87 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 87?
87 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 87?
The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we're counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast.
Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let's take a look at who has won No. 87 since the inaugural season in 2002.
Texans players to wear No. 87
No. 87 currently belongs to second-year tight end Cade Stover. Drafted out of Ohio State in 2024, Stover's relationship with C.J. Stroud at Ohio State was expected to transition from Columbus to Houston last season. In spurts, one could see the chemistry between the two Buckeyes, who totaled 15 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in 15 games.
Stover did miss some time because of a shoulder injury suffered in Week 15's win over the Miami Dolphins and didn't see action in the playoffs. Fully healthy, he's been one of the more promising names at offseason workouts in the passing attack and could expand his role in the passing game this fall, eventually surpassing Dalton Schultz on the depth chart.
Right now, though, Stover wasn't the best player to wear No. 87 in a Texans' uniform.
TE Cade Stover (2024-present)
WR Damiere Byrd (2023)
TE Darren Fells (2019-2020)
WR Demaryius Thomas (2018)
TE C. J. Fiedorowicz (2014-2017)
WR "E.Z." Nwachukwu (2013)
TE Steve Skelton (2012)
TE Anthony Hill (2009-2010)
TE Mark Bruener (2004-2008)
WR Derick Armstrong (2003)
WR JaJuan Dawson (2002)
Best Player: C. J. Fiedorowicz
No one really stands out, but Fiedorowicz was probably the closest thing to a stable tight end since the days of Owen Daniels. The first of the Iowa tight end trends to make waves in the NFL, Fiedorowicz posted his best season in 2016, totaling 54 receptions for 559 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. He was also essential in helping Houston make the postseason under the quarterback Brock Osweiler.
But injuries derailed his career, ultimately forcing him to retire after the 2017 season. For his Texans' career, Fiedorowicz finished with 89 catches for 881 yards and six touchdowns.
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