Houston Texans tight end Jordan Akins is questionable but a game-time decision to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
The Houston Texans offense was able to get by with playing one tight end, Darren Fells, for most of their wild card win over the Buffalo Bills. However, one would be hard-pressed to assume they would want to enter the divisional round bout with the Kansas City Chiefs with limited tight end depth.
Unfortunately, that could be the case. Tight end Jordan Akins is questionable for the matchup with the Chiefs with a hamstring injury. He did not play against the Bills and was a limited participant in practice.
However, Akins could play. Texans coach Bill O’Brien tabbed the tight end as similar to wide receiver Will Fuller, in that he’s a game-time decision who is “trending” upwards.
“Jordan Akins, I would put in the same category as Will (Fuller V),” O’Brien said on Friday. “I think that’s a daily process, especially at this time of the year where we’ve played a lot of games. I think that would be something that would be really around game time where we would make that make that decision.”
In addition to Akins being questionable, Fells is also questionable for the tilt in Kansas City with a hip injury. Fells was a limited participant in Friday’s practice.
If Akins is available to play on Sunday, the Texans offense will benefit greatly. The second-year tight end hailing from Central Florida acts as modern “move” tight end, in that he can play anywhere on the field. It helps that he has a history of playing wide receiver and is a much-improved blocker.
In 2019, Akins reeled-in 36 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns. As a rookie in 2018, he tallied 17 receptions for 225 yards and no scores.
If Akins is truly a game-time decision, word on if he plays or not will be known 90 minutes before kickoff on Sunday.
