Jaylin Noel is back at Practice

Summary

Payne & Pendergast — "Jaylin Noel is Back at Practice"

Date: August 10, 2026
Podcast: Payne & Pendergast (Audacy)
Hosts: Seth Payne & Sean Pendergast
Theme: Sharp analysis, strong opinions, and insider takes on Texans' training camp, roster developments, and recent headline news in Houston sports.

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on key developments from Houston Texans training camp, especially the return of wide receiver Jaylin Noel after missing time due to a non-football injury. Seth Payne and Sean Pendergast give live updates and banter from training camp, provide context on roster moves, debate the team's depth and special teams situations, and touch on broader NFL news relevant to Houston fans. The discussion, rich with insider observations, focuses on both the granular details of practice and big-picture roster strategy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jaylin Noel Returns to Practice

(00:46 – 03:32)

• Coach DeMeco Ryans on Jaylin Noel:
  • "It's great seeing Jay Noel back out on the field. He's been working hard at it all off season, so it's good to have him back out doing football with us." (00:46)
• Jaylin Noel comes off the Non-Football Injury List after missing time with a finger issue. Unlike last year’s unclear situation with Joe Mixon, this injury was visible and minor.
  • "The first time I saw him working out on a side field, I thought, well, there's... he had a bandage on his finger. His legs are just fine. He is a wide receiver so the fingers do tend to matter." (01:23)
• Early nerves over Noel’s absence—was it serious ligament damage or just a sprain? It now appears to be minor, and full-team participation is expected imminently.

Quote:
"D'Ameco Ryans has said this about Jalen Noel in what's a big year for him... he can play a big role on this team. Carving out that role—Ryans has talked about that." — Sports Commentator (01:54)

• Ryans on defining Noel’s role:
  • "How do we carve out that role to where he's doing that one thing and doing it really well? ...He did a great job when we asked him to go back and return last year... I'm excited to see him continue to build on his punt return and also finding that role on offense...how can we get the ball in his hands multiple times a game?" (02:05)
• The hosts compare Noel's development to rookie Jaden Higgins, emphasizing route discipline and impact potential in training camp/preseason. Expect Noel’s role to expand both as a returner and offensive threat.

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Texans Special Teams — Punter Updates

(03:32 – 05:58)

• Recent roster move: undrafted free agent punter Jack Stonehouse has been cut; Kai Kroger now the only punter on the roster.
  • Special Teams Coach Frank Ross cited holding ability over pure punting.
• The punter competition is still open. Expect potential waivers claims or trades as the team seeks consistency.
  • "I will not be surprised at all...greater than 50% chance they either make a trade or pick up somebody off waivers or something with a punter." — Sports Analyst (04:31)
• The concern over punter signals the overall strength of the roster—fans have the luxury to worry about specialists.
  • "Damn punt people are freaking out over the punter, which I desperately don't want to participate in, but I have no choice." — Sports Analyst (05:32)
  • "Maybe how fortified the rest of the roster is, man, you're looking for stuff to worry about." — Sports Commentator (05:38)

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Player Load Management & Injury Updates

(05:58 – 07:16)

• Nico Collins returns to practice, though being managed carefully after successive missed practices.
• Derrick Stingley Jr. also had a "totally just a rest day," according to defensive coordinator Matt Burke. The team is being cautious, managing workloads for returning or injury-prone veterans.
  • "He's missed time the last...every year. Maybe they've got him on a much stricter load management protocol." — Sports Analyst (06:23)
• Injury absences viewed as precautionary, not alarming.

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Major NFL News — Laremy Tunsil Injury & Trade Impact

(07:16 – 08:26)

• Big national news: former Texan Laremy Tunsil suffers a torn triceps with the Washington Commanders, possibly out for the season.
  • "He just turned 32 years old. I don't feel like this is indicative of...okay, classic guy in his 30s. He's going to start having a bunch of tendon issues." — Sports Analyst (07:18)
• Trade justification: Tunsil’s trade made sense for Houston due to his massive contract and the need to reinforce the entire offensive line.
  • "The amount of money they’re paying Laremy Tunsil, they've been able to spend a lot on bringing in guys like Ed Ingram and Trent Brown...I'm still okay with that trade, especially now that he's not available." — Sports Analyst (07:44)
• The move, initially questioned outside Houston, now widely praised locally.
  • "Pender poll, 88% approval." — Sports Commentator (08:19)

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Around the NFL & AFC South

(08:26 – 08:59)

• Titans sign guard Peter Skoronski to a four-year, $100M extension, making him the NFL’s highest-paid guard.
• Lighthearted banter regarding names and comparisons to other linemen.

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Notable Quotes

• On Jaylin Noel’s return:
  "It's great seeing Jay Noel back out on the field. He's been working hard at it all off season, so it's good to have him back out doing football with us." — Coach/Team Insider (00:46)
• On special teams concern:
  "Damn punt people are freaking out over the punter, which I desperately don't want to participate in, but I have no choice." — Sports Analyst (05:32)
• On the Laremy Tunsil trade:
  "The amount of money they’re paying Laremy Tunsil, they've been able to spend a lot on bringing in guys like Ed Ingram and Trent Brown...I'm still okay with that trade, especially now that he's not available." — Sports Analyst (07:44)
• On local sentiment:
  "Pender poll, 88% approval..." — Sports Commentator (08:19)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:46 – 03:32: Jaylin Noel’s return, expectations, and role development
• 03:32 – 05:58: Texans' punter updates, roster moves, and special teams analysis
• 05:58 – 07:16: Load management and recent practice absences for Nico Collins and Derek Stingley Jr.
• 07:16 – 08:26: Laremy Tunsil injury news, analysis, and trade debate
• 08:26 – 08:59: Titans' Peter Skoronski contract extension

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Memorable Moments

• The team’s tongue-in-cheek exasperation about the punter “freakout” among fans.
• Banter over the “Pender poll” and polling methodology as a tongue-in-cheek gauge of Houston fan sentiment.
• Comparing Jaylin Noel’s progress to rookies and discussing team chemistry and player development.

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Episode Summary

This episode offers a comprehensive, boots-on-the-ground look at Texans training camp, focusing on Jaylin Noel’s encouraging return. Seth and Sean blend granular football analysis with relatable humor, debating roster construction, the special teams shakeup, and the ripple effects of high-profile trades like Laremy Tunsil’s departure. Local fan sentiment, player development, and AFC South news round out a lively, insightful edition that keeps listeners informed and entertained.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

On the Powers that Be podcast, we examine the players and currents behind today's most consequential decisions. Join Us Listen to the Powers that Be wherever you get your podcasts At

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[Sports Analyst]

Payne and Pendergast with today's headlines.

[Coach or Team Insider]

It's great seeing Jay Noel back out on the field. He's been working hard at it all off season, so it's good to have him back out doing football with us.

[Sports Analyst]

All right, there you go.

[Sports Commentator]

That was d' Ameco Ryan's talking about Jalen Noel, wide receiver. He is back from the non football injury list. Boy, this is, this is a much clearer path to return to play than the last non football injury the Texans experienced. Joe Mixon last year.

[Sports Analyst]

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, this was very clear because we saw Jalen Noel out here working out and everything. And you could tell the first time I saw him working out on a side field, I thought, okay, well there's, there's.

[Sports Commentator]

And he had a sleeve on his finger.

[Sports Analyst]

Yeah, he had some kind of a bandage on his finger. And I was like, all right, his legs are just fine. He is a wide receiver so the fingers do tend to matter.

[Sports Commentator]

Yep.

[Sports Analyst]

But the fact that when Casario had first said the, you know, talked about it, he said might be a few weeks. That's where I got a little bit nervous because, you know, was there a ligament damage or something? And I'm guessing I bet it was just a jammed finger and maybe a sprain or maybe a small break or something. But he should be out there pretty soon.

[Coach or Team Insider]

He's back.

[Sports Commentator]

Yeah.

[Sports Analyst]

I mean he's out there but he should be out doing team stuff and everything. Yeah.

[Sports Commentator]

Yep, he's back. And, and d' Ameco Ryan has said this about Jalen Noel in what's a big year for him year coming up. He can play a big role on this team. Carving out that role demo Ryan's talked

[Coach or Team Insider]

about that Jalen has a chance this year. 2 Again, like, like I said about CJ is just getting more comfortable with what we're asking to do and what it'll be, the defined role for him. How do we carve out that role to where he's doing that one thing and doing it really well? I thought he did a great job when we asked him to go back and return last year. Made some really nice productive returns for us in the punt return game. So I'm excited to see him to continue to build on his punt return and also finding that role on offense. Like, how can we find a way to get the ball in his hands multiple times a game?

[Sports Analyst]

Yeah, and I think like his, his explosiveness. I mean, the, that Chargers game, he just looked like he was shot out of a rocket on that touchdown reception that he had. Everything that we've heard Jaden Higgins say and everything that guys have said about Jaden Higgins, I think you can say about Jalen Noel. When it comes to learning the offense, understanding exactly where you're supposed to be and when you're supposed to be there on a route, all of those things Jalen Noel struggled with as well. I think Jaden Higgins just was a little bit ahead of the curve compared to Jalen Null when it came to picking that stuff up. But I think both those guys, I mean, for one, they spend a lot of time with each other and they're both conscientious, they're both going to work at it. I would expect that we come out here and we see Jalen Noel, similar to Jaden Higgins, be much more of a factor in these training camp practices and in the preseason games.

[Sports Commentator]

Yep. Other news with the Texans from over the weekend. Jack Stonehouse, the free agent punter, undrafted free agent punter was cut. Kai Kroger is the only punter on the team right now. Frank Ross said in his media availability after practice on Saturday that consistency was the big thing they wanted to Fantasy football season is back, baby.

[Sports Analyst]

Matthew Berry here and my podcast Fantasy Football Happy Hour has the sleepers bus and start sit advice. You need to win your league. So listen and follow Fantasy Football Happy

[Sports Commentator]

Hour wherever you get your podcasts, kind of get this thing nailed down as to who the three specialists were going to be. Yeah, they need to. They need to keep stirring the pot on the punter market.

[Sports Analyst]

He didn't compliment Frank Ross didn't compliment Kai Kroger's punting ability. He complimented his holding, which is a big deal for Kaimi. You know, they don't want to just go out, get some dude that can boom the ball, but you know, has his Tony Romo Hands as a holder.

[Sports Commentator]

Feet for hands.

[Sports Analyst]

Yeah. So I. Much like we were concerned about backup defensive end, and then all of a sudden, lo and behold, they go out and get Jadevian Clowney. I think Jadevian. Now that Jadevian's been in the news a lot more. There's a lot of people mispronouncing his name and now it's filtered into me. So Jedevion Clowney, they went out and got him and I think, yeah, the. I will not be surprised at all right now, I would say is a greater than 50% chance that they either make a trade or pick up somebody off of waivers or something with a punter.

[Sports Commentator]

They've already had some guys come through. We will see if they. They. They had two guys trying out last week. One of them was like the best punter in the UFL last year.

[Sports Analyst]

Oh, yeah. Well. And with Kai Kroger, when they. When they acquired him initially, you looked at it and he's got all these advanced numbers and conventional numbers and everything that looked like he was one of the worst punters in the league. It's hard with specialists sometimes to parse out the signal. From the noise on that, I'm guessing there's some upside there that the Casario thought he had, but so far we haven't seen it out here.

[Sports Commentator]

Yeah, I don't know to the point where it actually.

[Sports Analyst]

The damn punt people are freaking out over the punter, which I desperately don't want to participate in, but I have no choice.

[Sports Commentator]

Well, but I think it says maybe how fortified the rest of the roster is, man, you're looking for stuff to worry about.

[Sports Analyst]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know if you have to look for it all that hard. If you are looking for it, look towards the sidelines, not deep downfield, you know, look like 30 yards to 30 yards downfield on the sideline where the ball's going out of bounds.

[Sports Commentator]

Nico Collins, back at practice on Saturday, he had. It seems like they're managing certain guys out here certain ways.

[Sports Analyst]

Yeah, I think Stingley. Stingley wasn't out there. And afterwards Matt Burke said that it was just. Totally just a rest day. He's fine. Nico. Nico. I'm wondering just because it was a couple practices in a row, or was it two and three practices?

[Sports Commentator]

He's doing a lot of stuff off to the side. It feels like more than most guys.

[Sports Analyst]

But now he also, though he's missed time the last. Every year. He's missed time every year. So maybe they've got him on a on a much stricter load management protocol to try to, you know, not that I don't know if getting a couple practices off in training camp doesn't probably keep you from getting concussion.

[Coach or Team Insider]

Yeah.

[Sports Analyst]

That's when your head bounces off the turf.

[Sports Commentator]

Yeah. Last year was a little different. Right. Astros we just talked about, they lose two out of three to the Padres over the weekend. Still in first place, by the way. I need to mention baseball talk On Sports Radio 610 is presented by Xfinity. Score. The most reliable Wi Fi 1 price, five years guaranteed. Xfinity. Imagine that. News in the NFL. The big news from over the weekend. This came down while we were at practice on Saturday. The news of this, at least the confirmation of it. Laramie Tunsall. Yeah, torn right triceps. Going to be out at least four months, maybe the entire season. For the Washington Commanders. They just gave him a big contract.

[Sports Analyst]

Yeah.

[Sports Commentator]

And paid in the NFL.

[Sports Analyst]

He just turned 32 years old. I don't feel like this is indicative of. Okay, classic guy in his 30s. He's going to start having a bunch of tendon issues or anything, but it is, it is a little bit of an example of why the Texans traded him. Aside from swarm attributes or anything like that. He was making a boatload of money. And the Texans, as we had already seen, Laramie Tunsil can only do so much for you as a really, really good pass protector when you've got issues at all the other four positions on the offensive line. And they needed, they needed more bodies out there. And the amount of money they're paying Laramie Tunsil, they've been able to spend a lot on bringing in guys like Ed Ingram and Trent Brown and now this year, Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith. And I'm still a okay with that trade now, more so especially now that he's not even available.

[Sports Commentator]

Yep, yep. So Laramie's going to be out for a good long time.

[Sports Analyst]

That was a trade. Remember that? Like outside of Houston, people were wondering, what the hell are the Texans doing? And it was almost unanimously praised inside of Houston.

[Sports Commentator]

Pender poll, 88% approval.

[Sports Analyst]

88% approval, 88%.

[Sports Commentator]

Which is May as well be unanimous on. On Twitter.

[Sports Analyst]

I feel like you're cherry picking polls. You always go back to this Pender poll. You know, I don't, I don't trust their sampling.

[Sports Commentator]

I like the cut of that guy's jib. Pender. That puts it together. All right. And the Titans extend Peter Skansky four years, 100 million. He's the highest paid guard in the NFL right now.

[Sports Analyst]

That's. You know what? That's. If I remember correctly, Skronsky has little alligator.

[Sports Commentator]

He does, yeah.

[Sports Analyst]

So the Will Compton or not, the. The people up in New England should be settling down about. What's his name? Will Campbell. Thank you. And Will Compton.

[Sports Commentator]

All right, Pain and Pender Gas with you here on a on a Monday live out of Texans training camp. All right, let's get to it. Tank Dell met with the media on Friday. I think this was significant. I think the mere fact he was meeting with the media is significant. Am I reading too much into this? And Tank answered a lot of questions including what did he say to Jared Wayne after the injury where Jared Wayne collided with his knee. We've got all that and a whole lot more. We've got Acknowledge Me coming up at 7:20. We got a busy Monday going on here on Pain and Pendergast.

[Sports Analyst]

Stay there.

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[Sports Commentator]

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