at Texans OTAs. Assuming Strong stays focused and conditioned, we wouldn’t rule out the possibility he starts over rookie Will Fuller in Week 1.

Strong played a few snaps with Brock Osweiler under center, but got most of his run with Tom Savage at the controls. The Texans appear set with Nuk Hopkins, Will Fuller and Braxton Miller in three-receiver sets. Strong had a praise-filled offseason, but Fuller and Miller have impressed as rookies, relegating Strong to the second team. He has seven grabs for 67 yards through two exhibition games.

Strong has shown a renewed commitment after reporting to last year’s camp overweight. He dropped to 197 pounds earlier this offseason and may have lost even more weight during the summer break. Strong has looked noticeably quicker at camp while seeing increased reps with DeAndre Hopkins holding out.

“I took the coaching, I took the criticism, I took everything, and just got right,” said Strong, explaining why coach Bill O’Brien deemed him one of the Texans’ most improved players. Strong seemed to have a classic case of “not getting it” as a rookie, and was arrested for marijuana possession in February. He played only 292 snaps. Strong has also dropped weight, plunging from the 230-pound range to 197. The Texans can talk Strong up all they want, but their actions — drafting Will Fuller and Braxton Miller — still suggest healthy skepticism.

Strong has reportedly run with the ones in training camp, but he was a second-team receiver on Sunday night behind DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, and Braxton Miller. Strong’s Week 1 role has yet to be determined. He is a player we will continue to monitor closely throughout the preseason.

Strong gets the unofficial designation, but the news comes the same day the Houston Chronicle reported it’s actually first-rounder Will Fuller who’s been running opposite Nuk Hopkins. Strong had a hype-filled offseason, but has been quieter in camp. Fuller’s first-round pedigree will be tough for Strong to overcome after a lost rookie season.

O’Brien admitted he was “concerned” when Strong showed up out of shape at this time last summer. A 2015 third-round pick, Strong spent most of his rookie year playing behind Cecil Shorts and Nate Washington, even struggling to pass Keith Mumphery on the depth chart before late in the year. With Will Fuller in Houston, Strong may need an injury ahead of him to see meaningful 2016 snaps.

Strong mixed in with the ones a little bit in this one, but not until after Nuk Hopkins exited. Strong spent the entire preseason as the Texans’ No. 4 receiver behind Hopkins and impressive rookies Will Fuller and Braxton Miller.