Tag: 2024 nfl season

Texans vs. Cowboys injury report: Latest updates, news for Friday

Several Texans players were not at practice on Thursday afternoon in preparation for Week 11’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday

The Houston Texans have an extra day to prepare for their matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

That means an extra day to get players healthy enough for action.

Receiver Nico Collins and defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. practiced in pads for the first time in nearly a month after being added back to the active roster.

Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards with 567 during the first five games, missed the past five weeks with a hamstring injury. Collins, who was limited on Thursday, was a full participant on Friday and plans to be “good to go” against the in-state opponent.

Edwards, who started the first six games for the Texans, was recently activated after serving a four-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy.

The same might not be said about rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who did not practice Tuesday afternoon.

Lassiter, Houston’s No. 2 cornerback, left during the third quarter of Week 10’s 26-23 loss against the Detroit Lions with a concussion. He’s currently in the protocol stages before being cleared to return.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) and defensive tackle Foley Fatkukasi (foot) didn’t practice and might not make the trip north. Offensive tackle Blake Fisher (concussion) went from being is expected to be back on Friday.

Here’s a look at the injury report for the Texans and Cowboys after Friday’s practice:

Texans coach praises Cowboys backup QB Cooper Rush entering Week 11’s showdown

DeMeco Ryans sees the potential in Cooper Rush entering Week 11’s showdown between the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys.

Cooper Rush might be a backup quarterback, but it’s best not to doubt a player who’s been a part of a team for years.

It’s worse to doubt a passer who’s proven they can win on any given Sunday.

Rush, who’s served as Dak Prescott’s backup since joining the Dallas Cowboys out of Central Michigan in 2017, has filled in for the latter before because of injury.

Prescott suffered a broken right thumb in a dispiriting opening-day loss in 2022, thus leaving the balance of the regular season in the hands of Rush. He kept morale high, going 4-1 as a starter for an eventual postseason-bound roster.

Sitting at 3-6, the Cowboys would need a comeback for the ages to enter the NFC postseason race, but Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans isn’t rushing to conclusions on Rush.

“Cooper has been there a while and he understands how to operate the offense very efficiently,” Ryans said Thursday. “When it comes to everything, every operation that goes with the offense, the checks, getting them in the proper plays, Cooper does a great job of managing all of the pre-snap operations and he does a great job of getting the ball out, finding his playmakers, making really good decisions with the football.”

Prescott will miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing hmastring surgery. Despite having former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance on the roster, the Cowboys are sticking with Rush for another week.

Rush, who’s started six games in eight seasons, completed 13 of his 23 pass attempts for 45 yards and fumbled twice in Sunday’s 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged that he “didn’t get Cooper into a rhythm” and said that Dallas needs to execute quicker if it plans on setting a tone.

For his career, Rush has completed 178 of 298 passes for 1,831 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

Ryans, who’s looking to get Houston back to its winning ways, isn’t paying attention to a Week 10 loss against the NFC East favorites. He’s looking at the body of work, which features Rush sitting at 4-2 all-time in the starting job.

“Cooper has a great record,” Ryans said. “When he’s started, he’s won a lot of games. So, we’re going in with the mindset of it being about the Texans and about us executing the right way.”

Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Commanders vs. Eagles: Best photos from Week 11

Here are the top photos from Thursday night’s NFC East battle between the Commanders and Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders 26-18 on Thursday night, increasing their NFC East lead to 1.5 games.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, with most of that damage coming in the fourth quarter. Washington entered the final quarter holding a 10-6 lead before the Eagles scored 20 points over the next seven minutes to pull away from the Commanders.

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels struggled, completing 22 of 32 passes for 191 yards with a touchdown and interception, but most of those completions came on checkdowns or short passes.

Here are some of the best photos from the Week 11 edition of Thursday Night Football.

Mike Tomlin on the villainous Week 11 matchup with Baltimore

In the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, ‘villains’ like Patrick Queen and Arthur Maulet are set to add fuel to the fire in Week 11.

There is no love lost between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. Within an AFC North rivalry that burns so intensely hot it could mimic the sun, there are bound to be players deemed ‘villains’ by opposing sides.

During the Monday press conference, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin highlighted former Steelers CB Arthur Maulet, now in Baltimore, and former Raven, current Steelers LB Patrick Queen, as two players who have crossed over to the other side of this heated rivalry.

Early in the 2024 offseason, Queen further stoked the flames, declaring, ‘I wanna be that villain; I wanna be that guy.’ When asked about Queen’s potential to embrace this ‘villainous’ role against his former team in Week 11, Tomlin responded emphatically, noting that while Queen will have his opportunity, he won’t be the only one: ‘There’s a lot of villains on both sides of this rivalry.’

With both teams hosting a variety of potential villains, including Queen, Maulet, and newly acquired Ravens WR Diontae Johnson, this matchup’s bad blood will be on full display in Week 11 on November 17th, at 1:00 PM EST.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Texans odds: Houston opens as road favorites vs. Cowboys in Week 11

The Houston Texans remain a heavy favorite entering Monday’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

The Houston Texans (6-4) hit the road on Monday night for a Lone Star showdown against the Dallas Cowboys (3-6) in Week 11 on primetime at AT&T Stadium.

Houston has opened as 7.5-point road favorites against the Cowboys in primetime on ESPN, according to BetMGM. The over/under is currently set at 42.

The Texans need a win. So does Dallas, but Houston’s woeful second-half outing on ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Detroit Lions now has fans wondering if the AFC South favorites are a legit contender in the conference.

Houston jumped out to an early 23-7 lead in the first half after C.J. Stroud connected with John Metchie III for the 15-yard touchdown. Lions quarterback Jared Goff tossed five interceptions, but the Texans never could pressure him into fumbling the ball.

For Detroit (8-1), its defense stepped up in the second half. The front seven recorded four sacks while Stroud tossed a pair of interceptions to Carlton Davis III, including one in the end zone on a pass intended for Tank Dell.

Jake Bates drilled two second-half 50-plus-yard field goals, including a game-winning 52-yard kick as time expired.

With the loss, the Texans joined the 1970 Chicago Bears as the only franchise in league history to lose a game where the opposing quarterback throws five interceptions.

“Definitely should have won this game,” Stroud said. “My job is to lead the offense to score points, and I didn’t do that today. … We really should have put them away after the first half. It’s really on the offense.”

The Cowboys aren’t waving the white flag for 2024, but their season has gone off the rails. Quarterback Dak Prescott will miss the remainder of the regular season after it was announced Tuesday that he would undergo hamstring surgery.

In Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, backup quarterback Cooper Rush completed 13-of-26 passes for 45 yards and lost two fumbles. He also was sacked once. Former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance filled in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 passing yards and an interception.

For the second time in six games, the Cowboys did not score a touchdown.

“Everybody has confidence in Coop,” Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “Again, it wasn’t our best performance yesterday as an offense, for sure. Wasn’t all him. We’re all involved in that.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. 

Texans schedule: Who is Houston playing in Week 11?

Are the Houston Texans playing this week? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

Despite having a three-game lead in the AFC South, it’s must-win time for Houston Texans if they plan on being mentioned as a legitimate AFC contender.

The Texans bullied Deroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff for four quarters and still found a way to end up on the side of defeat in a 26-23 loss at home. Goff threw five interceptions while C.J. Stroud helped Houston’s offense mount a 16-point first-half lead.

Yet the Texans sit at 6-4 entering Week 11 after Jake Bates drilled two field goals, including a game-winning 52-yard blast.

“We didn’t play winning football,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We stalled on a lot of drives and didn’t score any points in the second half. To beat a good football team like that, we have to be able to sustain drives. We have to be able to score points. We were going backwards way too much.”

Who is next on the schedule? Is it another primetime matchup? Let’s discuss below.

Who will the Texans play in Week 10 of the NFL schedule?

Houston takes on the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 18 at AT&T Stadium. This marks the first time since 2022 that the two sides have met during the regular season.

The Cowboys secured a 27-23 win in Arlington back in 2022 as part of the dark times for the AFC South franchise.

With the loss on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ the Texans became the second team since 1933 to lose a game in which they caught five interceptions and led by at least 15. Previously, teams were 373-1-1 when leading by at least 15 and snagging five interceptions.

The other loser? The Chicago Bears in 1970, during Week 11 behind a five-interception afternoon from Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas.

The good news for Houston? Vertical threat Nico Collins should return after being activated off the injured reserve last week. He’s missed the past five games with a hamstring injury but returned to practice on Friday before the Week 10 debacle.

The Cowboys will also be without star quarterback Dak Prescott, who suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9’s road loss against the Atlanta Falcons. Cooper Rush is expected to start in his place.

The Texans enter Monday’s contest as a -7.5-point road favorite. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Texans 2024 schedule

  • Sept. 8: at Indianpolis (W, 29-27)
  • Sept. 15: vs. Chicago (W, 19-13)
  • Sept. 22: at Minnesota (L, 34-7)
  • Sept. 29: vs. Jacksonville (W, 24-20)
  • Oct. 6: vs. Buffalo (W, 23-20)
  • Oct. 13: at New England (W, 41-21)
  • Oct. 20: at Green Bay (L, 24-22)
  • Oct. 27: vs. Indianpolis (W, 23-20)
  • Oct. 31: at New York Jets (L, 21-13)
  • Nov. 10: vs. Detriot (L, 26-23)
  • Nov. 18: at Dallas
  • Nov. 24: vs. Tennessee
  • Dec. 1: at Jacksonville
  • Dec. 8: Bye Week
  • Dec. 15: vs. Miami
  • Dec. 21: at Kansas City
  • Dec. 25: vs. Baltimore
  • Jan. 6: at Tennessee
  • Record: 6-3

Kliff Kingsbury not the only successful Commanders coordinator

Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. also deserves praise.

Kliff Kingsbury has been the talk of the NFL through 10 weeks due to the play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels isn’t playing like a rookie and is firmly in the MVP mix because of his play in leading the Washington Commanders to a 7-3 start.

Kingsbury’s offensive design and play-calling are praised across the NFL. The praise for Kingsbury and Daniels is deserved. Did anyone watch Washington’s offense last year?

But defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is barely mentioned in the talk about Kingsbury and Daniels.

It’s time to change that. After Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Whitt’s defense is ranked 14th in total defense, 6th in pass defense, and 12th in scoring defense. The Commanders’ run defense must improve, but they did an excellent job Sunday against the Steelers, holding them to an average of 3.3 yards per attempt.

When you consider Washington’s personnel challenges, specifically at cornerback, Whitt is doing an outstanding job.

Another area where the Commanders have done well is pressuring opposing passers. Most believed Washington would struggle to rush the quarterback with no high-level pass rushers on the roster, yet veteran Dante Fowler Jr. has 8.5 sacks and is on pace for a career year. Others, such as Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell, Jalyn Holmes, and rookie Javontae Jean-Baptiste, have had success rushing the quarterback at times, too.

When you’re a coach, you’re judged by results. Is your team or unit improving throughout the season? In Whitt’s case, yes, it is. Check out this graphic courtesy of Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

The Commanders hope the acquisition of Marshon Lattimore pays dividends. The four-time Pro Bowler was acquired last week and has yet to debut. But general manager Adam Peters felt good enough about the team’s progress to make a splashy move for a high-level player at the NFL trade deadline.

Earlier, we asked if you’d seen Washington’s offense last year. Did you happen to see the defense? It was even worse. And Whitt’s defense is improving without one of its best players, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

So, the next time someone praises Kingsbury, don’t forget about Whitt. Heck, special teams coach Larry Izzo has been outstanding, too. Regardless of how things end up, the Commanders truly had a home-run offseason from hiring Peters to Quinn and his staff to the selection of Daniels and other newcomers.

Jayden Daniels is named the NFL’s top rookie at the midseason point

More love for Jayden Daniels.

Barring a major injury, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award wrapped up before Week 10.

Daniels has broken numerous team and NFL rookie records through the first nine weeks of his rookie season, and he has the Commanders atop the NFC East with a 7-2 record. While Daniels hasn’t done it alone, he’s clearly helped turn Washington around from a perennial loser to one of the NFL’s best teams.

The No. 2 pick in April’s NFL draft is head and shoulders above the rest of his rookie class, especially the other quarterbacks, including the No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams.

NFL.com recently ranked the 2024 rookie class from 1-25. To no one’s surprise, Daniels topped the list.

Daniels’ dynamism is apparent, but his preternatural calm might be the secret sauce. He oozes a quiet confidence you can’t fake, backing it up with clutch play in big spots. In terms of total EPA (expected points added), here are Next Gen Stats’ top six quarterbacks on third/fourth down through Week 9:

  1. Patrick Mahomes: 38.5 EPA
  2. Jayden Daniels: 36.5
  3. Joe Burrow: 22.5
  4. Josh Allen: 22.4
  5. Kirk Cousins: 20.7
  6. Lamar Jackson: 14.5

That’s a hell of a list — and the rookie ranks No. 2. Which helps explain why he stays No. 1 here.

Yes, that’s an impressive list. Washington isn’t winning with smoke and mirrors. Daniels is making plays with his arm and his legs. The Commanders are excellent on third and perfect on fourth downs. Why? Because defenses fear Daniels.

While there are many things to celebrate in Washington, including new ownership, an elite GM and a top-notch coaching staff, Daniels stands above all. The Commanders now have hope and should be in excellent shape for the next 10-15 years.

What to expect from Preston Smith’s Steelers debut in Week 10

Steelers fans eager to see Preston Smith in action: What impact will the new edge rusher make in his Week 10 debut against Washington?

Watch out, Washington: newly acquired Pittsburgh Steelers defender Preston Smith could see plenty of action in his Week 10 debut for Pittsburgh.

Smith, who requested a trade from Green Bay due to scheme issues, was dealt to the Steelers for a 2025 seventh-round pick. Fans quickly took to social media to voice their satisfaction with the trade, but what can they expect from the 31-year-old former Packers edge rusher in his Week 10 Steelers debut?

While it typically takes time for trade acquisitions to acclimate, Steelers backup OLB Nick Herbig has been declared OUT for Sunday against the Washington Commanders, paving the way for significantly more play time for Smith.

Smith’s best season came in 2019 when he posted 12 sacks, a forced fumble, and 11 tackles for loss. Over his 155-game career, he has tallied 65.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 71 tackles for loss.

Smith will look to make an immediate impact in Week 10, while Commanders QB Jayden Daniels will aim to avoid becoming his next victim.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

What does Dan Quinn communicate and enforce to new Commanders?

Dan Quinn is mindful of disrupting the team’s chemistry, but his rules are the same for all players.

Dan Quinn knows having the right people in the mix is paramount.

The Commanders are 7-2. They display wonderful chemistry, buy in, and are often heard referring to “the brotherhood.”

However, a decision was made Tuesday to bring in a new player—not just any player. This is not simply a new guy going onto the practice squad. No, Marshon Lattimore will be a starter, and he is accustomed to being a big fish in a small pond.

Quinn was asked how bringing a player like Lattimore might affect this team’s good chemistry.

“Yeah, (GM) Adam (Peters) is very mindful of that, and he knows the importance of that with the team and he knows I share that opinion with him, asserted Quinn. “Having the right people is the first thing, if that’s the first thing to get right. And so that’s where, if that part’s not right, then that’s the end of the line.”

Quinn went a bit further, revealing that it is important to set healthy boundaries and expectations for both new players and all remaining players.

“That goes for everybody that we bring in here, and we want to make sure coming here is unique and a really cool experience. And I told him today in front of the team, I said, ‘You can ask anybody here, man, we’re all here to help and support you and onboard you fast.'”

It was also important for Lattimore to learn that he is expected to treat everyone on Quinn’s team with respect, whether they are rookies, hall of famers, or practice squad players.

“We’re all on the same page here, so it doesn’t have to be, ‘I’m not going to talk to him as rookie.’ That’s no, no, no, that ain’t how we roll, man. Everybody on this team, we’re here to help support anybody that comes in and the message will be the same from all the guys.”

Dan Quinn understands that being an effective leader means conveying responsibilities, expectations, and cultural norms to your teammates in the organization.