Tag: 2024 Texans

Texans can clinch playoff spot in Week 15 with one possible scenario

Here’s how the Houston Texans can clinch the AFC South division title in Week 15’s showdown against the Miami Dolphins.

Even though the Houston Texans won’t play an AFC South opponent, they can clinch the division before midnight on Week 15.

The pathway to the postseason is simple, but also partially out of Houston’s control.

As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport pointed out, the Texans can secure one of the final five playoff spots in the AFC in front of the fans at NRG Stadium with a win over the Miami Dolphins.

That’s only one part of the equation. Houston also needs the Denver Broncos to defeat the Indianapolis Colts at Empower Stadium, thus moving the Colts’ record to two games below .500.

Even if the two teams were to finish with 9-8 records, the Texans swept Indianapolis during the regular season, thus giving them a division advantage.

If both teams won, Houston would simply need to defeat Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium to secure a 10-win season. Much like Week 15’s outlook, even if the Colts were to finish 10-7, they’d lose the head-to-head battle.

A Texans’ win also benefits the Pittsburgh Steelers, who would clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and losses from Indianapolis and Miami.

The Green Bay Packers can clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Seattle Seahawks, get a loss or tie from the Atlanta Falcons and get a tie between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Week 15.

The Minnesota Vikings can also punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Chicago Bears. The Eagles are already in playoffs but would secure the NFC East with a victory over Pittsburgh.

None of that matters to Houston for now. Just win against a red-hot Dolphins roster on the warpath to January football since Tua Tagovailoa’s return and wait for the rest to fall in line.

It’s not like the Texans must win to stay alive. According to the New York Times playoff simulator, Houston has a 96 percent chance of making the postseason and would improve their standing to over 99 percent with a win over the Seahawks.

Kickoff from NRG Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Will Jeff Okudah play this week? Latest injury updates for Texans CB

Jeff Okudah has been on the injured reserve since he aggravated a hip against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1’s win.

The Houston Texans aren’t back to full strength yet, but they could gain an essential part of their defensive depth in the trenches for Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions on NBC.

Cornerback Jeff Okudah was cleared to return to practice for the first time in months on Monday. Here’s what happened and his current status entering Sunday Night’s matchup at NRG Stadium.

Jeff Okudah injury update

Okudah, one of Houston’s defensive additions this offseason, was placed on injured reserve after he aggravated a hip injury against the Indianapolis Colts. Serving as Houston’s No. 3 cornerback, Okudah was used in multiple formations opposite Derek Stingley Jr. and in place of the young Kamari Lassiter.

Houston elected to activate Okudah’s 21-day window to be restored to the active roster. The team will have until Nov. 25 to decide if they’ll bring him back to the 53-man squad or return him to the injured reserve for the remainder of the regular season.

Jeff Okudah stats

Drafted by the Lions out of Ohio State in 2020, the former No. 3 overall pick only recorded one tackle before being placed on the IR back in Week 1. A former All-American, Okduah played in 13 games last season for the Atlanta Falcons and had 44 tackles and three pass deflections.

Since leaving Columbus, Okudah has played in 38 games and has 31 career starts under his belt. He’s recorded 168 career tackles, two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown.

Texans CB depth chart

With Okudah out, it’s been a rotation of talent behind Lassiter and Stingley. Here’s the rest of the defensive ends on the active roster:

  • Derek Stingley Jr.
  • Kamari Lassiter
  • D’Angleo Ross
  • Kris Boyd
  • Ka’Dar Hollmon

Texans lose OL Kenyon Green for remainder of the season

Houston Texans offensive lineman Kenyon Green will miss the remainder of the 2024 NFL season with a shoulder injury.

Kenyon Green’s season —and potential tenure with the Houston Texans — is over.

Green suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Thursday’s 21-13 loss against the New York Jets and will miss the remainder of the 2024 regular season.

Green, a former first-round pick, was rumored to be on the trade block heading into Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline after two underwhelming seasons at left guard.

A former two-time All-American at Texas A&M, Green went down in the first half after quarterback C.J. Stroud fell on him during a third-down play. He was replaced by Kendrick Green and immediately headed to the locker room for X-rays.

This marks the second time in three seasons that Green’s ended up on the season-ending injured reserve because of a shoulder injury. He missed the entire 2023 campaign after going down in the preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints.

Thursday marked the second game where a player’s season ended short. In Week 8’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, two-time All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact play in the third quarter.

The Texans could turn to Kendrick Green or Jarrett Patterson in Kenyon Green’s place, though both have struggled at times with the first-team offense. General manager Nick Caserio also could target a more proven replacement before Tuesday’s deadline to fortify the trenches.

Selected 15th overall pick by the Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s started 23 of 24 career games, all nine games for Houston this season. He struggled in pass protection and was only slightly better as a run blocker.

Houston will have nine days to figure out a plan before they face the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium on Sunday Night Football.

Watch: Texans DE Danielle Hunter pulverizes Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye

Danielle Hunter destroyed Drake Maye to give back the ball to the Houston Texans.

After losing momentum at the end of the first half, the Houston Texans regained it three plays into the third quarter.

Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter defeated his block and unloaded on New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, forcing a fumble that eventually would be recovered by Mario Edwards Jr.

The Texans would extend their 14-7 lead with a 3-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Stefon Diggs.

https://twitter.com/TexansFanBattle/status/1845537871274414165

Hunter recorded his first sack since Week 2’s win against the Chicago Bears. Houston has three sacks against New England, with Will Anderson Jr. providing the other pair in the first quarter.

Hunter has 2.5 sacks for Houston this season after signing a two-year, $49 million contract with the team in free agency. He replaced Jonathan Greenard, who signed on to Hunter’s replacement with the Minnesota Vikings.

The strip sack was the second turnover, Houston created in New England territory.

The first was Calen Bullock’s interception, which resulted in zero points after Kai’imi Fairbairn had a rare missed field goal.

With a win, Houston would start off the season 5-1, marking its best record since 2012.

Texans vs. Bills: DE Von Miller suspended four games, will miss Week 5

The Buffalo Bills will be without one of their star defensive ends for Sunday’s matchup against the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans take on the Buffalo Bills this Sunday at NRG Stadium, though one of the top defensive ends won’t be traveling from Orchard Park.

Star pass-rusher Von Miller has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the league announced Tuesday.

Miller, who joined the Bills in 2022 after spending over a decade with the Denver Broncos, will be eligible to return on following the team’s Week 8 game at the Seattle Seahawks. The suspension comes from allegations that Miller assaulted his pregnant girlfriend during the Bills’ bye week in suburban Dallas last November.

Since then, Miller has denied the allegation, stating that they were “100% false.” Earlier this offseason, he said the case was closed, but the NFL had been conducting a separate investigation.

Miller, who moved into more of a rotational role this season, recorded five tackles and three sacks in the first four games of the 2023 season. He signed a six-year deal worth $120 million in 2022.

The 35-year-old recently passed Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney. He’s tied with Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas for 25th all-time in career sacks at 125.5.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans vs. Bears, Week 2 injury report: Thursday

For the second straight day, Dalton Schultz was not at Houston Texans practice.

Dalton Schultz’s status is looking bleaker by the moment heading into Sunday’s contest against the Chicago Bears.

For the second consecutive afternoon, the veteran tight end did not practice, putting his status as questionable for the Houston Texans’ home opener on NBC.

Schultz caught three passes for 16 yards in Week 1’s 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

If Schultz is unavailable, the Texans will lean on tight ends Brevin Jordan and Cade Stover. Both players saw action in Sunday’s victory at Lucas Oil Stadium, with Stover even taking reps at fullback for the first time in his career.

https://twitter.com/TexansPR/status/1834327826826240258

“Special shout-out to Stover,” running back Joe Mixon said postgame. “He made critical blocks. … I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a fullback in front of me. It’s a hell of a feeling, man.”

If needed, Houston could also elevate Chris Myarick from the practice squad to fill his void.

Running back Dameon Pierce (hamstring), receiver Nico Collins (illness) and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (groin) all were limited participants during drills. Defensive back M.J. Stewart (knee) also did not practice for the second consecutive day this week.

For Chicago, four players missed practice due to injury, including receivers Rome Odunze (knee) and Keenan Allen (heel).

Drafted ninth overall out of Washington, Oduzne suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain and is currently day-to-day.  Allen, who reaggravated a heel injury in Sunday’s win over the Titans, was expected to return Thursday.

His status for Sunday’s game is now in jeopardy.

D.J. Moore was one of three receivers who practiced without issue, joining second-year target Tyler Scott and returner DeAndre Carter. Like John Metchie III, Scott was a healthy scratch in Sunday’s home opener. Carter, who previously played in Houston, played 13 total offensive snaps in place of Odunze.

Offensive linemen Ryan Bates (shoulder/elbow) and fullback Khari Blasingame (hand/knee) did not practice.

Fellow offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie (quad) was limited in drills. Defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, who didn’t play in Week 1 due to a groin injury, was a full participant at practice while defensive end DeMarcus Walker (ankle) also returned to practice in limited fashion.

Veteran Mercedes Lewis had a rest day.

Chicago Bears

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game Status
WR Keenan Allen heel DNP DNP
OL Kiran Amegadjie quad LP LP
OL Ryan Bates shoulder/elbow LP DNP
FB Khari Blasingame hand/knee LP DNP
TE Marcedes Lewis veteran rest day — DNP
WR Rome Odunze knee DNP DNP
DL Zacch Pickens groin LP FP
DL DeMarcus Walker foot DNP LP

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

Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson’s recalls his ‘it moment’ with C.J. Stroud

Texans QB Coach Jerrod Johnson was a guest on The Athletic’s “Playcallers” podcast discussing all things coaching and C.J. Stroud.

Jerrod Johnson’s playing career was ending, and the son of a former high school football coach was transitioning into the family business.

He was helping at the Elite 11 – a competition for the nation’s top high school quarterbacks—when he came across a 17-year-old, three-star recruit eager to learn and improve. 

The kid was C.J. Stroud.

Johnson, who enters his second season as Houston Texans quarterbacks coach, recalled the experience as a guest on The Athletic’s ‘Playcallers’ podcast. 

“Even at 17 when he came in, I don’t think he had much formal quarterback training (and) he wasn’t the highest-rated kid there for a week,” Johnson said. “But he just bought into our entire process. He stayed after, he asked questions, and he was just an eager 17-year-old who just wanted to get somewhere, wanted to chase his dreams, and he felt there was a lot of information there throughout that camp.”

Stroud went on to win MVP of the camp and soon after received a scholarship to Ohio State. Over his two seasons as the Buckeyes’ starter, he’d become one of the nation’s most prolific passers, leading to the Texans drafting him second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“To meet him again as a young man, I do think us having a respect for each other and the time we met when we both were younger kind of broke the ice for us,” Johnson said. “I think there was a trust level, a mutual respect for each other that allowed us to hit the ground running.”

Johnson likely doesn’t get the credit he deserves for prepping Stroud week-to-week en route to winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Stroud combined explosiveness with ball security, ranking second in yards per completion (12.9) and first in interception rate (1.0).

It is regarded as one of the best seasons by a rookie quarterback in NFL history, as Houston finished 10-7 to win the AFC South and its first playoff game in four years.

“I think that Tampa Bay game is one that is forever ingrained in my brain,” Johnson said. “That’s a true sign of character and a true sign of his skillset, and that was kind of the aha moment to where he’s a legitimate NFL quarterback that can take us places we’d like to go.”

Stroud engineered a six-play, 75-yard drive with under a minute on the clock, connecting with Tank Dell at the six-second mark for a 15-yard touchdown to lift Houston over the Buccaneers, 39-37.

The win moved Houston to 4-4 and kicked off a 6-3 finish to the year, pushing it into the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Perhaps influenced by the contest, Tampa Bay interviewed Johnson for its offensive coordinator role after Dave Canales accepted the Carolina Panthers head coaching job.

He also interviewed with the New Orleans Saints but elected to follow the same approach Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who received head coaching interviews, and to return to Houston.

They’ll get the chance to work with Stroud and an improved supporting cast, and with another season like the last, they could be elsewhere in an elevated role.

It’s the price to pay as a good football team, but one the Texans will pay willingly.

Texans place FB Andrew Beck on PUP list for start of training camp

Andrew Beck, along with two other players, are starting off the year on the PUP list.

One Houston Texans starter will not be on the field Thursday for the first training camp practice.

The Texans have placed fullback Andrew Beck on the team’s physically unable to perform (PUP) list after failing their physicals Wednesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire. Houston also placed linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips and cornerback D’Angelo Ross on the PUP.

According to KPRC2 Sports, Beck has been dealing with a calf injury that’s kept him out of minicamp and OTAs. He’s expected to be cleared before the start of the regular season and could miss only a few practices depending on the rehabilitation process.

In 15 games last season, Beck caught 11 passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned an 85-yard kickoff for a touchdown in a win over the Jaguars.

Fullback is an interesting position in general, but certainly for Houston’s offense given Bobby Slowik’s personnel. Troy Hairston could see first-team reps after missing all of the 2023 season with a back injury.

Hairston actually started 16 games for Houston in 2022, recording five catches for 19 yards. He also was effective on special teams.

The Texans also used tight end Brevin Jordan out of the backfield multiple times last season. While still a tight end, Jordan made headlines with his 76-yard touchdown reception against the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round while lined up at h-back.

Fellow tight end Dalton Keene, who spent most of the season on the practice squad, could also benefit from seeing reps at the position if he hopes to make the active roster.

Second-year defensive end Dylan Horton was placed on the non-football illness list. Horton, a former fourth-round pick out of TCU, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last year and missed the final month of the regular season.

He was hoping to return in time for training camp after finishing his final chemo treatment in May but still hasn’t been cleared by the medical staff entering Thursday’s practice.

The active/non-football illness list is reserved for players unable to practice for conditions or injuries not related to NFL games. They can be elevated at any time and will be counted as part of the 90-man roster.

Is Texans RB Dameon Pierce entering a make-or-break season?

Houston Texans RB Dameon Pierce was a bright spot as a rookie, but his star dimmed a year ago. Can he recover to preserve his future?

The NFL is a results-oriented league. Failure to produce will lead to a demotion.

Houston Texans third-year running back Dameon Pierce found that out the hard way amid a run to an AFC South title.

Pierce, Houston’s breakout rookie in 2022, is at a crossroads in his career between a reliable No. 2 runner and a depth piece that only finds the field due to injury. He’ll need a promising training camp to remain a fixture of Houston’s long-term plans as the franchise enters win-now mode behind Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.

Poor production and an ankle sprain in Week 8’s loss against Carolina opened the door for Devin Singletary to leapfrog Pierce on the depth chart. He’s hoping to build off his success in Houston as Saquon Barkley’s replacement in New York.

Meanwhile, the Texans upgraded their ground game by trading for Pro Bowler Joe Mixon from Cincinnati. Fresh off his fourth 1,000-yard campaign, Mixon’s expected to be the bell cow back while Pierce competes for reps as the change-of-pace back.

Mixon, who turns 28 this month, might see his numbers dipped as his age rises. Even after signing a three-year extension this offseason, he joins the Texans with over 1,500 rushing attempts, so his best days could be in the past.

Even if Mixon plays through the contract, he could be relegated to a backup role with an underwhelming campaign, meaning Pierce’s production will factor into his future with Houston.

The Texans aren’t giving up on the former Florida product yet. Expectations were high entering last July after he rushed for 939 yards in four touchdowns in 13 games.

He was on pace to become the first Texans’ running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Carlos Hyde before an ankle injury sidelined him for the final four games.

Optimism only grew with the hiring of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who brought a variation of the San Francisco 49ers offense that enjoyed success for years under Kyle Shannahan.

Mike Shanahan, Kyle’s father and former Super Bowl-winning coach, also mentored Texans coach Gary Kubiak, who brought Houston to new heights with a successful ground spearheaded by Pro Bowler Arian Foster.

However, Houston couldn’t duplicate Foster’s success under Slowik’s similar offensive identity. The ground game was dreadful and lacked the explosiveness to create yards after contact. The Texans averaged 3.7 yards per rush, 28th among all teams. Their longest rush attempt was 24 yards, the shortest season-long run by any team.

According to Pro Football Focus, Pierce’s total and efficiency numbers cratered in Slowik’s zone-based offense. He finished dead last among qualified backs in yards per attempt with 2.9 yards per carry.

The most critical falloff came past the line of scrimmage. Pierce averaged 2.27 yards after contact, the fifth lowest among runners with at least 75 rush attempts. His 26 forced missed tackles were also last among runners.

Rumors began to circle in the offseason that Houston could shop Pierce to teams still believing in his rookie success. General manager Nick Caserio, however, shut down the notion by calling the running back a “big part” of the team’s future.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans echoed the same sentiment following OTAs.

“He has everything it takes to be a really good running back for us, and I think having him and Joe (Mixon) as a one-two punch will be very beneficial for us,” Ryans said.

With little proven experience, Piece enters the season as a secondary option to help preserve Mixon’s legs.

Pierce will need a strong training camp, showing improvement in Slowik’s scheme. Pierce finished with 95 zone rushing attempts in the wide zone rushing attack compared to 55 gap scheme runs.

The run game is a point of offensive emphasis. Houston must be able to wear out the clock late in games. Stroud can’t always play hero ball like he did while helping Houston win a division title.

Teams swap players at the running back position more than any other spot. Without a productive 2024, Pierce may find himself elsewhere in 2025.

Texans’ Christian Harris, Kamari Lassiter try new workout to prepare for upcoming season

A trio of Houston Texans players recently spent the weekend working on agility drills in the sand in preparation for training camp.

Christian Harris and Kamari Lassiter are trying out a new workout in preparation for the start of training.

The two Houston Texans defenders recently went through a grueling workout at Buffalo Bayou Park as part of a regimen designed by trainer Jacory Nichols. The exercise is supposed to boost a player’s agility and reaction time while also helping with their change of direction.

“It’s great to work on the fundamentals and just get back out here and get used to the heat to get ready for camp,” Harris told KPRC Sports’ Aaron Wilson. “[It’s] good to see everybody out here just trying to get better.”

Harris was one of Houston’s breakout stars en route to its first division in four years last season. After totaling 101 tackles during the regular season, the second-year starter helped the Texans secure a 45-14 win over the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round with a 36-yard interception returned for a touchdown.

Last year, Harris partnered up with Blake Cashman, who agreed to terms to return to his home state of Minnesota to play for the Vikings. This year, he’ll partner up with Azeez Al-Shaair, a protege under Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans during his time in San Francisco.

“We got something in the works for sure,” Harris told Wilson. “He’s been working every day. He’s a great vet for me, giving out a whole lot of advice every day. I’m just looking forward to seeing what we can do.”

Lassiter, Houston’s second-round pick out of Georgia, might be the team’s X-factor in 2024. He’s already impressed fans and coaches during the early stages of OTAs while working opposite former No. 3 overall pick Derek Stingley Jr.

Most of the internet saw his highlight pass breakup against recently acquired Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs in practice. The former All-SEC second-team defender should be an immediate starter in the nickel or outside if he continues to shine during camp.

“I’m really excited to get to training camp and be back with the guys and just play football and focus on strictly football,” Lassiter told Wilson.

Cornerbacks often take time to transition to the NFL, but Lassiter could have an advantage given his success in Athens. Helping the Bulldogs clinch two national titles, Lassiter thrived in man press coverage while shadowing receivers, including recent first-round picks Malik Nabers and Xavier Legette.

According to Wilson, Harris and Lassiter were joined in the sand pit by Texans rookie linebacker Jamal Hill, Indianapolis Colts safety Rodney Thomas, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback D.J. Turner, Los Angeles Rams safety Russ Yeast and Denver Broncos safety Tanner McCalister, among others.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium for the start of training camp on July 18.