Tag: 2024 Houston Texans

All 32 NFL teams (including the Texans) ranked by FPI ratings

Here’s where the Houston Texans rank among all 32 NFL rosters based on their FPI rankings entering Week 16.

Fifteen weeks into the season, the Houston Texans (9-5) have a -0.9 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 12th in the NFL.

The Kansas City Chiefs (13-1), who play host to the Texans in Week 16, are ranked 10th with a 1.0 FPI rating.

FPI is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” according to ESPN.com. “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”

So with that background in mind, here’s a look at how the league’s 32 teams stack up based on FPI going into Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season.

  1. Detroit Lions (12-2): 8.4
  2. Buffalo Bills (12-3): 7.3
  3. Green Bay Packers (10-4): 6.8
  4. Baltimore Ravens (9-5): 6.6
  5. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2): 5.1
  6. Minnesota Vikings (12-2): 3.5
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6): 2.6
  8. San Francisco 49ers (6-8): 2.6
  9. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4): 1.3
  10. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1): 1.0
  11. Washington Commanders (9-5): 0.9
  12. Houston Texans (9-5): 0.9
  13. Los Angeles Rams (8-6): 0.8
  14. Arizona Cardinals (7-7): 0.7
  15. Miami Dolphins (6-8): 0.3
  16. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8): -0.0
  17. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6): -0.0
  18. New York Jets (4-10): -0.3
  19. Seattle Seahawks (8-6): -0.9
  20. Denver Broncos (9-5): -1.2
  21. Chicago Bears (4-10): -1.7
  22. Tennessee Titans (3-11): -2.1
  23. Indianapolis Colts (6-8): -3.0
  24. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12): -3.9
  25. Atlanta Falcons (7-7): -4.4
  26. New England Patriots (3-11): -5.3
  27. Dallas Cowboys (6-8): -5.8
  28. Cleveland Browns (3-11): -5.9
  29. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11): -6.0
  30. New Orleans Saints (5-9): -6.9
  31. New York Giants (2-12): -8.5
  32. Carolina Panthers (3-11): -10.1

The Texans will aim to improve their rating when they face the reigning Super Bowl champions on Saturday at noon CT. Houston remained idle in the FPI rankings since last week.

Saturday’s game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Jalen Pitre’s breakout season over following recent Texans’ transaction

Jalen Pitre’s season is over for the Houston Texans.

Jalen Pitre’s breakout season has officially reached its end.

The Houston Texans placed the third-year do-it-all defensive back on the injured reserve, thus ending his 2024 campaign.

Houston begins its three-game stretch in 11 days without two of its best defenders starting Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

“Losing a great player like Jalen is a blow,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said Thursday. “But we feel confident in the guys that we can step up and make some plays.”

Pitre, who suffered a pectoral injury during the second quarter of Week 12’s loss against the Tennessee Titans, knew his season could be over entering the bye week but wanted a second opinion from medical experts. The testing confirmed that immediate surgery would be the best course moving forward.

Back at his natural nickel position, Pitre had transformed into one of the team’s most important defensive players. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans loved his aggressive play style against the run and often used him in the box to blitz.

“Being around the ball, causing interceptions, forcing fumbles, he’s just been a really active, a very instinctive player for us,” Ryans said earlier this month. “He’s been all over the field, and he’s made a lot of plays for us.

In 12 games, Pitre totaled 65 tackles, six tackles for loss, an interception and a career-high eight pass deflections.

Pitre’s loss is a blow, but so is the departure of Azeez Al-Shaair. The middle linebacker is serving a three-game ban for his late hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and will not return to the lineup until Week 18’s season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

The good news? Houston is expected to have back Christian Harris, who was cleared to practice earlier this week. Harris, who finished with 101 tackles in 2023, missed the first 14 games due to a lingering calf injury suffered in training camp.

Texans announce their nominee for 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

The Houston Texans have found their Walter Payton Man of the Year honoree for the 2024 season.

Ask anyone inside the Houston Texans locker room how they feel about Jalen Pitre in one word and you can expect to hear a few crossovers and correlations.

Leader comes to mind.

So does “Captain.”

Hard-working, dedicated, and unrelenting are a few that also fit the mold surrounding the third-year defensive back.

But Man of the Year honoree? That’s a title that must be earned among peers and coaches.

Consider the mission accomplished as of Thursday morning.

Pitre was named the Texans’ nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.  The award recognizes players who excel on and off the field through their involvement in the community.

This is the first time Pitre has been nominated for the award, which comes on the heels of a breakout season with the AFC South franchise. His dedication to the on-field craft has carried over to his work in the Great Houston community.

A Stafford graduate just outside downtown Houston, Ptire is an advocate for Kids’ Meals Inc., a local nonprofit organization that delivers free, healthy meals to children in need to try to end the widespread problem of childhood hunger.

Last season, he teamed up with Kids’ Meals to lead the “Feed 5 More” campaign that continues today. Through $5 incremental, crowd-sourced donations, his goal is to raise funds to feed 55,555 kids.

“Jalen Pitre is a shining example of an exceptional leader on and off the field,” Houston Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair said. “As a hometown player, we’re so proud of the impact he’s had in our community and look forward to his continued commitment to H-Town for many years to come. Jalen is incredibly deserving of this honor and we know how much this means to him.”

Pitre also serves as a sponsor in the Texans’ Community Huddle Ticket Program this season, which gives people who may not otherwise have a chance to attend an NFL game with a unique experience.  Every home game, the Stafford Cobras, the youth football team Pitre played on growing up, are treated to tickets, food vouchers and parking passes at NRG Stadium.

“My parents always taught me that if anyone was in need and we had the means that we should lend a helping hand,” Pitre said. “I’m blessed to be in this position now, and it’s my duty to help and shed light on others who need it. I have a ton of gratitude and appreciation that I was chosen as a nominee for this award. I hope I can continue to inspire and encourage people to help others as much as they can.”

While most people will speak of Pitre’s work off the field, his on-field play has been superb. In 12 games, he’s totaled 44 solo tackles, an interception, two sacks and a career-high eight passes defended.

Last month, Pitre suffered a partial tear to his pectoral muscle against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 24. While he’s not expected to miss the remainder of the season, there’s no timetable on when he’ll return to the lineup.

Fans can vote for Pitre on the NFL’s official website and through social media with the hashtag #WPMOYChallenge.

Each of the league’s 32 nominees will receive up to a $55,000 donation in their name to a charity of their choice courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation. The winner will be announced at the NFL Honors show on Feb. 6, and all 32 nominees will be recognized during Super Bowl week in New Orleans.

Texans to receive performance from Beyoncé as a halftime Christmas present

Beyoncé is headed back to Houston for the holidays and the Texans’ game against the Ravens.

Queen Bee takes center stage this holiday season at NRG Stadium.

Superstar singer and 32-time Grammy Awarding-winning entertainer Beyoncé will perform at halftime of the Houston Texans’ Christmas Day game against the Baltimore Ravens, the team and Netflix announced Sunday night.

Houston, which also plays on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Cheifs, returns five days later to participate in one that will be streamed exclusively on Netflix. The Chiefs will open the afternoon with a matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers at noon.

A native of Houston, Beyoncé’s performance will air exclusively on the streaming site as part of the flare. This marks the first time she’s performed at an NFL event since her collaboration in 2016 with Coldplay and Bruno Mars at Super Bowl L in Santa Clara, California.

That performance ended up being one of the most-watched Super Bowl halftime shows, with 115.5 million tuned to see her perform “Formation.”

The concert will also mark the first time she’s performed songs from her Cowboy Carter album, which was nominated for 11 Grammys.

“Your early Christmas wish has been granted as Beyoncé will perform during Netflix’s first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday live on Netflix this December 25,” a statement released by Netflix read. “The performance will take place during the second of Netflix’s two games, as the Houston Texans host the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium at 4:30 PM ET.

This performance in her hometown of Houston, Texas, produced by her company, Parkwood Entertainment and Jesse Collins Entertainment, will be the first live performance of songs from her genre-bending and record-breaking COWBOY CARTER, album. The 11-time Grammy-nominated, juggernaut recently became the most nominated album by a female artist.”

The Netflix Christmas Day games will air on broadcast TV in the competing team cities and be available on U.S. mobile devices with NFL+.

Texans to honor legendary WR’s Hall of Fame induction against Colts

The Houston Texans will honor Andre Johnson once more after securing his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Andre Johnson is the first Houston Texans player to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He’s also the first player in franchise history to have a day dedicated to him.

The Texans are calling Sunday’s Week 8 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts the AJ 80 Hall of Fame game as they honor the legendary receiver for his efforts over his 12 seasons with the AFC South franchise.

During halftime, Johnson will receive his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring on the field. He’s already received the gold jacket and the ring will complete the set of gifts given from Canton, Ohio.

Johnson, who remains the franchise’s all-time leader in every receiving category, will be honored before the game with a pregame pep rally in the stadium’s southeast corner.

To begin the events, Johnson’s family will handle the team’s ‘H’s Up tradition.’ After the team takes the field, Johnson will join the captains at midfield for the pregame coin toss.

Drafted third overall out of Miami in 2003, Johnson quickly became the Texans’ first star player, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and a pair of first-team All-Pro nods. He also played for the Colts and the Tennessee Titans before retiring after the 2016 season.

For his career, Johnson finished with 1,062 receptions, 14,185 receiving yards and 70 touchdown receptions. He ranks 11th all-time in receptions and receiving yards and 49th all-time in touchdowns.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Colts vs. Texans injury report: Latest updates, news for Thursday

Here are the latest updates and news on the Houston Texans injury report ahead of Week 8’s game against the Indianapolis Colts following Thursday’s practice.

Another day, another set of reps for Kamari Lassiter.

The Houston Texans rookie cornerback was once again a limited participant in practice Thursday in preparation for Sunday’s matchup at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

Lassiter, the Texans’ second-round pick out of Georgia, had been dealing with a scapula fracture, a rare football injury involving the back of the shoulder blade suffered during an offensive pass interference infraction against the Buffalo Bills. He’s missed the last two games, but practicing is a promising sign.

Things, however, could be trending down for linebacker Henry To’oTo’o. After returning to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday, the second-year starter returned to the injury report.

He didn’t play last week and might not be cleared after taking a step back.

Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and defensive back Jimmie Ward (groin) missed practice for the fifth consecutive day. According to KPRC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Ward is expected to miss his third consecutive game due to injury.

Rookie Calen Bullock, who totaled his third interception in Week 7, is expected to start opposite Eric Murray.

Al-Shaair, who left in Week 6 during the third quarter, could be a game-time decision. Earlier Wednesday, Houston signed former first-round pick Devin White to the active roster for depth purposes.

Both receivers Robert Woods (foot) and Steven Sims (back) were back running drills during Thursday’s practice. Woods, who was limited, hasn’t played since Week 5’s win over the Buffalo Bills.

Sims, who was a late addition to the injury report last week, should be good to go for the home matchup.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil returned at full capacity and shouldn’t miss any extra time. Reserve cornerback D’Angelo Ross, who started in Lassiter’s place last weekend, was out due to an illness.

Here’s a look at the injury report for the Texans and Colts after Thursday’s practice. With a win on Sunday, the Texans would finish with at least a .500 record in divisional play for 2024.

Houston Texans

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game Status
DB Jimmie Ward groin DNP DNP
LB Azeez Al-Shaair knee DNP DNP
WR Steven Sims back DNP FP
WR Robert Woods toe DNP LP
DE Will Anderson Jr. chest LP FP
CB Kamari Lassiter shoulder LP LP
LB Henry To’oTo’o concussion LP DNP
DL Foley Fatukasi shoulder LP LP
CB D’Angelo Ross illness — DNP
OT Laremy Tunsil ankle LP FP

DNP: Did not practice; LP: Limited participation ; FP: Full participation

Indianapolis Colts

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game Status
DE Gernard Avery foot DNP DNP
LB Jaylon Carlies fibula DNP DNP
WR Josh Downs toe DNP FP
OL Ryan Kelly calf DNP FP
CB Chris Lammons ankle DNP FP
WR Michael Pittman Jr. back DNP FP
OT Braden Smith knee DNP FP
DL DeForest Buckner ankle LP FP
RB Jonathan Taylor ankle LP FP
WR Ashton Dulin knee FP FP
LB Cameron McGrone elbow FP FP
LB E.J. Speed knee FP FP

DNP: Did not practice; LP: Limited participation ; FP: Full participation

DeMeco Ryans breaks down Texans signing of Pro Bowl LB Devin White

Here’s why the Houston Texans brought in former Pro Bowl cornerback Devin White.

Why did the Houston Texans sign former Pro Bowl linebacker Devin White?

Is it because third-year starter Christian Harris will miss the remainder of the season?

Is it because Azeez Al-Shaair is set to go to the injured reserve?

Nope. Both would be valid reasons for the Texans to bring in the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers captain, but it’s not why he’s now suiting up for the AFC South favorites.

“We wanted to add him to give him an opportunity to see where he can come in and help us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said when asked why they signed White. “That’s what it was about.”

The Texans need linebacker depth following Sunday’s loss against the Green Bay Packers. Herny To’oTo’o, who was out last week due to a concussion, still hasn’t been cleared by the team’s medical staff to play this week against the Indianapolis Colts.

Al-Shaair, who suffered a knee injury in Week 6, did not practice on Wednesday and could miss his second consecutive game. Harris, who’s been  on the injured reserve since the start of the season, is making progress but isn’t expected back for at least a few more weeks.

Enter White, a former first-round pick out of LSU and do-it-all defender for the Buccaneers during their Super Bowl run in 2020. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl in 2021.

Last season in 13 games, White finished with 83 tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions. He signed a one-year deal this offseason with the Philadelphia Eagles but never played a down before being released earlier this month.

Just because he didn’t play doesn’t mean the Texans don’t envision White in the same light as the Eagles.

“He went top 10 in the Draft, I mean, he was an exceptional talent,” Ryans said. “So, what happened and why he’s here, no one knows.

“You just have to keep punching, keep attacking each day with the right mindset and opportunity for Devin is to come in here and compete. Again, nothing’s promised. We don’t know what the future holds.”

After Sunday’s game, the Texans have a quick turnaround on Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets. White might not play this week, but there’s a chance he’ll be caught up to speed in time to see meaningful reps against Aaron Rodgers and Co. at MetLife Stadium.

Ryans, however, isn’t ruling out White from playing on Sunday in Houston just yet.

“We’ll work with him and see where he is. Try to get him caught up to speed to see if he can help us,” Ryans said. “So, it’s an opportunity for Devin to compete. Come in, learn how we do things and see how he can fit in and how he can help us.”

Texans vs. Packers, Week 7 injury report: Wednesday

Here’s the injury report from Wednesday’s practice in preparation for the Houston Texans’ matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Here are the full injury reports for the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers ahead of their Week 7 matchup at Lambeau Field:

Houston Texans (4-1)

Did not practice

  • LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee)
  • WR Robert Woods (foot)
  • CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder)
  • LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion)
  • DB Jimmie Ward (groin)
  • DL Foley Fatukasi (shoulder)

Limited participation

  • RB Joe Mixon (ankle)
  • LB Del’Shawn Phillips (hip)
  • OT Laremy Tunsil (ankle)

Green Bay Packers (4-2)

Did not practice

  • DL Devonte Wyatt (ankle)
  • OL Elton Jenkins (knee)
  • DL Colby Wooden (knee)

Limited participation

  • CB Jaire Alexander (groin)
  • DL Kenny Clark (toe)
  • TE  Tucker Kraft (groin)
  • C Josh Myers (ankle)
  • WR Jayden Reed (ankle)
  • WR Dontayvion Wicks (shoulder)
  • WR Christian Watson (ankle)

Full participant

  • DL Jonathan Ford (calf)

Kickoff from Lambeau Field is scheduled for noon CT. The Packers open as a -2.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM.

Could the Texans reach out to former Jets coach Robert Saleh for help?

Could a reunion happen between Robert Saleh and the Houston Texans before Week 9’s game against the New York Jets?

Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is still waiting for his next opportunity after being fired last week amid a 2-3 start to the regular season.

Could his next destination be on the sidelines at NRG Stadium while working underneath former colleague and current Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans? Right now, that doesn’t seem likely.

That doesn’t mean that Texans general manager Nick Caserio isn’t a fan of Saleh and what he brings to any organization defensively.

“Robert’s a really good coach,” Caserio said during his appearance on “Payne & Pendergast” Wednesday morning on SportsRadio610. “Robert did a really good job with their program. He’s very well thought of in the league. So, a lot of respect for him and what he did for the Jets and what he did here for the Texans organization as well. What conversations take place, those are up to the people involved. I’m not going to get fined for saying anything that I shouldn’t say.”

The connection between Saleh and the Texans is far. Prior to becoming one of the top defensive minds in the industry, he spent eight seasons in Houston working as an assistant.

Ryans’ impact also carries a little weight. When hired by New York in 2021, Ryans served as Saleh’s linebackers coach and eventually took over as the San Francisco 49ers’ new defensive coordinator.

Two years after carrying on the tradition that Saleh started, Ryans returned to the place that drafted him out of the University of Alabama in 2006.

The Texans face off against Saleh’s former team on Halloween, so the best revenge for the former coach would be to give away inside information on the opposing sidelines. It’s happened before. After Hue Jackson was fired by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals staff just in time to face off against those who sent him packing.

Cleveland got the last laugh since it defeated the Bengals. Caserio referred to the notion of what occurred back then, too. 

“I don’t think we’re going to see anything like that, you don’t have to worry about that,” Caserio said.

Saleh’s tenure in New York wasn’t great. He finished 20-36 and never posted a winning season, but not all was based on his coaching. New York never had stability at the quarterback position and struggled to find life behind underwhelming offensive line play. 

Saleh likely won’t return to Houston before Week 9’s matchup, but depending on how things go entering the offseason, he could be a prime candidate to join the staff for 2025.  

Texans land former top defensive recruit in latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Ole Miss superstar Walter Nolen could be headed to NRG Stadium in 2025.

Currently, the Houston Texans’ top need is defensive back help. Jimmie Ward and Kamari Lassiter remained sidelined for the next several weeks due to injury. Rookie Calen Bullock, plus veterans Jalen Pitre and Eric Murray, have been hit-and-miss this season in man coverage. 

But what’s the Texans’ biggest need entering the offseason? For now, it remains defensive tackle. Houston chose to spend money elsewhere in the offseason, thus leading to one-year deals with Tim Settle, Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards Jr. 

The Texans would be wise to find an interior running mate to pair alongside Defensive Player of the Year candidate Will Anderson Jr. and Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter. That’s what ESPN has the Texans doing in its latest mock draft with the selection of Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen at pick No. 30. 

A true wrecking ball up the middle is one of the few missing ingredients for an elite football team in Houston. After two underwhelming seasons at Texas A&M, Nolen is having a breakout year in his first season at Ole Miss. He already has 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and 8 run stops. With aggressive hands and a sudden first step, he’s consistently able to defeat single blocks at the first level.

Formerly the No. 1 defensive recruit of the 2022 class, Nolen started two years for the Aggies before transferring this offseason. Despite the underwhelming results under then-coach Jimbo Fisher, Nolen flashed potential, totaling nine tackles for loss, 24 QB hits and four sacks. 

Entering the Rebels’ bye week, Nolen has been the anchor of a defense that leads the nation in run defense, holding opponents to 1.96 yards per attempt and 66.5 yards per game.

Edwards, Settle and Fatukasi call could cash in elsewhere this offseason, meaning Houston could bargain shopping once more to fill the void up the middle. Bringing in a player with a fifth-year option to shore up some money elsewhere makes not only sense on paper but also to a defense headlined by DeMeco Ryans. 

The Texans are also picking 30th, which means that ESPN believes Houston is poised to go on a postseason run.

To show up in the AFC title game for the first time in franchise history and land a potential All-American defensive lineman as the foundation of the run defense? It’s hard for Texans fans to hate that result entering 2025.