Announcers set for Texans vs. Jets Week 9 game

The Houston Texans take center stage on Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets

For the second time in 2024, the Houston Texans will have a stand-alone game.

In a battle for AFC dominance, the Texans (6-2) travel to East Rutherford, N.J., for a showdown with the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football.” The game will air on Amazon Prime as part of the NFL’s partnership with the company.

Al Michaels will handle the play-by-play, while Kirk Herbstreit will serve as the color commentator. Kaylee Hartung will serve as the sideline reporter.

The Texans are coming off a 23-20 divisional win over the Indianapolis Colts but will be short-handed at receiver. DeMeco Ryans announced Tuesday that Pro Bowl target Stefon Diggs would miss the rest of the regular season with a torn ACL suffered during a non-contact injury in the third quarter.

Diggs, who will be a free agent after the regular season, was a constant No. 2 weapon for Houston and had taken over as the team’s No. 1 after Nico Collins was placed on the injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He ranked seventh in the NFL in catches (47) this season and was second on the Texans in receiving yards (496).

“He’s been such an important part of our team and everything that he brought, not only on the field, but off the field. The energy, the leader, the way he worked every single day,” Ryans said. “Have to pick up the slack. A lot of guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Definitely praying for him.”

The Jets (2-6) are coming off an underwhelming outing against the New England Patriots and could be in do-or-die mode for the remainder of the season. Even after adding All-Pro receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders,  Aaron Rodgers struggled to find a consistent pattern in the passing game.

Should Houston secure a victory, it would remain in second place for the AFC seeding since it holds the tiebreaker over Buffalo.

It would also set up a potential matchup of seven-win performers against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football in Week 10.