Texans-Titans Thursday injury report: QB Deshaun Watson limited with back issue

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson was limited in Thursday’s practice with a back issue as the club prepares for a rematch with the Tennessee Titans.

The Houston Texans released an injury report ahead of their Week 17 rematch with the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon at 3:25 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.

On Wednesday, there was no practice, and the injury report was merely an estimation of participation had there been one.

However, the Thursday injury report was the real deal as there was a practice, and quarterback Deshaun Watson was limited with a back issue.

Also limited in Thursday’s practice were receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who is dealing with an illness, and cornerback Bradley Roby, who showed up as dealing with a hamstring injury.

Did not participate

WR Will Fuller — Groin

Limited participation

S	Jahleel Addae	Achilles
OLB	Brennan Scarlett	Achilles
OLB	Jacob Martin	Knee
WR	Kenny Stills	Knee
OT	Laremy Tunsil	Ankle
QB	Deshaun Watson	Back
WR	DeAndre Hopkins	Illness
CB	Bradley Roby	Hamstring

Full participation

ILB Benardrick McKinney — Concussion

Drew Brees upgraded, Vonn Bell downgraded on Saints injury report

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees was upgraded to full participation on the Week 17 injury report, while DB Vonn Bell was downgraded.

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The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers updated their injury report before Week 17’s regular season finale. The Saints started the week with a low-energy walk-through practice session on Wednesday, meaning all of their reported injury statuses were estimated guesses from the team medical staff. On Thursday, New Orleans returned to work, giving injured starters and players on the mend an opportunity to prove whether they’re making progress.

That includes starting guards Larry Warford and Andrus Peat, each of whom have missed games with injuries. Warford’s return to practice is very encouraging considering how serious his injury looked at the time. While it would be a surprise if either of them take the field in Week 17 for a game with long-shot playoff implications, it’s great to see the Saints getting healthier ahead of the postseason.

Quarterback Drew Brees has been managing some soreness in his knee since last week’s game with the Titans, but he turned in a full practice on Thursday. However, starting strong safety Vonn Bell rested after being listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice.

Here’s everything we learned on Thursday’s Saints injury report. Updates are denoted with bold text:

From the Saints

CB Eli Apple (ankle), Did not participate
FS Marcus Williams (groin), Did not participate
WR Krishawn Hogan (hamstring), Designated to injured reserve
QB Drew Brees (knee), Full
WR Michael Thomas (hand), Limited
LB Kiko Alonso (quad), Limited
DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (hip/forearm), Full
OL Andrus Peat (forearm), Limited
OL Larry Warford (knee), Limited
SS Vonn Bell (knee), Did not participate

From the Panthers

DT Gerald McCoy (knee), Full
WR D.J. Moore (concussion), Did not participate
LB Andre Smith (ankle), Full
LB Shaq Thompson (foot), Did not participate
LB/DE Marquis Haynes (knee), Did not participate
LB/DE Brian Burns (shoulder), Full
S Tre Boston (shoulder), Limited
TE Ian Thomas (ankle), Full
TE Greg Olsen (knee), Limited
DT Kyle Love (ankle), Full
DT Woodrow Hamilton (illness), Full

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Ravens vs. Steelers injury report: TE Mark Andrews not practicing Thursday

The Baltimore Ravens are set to rest several key starters against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 but TE Mark Andrews was out of practice

The Baltimore Ravens enter Week 17 with only pride to play for. They’ve secured the top seed in the AFC playoff picture. In turn, they’ve decided to sit several key players in an effort to get them healthy for the postseason. But there are still a bunch of bumps and bruises a handful of Ravens players have been dealing with this week.

Top of the pile is tight end Mark Andrews. Andrews was seen hobbled slightly in Week 16’s game against the Cleveland Browns, missing some of the game being attended to by the training staff. On Thursday, Andrews missed practice with what’s labeled as an ankle injury. Though Andrews wasn’t among those officially ruled out, don’t be terribly shocked if he doesn’t play against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week as he recovers from his ankle injury.

Take a look at the rest of Thursday’s injury report for both the Ravens and Steelers.

Baltimore Ravens injury report:

Player	Position	Injury	Wed.	Thur	Fri.	Game status
Mark Andrews	TE	Ankle	DNP	DNP
Brandon Carr	CB	NIR	DNP	FP
Mark Ingram	RB	Calf	DNP	DNP
Marcus Peters	CB	Chest	DNP	LP
Jimmy Smith	CB	NIR/Groin	DNP	LP
Earl Thomas	S	NIR/Knee/Hand	DNP	DNP
Brandon Williams	DT	NIR	–	DNP
Chris Wormley	DT	NIR	–	DNP

Pittsburgh Steelers injury report:

Player	Position	Injury	Wed.	Thur	Fri.	Game status
Mark Barron	LB	NIR	DNP	FP
James Conner	RB	Quad	DNP	DNP
David DeCastro	G	NIR	DNP	FP
Cameron Hayward	DT	NIR	DNP	FP
Vance McDonald	TE	NIR	DNP	FP
Steven Nelson	CB	Groin	DNP	FP
Maurkice Pouncey	C	Knee	DNP	DNP
Alejandro Villanueva	T	NIR	DNP	FP
T.J. Watt	LB	NIR	DNP	FP
Ramon Foster	G	NIR	–	DNP
Joe Haden	CB	Foot	–	DNP

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Texans K Ka’imi Fairbairn has turned his season around after early kicking woes

Houston Texans placekicker Ka’imi Fairbairn struggled early in 2019. However, since then, he has turned it around, coach Bill O’Brien says.

It wasn’t long ago when Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was not well-beloved within the team’s fan base.

The third-year placekicker started the season cold, missing four extra point attempts and three field goals by the mid-way point of the year. However, recently, he’s hot.

Since Week 9, Fairbairn is playing the part of one the NFL’s best kickers. Though he missed an extra point and two field goals (one being a 58-yarder in London, the other a 43-yarder), he has not missed a kick of any kind since Week 11.

“In the beginning, he had a couple of misses,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said on Thursday. “But he’s definitely turned it over around. I think in the Tampa Bay game, I would say one of the main reasons why we won was because of how we kicked the ball.”

In the Texans latest bout — a 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Fairbairn was perfect. He made all three of his extra points, both field goal kicks and even punted once, downing the Bucs at their 10-yard-line.

“Ka’imi’s kickoffs, for example, were very accurate and placed exactly where we wanted to place them,” O’Brien said. “Then obviously he made his field goals and PATs, which are points on the board, which is huge.”

Fairbairn’s early kicking woes sparked a yearn among the Texans’ fan base to release him and find a new option. However, Houston stuck with him and are now reaping the benefits of the results that they expected of him coming into the 2019 campaign.

In 2018, in his second-year in the Texans’ organization, Fairbairn led the NFL in scoring with 150 and field goals made with 37. Though he won’t boast the same achievements in 2019, it’s fair to say that O’Brien and Co. are happy to have him on the roster.

“Ka’imi’s a very good kicker,” O’Brien said. “And we are glad he’s on our team.”

NFL Week 17: 11 bold predictions

Russell Wilson is in the spotlight as the NFL regular season comes to a close.

The end of the regular season is here. Teams and players are looking to finish strong. However, it won’t happen for everyone and some will finish wrong and it will wind up costing jobs.

The Bucs will finish .500

Bruce Arians has done a remarkable job in his first season in Tampa Bay. It will be quite the accomplishment to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 and finish with an 8-8 record. Quietly, Arians is turning around a moribund franchise.

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Texans coach Bill O’Brien sees Titans’ A.J. Brown as NFL’s best rookie receiver

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien dubs Tennessee Titans receiver A.J. Brown as the NFL’s best rookie wide receiver.

With the 51st pick, the Tennessee Titans got one of the steals of the 2019 NFL Draft in receiver A.J. Brown. Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien recognizes that with an abundance of praise while claiming him to be the NFL’s best rookie wideout.

A.J. Brown? Tough matchup. Very strong, they ran a reverse with him against the Saints, he took it 50 yards for a touchdown,” O’Brien said on Thursday. “The guy is hard to tackle, he’s a really good route runner. When I look at rookie receivers, he’s got to be the rookie receiver this year. I mean I think he is, right? I don’t know too many other rookie receivers that are playing (like him).”

Brown, an Ole Miss product, has blossomed into the No. 1 role in the Titans’ offense. He has 48 receptions for 927 yards and seven touchdowns on the year, in turn making him a legitimate NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.

“ I think it’s hard to do what he’s done in your rookie year as a receiver. I got a lot of respect for the guy and the way that they use him,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien knows his Texans have their work cut out for them when facing the 6-foot, 226-pound Brown. The last time they faced him, he recorded eight receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Though the 22-year-old Brown logged just one reception for 34 yards in a loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 16, he was effective. He took a sweep play 49 yards to the house in the first-half to build-up their lead.

“He’s a very difficult, very strong player, he’s got good hands, hard to tackle, can run all the routes,” O’Brien concluded. “It’s going to be a difficult matchup.”

If the Texans are serious about winning a potentially meaningless matchup, shutting down Brown is key.

Texans’ Bill O’Brien on QB Deshaun Watson: ‘Doing everything we can’ to beat Titans

Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien is mum on quarterback Deshaun Watson’s status against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

The Houston Texans didn’t practice Wednesday, but they released an estimation of participation if there had been practice. As such, quarterback Deshaun Watson was listed as “limited” with a back issue.

The third-year quarterback appeared to suffer a lower body injury of sorts in Week 16’s 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Coach Bill O’Brien was mum Thursday as to Watson’s availability for Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, giving the status quo answer of wanting the Texans to play to win Sunday.

“We are going to do everything we can to win the football game,” O’Brien said on Thursday in response to if he will rest Watson.

Houston’s bout with the Titans could be meaningless on Sunday. If the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the game before, the Texans would be locked in at the fourth seed heading into their 3:25 pm CT kickoff.

O’Brien has indicated that even if they stay at the fourth seed, the Texans will play to win, as he said so for Watson. Whether or not that comes to fruition remains to be seen as the club worked out rookie quarterback Nick Fitzgerald earlier in the week. If Houston adds a third quarterback to the roster, it could point to backup quarterback A.J. McCarron seeing the majority or all of the snaps against Tennessee.

Will Week 17’s Saints-Panthers game be broadcast in your area?

The New Orleans Saints will kick off with the Carolina Panthers, leading off a loaded slate of games for Week 17 of the NFL regular season.

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The final week of the NFL regular season is nearly upon us, with the New Orleans Saints flying out to Charlotte for a game with the Carolina Panthers. While the Panthers are effectively leaderless and on the ropes, the Saints have plenty to play for as far as the NFC playoff standings are concerned.

Still, Carolina won’t just bow down and let the Saints leave with a win. Even without Cam Newton at quarterback and Ron Rivera at head coach, they’re going to play hard in hopes of spoiling the Saints’ postseason chances.

But will you even be able to catch the Saints’ noon kickoff with the Panthers?Check the coverage map from 506sports.com, which shows that only the New Orleans and Charlotte markets are getting the game broadcast on FOX. Most of the country will be tuning in to see whether the destitute Detroit Lions can upset the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers, in a game that will be shown from coast to coast.

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Texans should expect to see Titans RB Derrick Henry

The Houston Texans should expect to face Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry in Week 17 at NRG Stadium.

The Tennessee Titans missed running back Derrick Henry in their 38-28 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 16 at Nissan Stadium.

The former 2016 second-round pick from Alabama was out with a hamstring injury. With a win ensuring the Titans qualify for the postseason for the second time in three seasons, and the first in the Mike Vrabel era, Tennessee could sure use their feature back.

“We’re just trying to get everybody that’s healthy back for the game that can help us win,” Vrabel told the Houston media on a conference call Tuesday. “It’s the playoffs for us, it’s not quite the playoffs for everybody else, but it’s the playoffs for us.”

Though neither team practiced on Christmas Day, both the Texans and Titans released injury reports of estimated participation had there been practice. Henry was listed as a “full participant.”

If the Titans can get Henry back, it will be an added dimension the Texans would have to manage as they count down the time to the postseason.

“Derrick’s run hard for us,” Vrabel said. “He’s tried to break some tackles, and again, you can’t block everybody. You have to make somebody miss or break a tackle. His attitude has been great. Like the rest of us, he needs to try to continue to improve late in the season.”

For the Texans, they have their ticket punched for the playoffs as their 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured the AFC South title for them in Week 16. A win against the Titans is immaterial unless paired with a Kansas City Chiefs loss. Then, Houston would move up to the No. 3 seed. However, they are locked into wild-card weekend (Jan. 4-5) as the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots are set to have the AFC’s only two first-round byes.

Henry may be back for the Titans, which is beneficial for them. As it relates to the Texans, they are counting down until the playoffs.

Texans vs Titans: Point spread, over/under for Week 17

The Houston Texans are favored by -4.5 at home against the Tennessee Titans in Week 17 at NRG Stadium.

The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans meet for their Week 17 rematch Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.

For the Texans, who have won the AFC South, a loss won’t hurt them. With a 10-5 record, the Baltimore Ravens possessing a No. 1 seed with a 13-2 mark and the New England Patriots a 12-3 record at No. 2, Houston can’t get out of wild-card weekend. The only moving up they could do is if the Kansas City Chiefs lose to the Los Angeles Chargers in the noon game at Arrowhead Stadium. All that would help Houston do is avoid the Buffalo Bills, the No. 5 seed, in the wild-card round.

The Titans need a win to ensure they are the No. 6 and final seed in the playoffs. It is possible they could lose, but the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will be playing a Ravens squad that is going to rest players, would also have to lose. Tennessee will be going all out to claim that last ticket to the tournament.

How do odds-makers see the game going?

According to BetMGM, the Texans are favored by -4.5, which is right in the middle of the pack for odds. The Philadelphia Eagles, who are on the road at the New York Giants, have similar odds. The highest odds for the week go to the Patriots at -15.5 as they host the Miami Dolphins. The slimmest odds go to Buffalo Bills at home against the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home against the Atlanta Falcons, and the Minnesota Vikings at home against the Chicago Bears — all three home teams are favored by -1.5.

In terms of over/under, the game is set at 45.5, which represents the fifth-highest point total of Week 17. The highest is 48.5 in the Atlanta-Tampa Bay game and the lowest is 36.5, which is shared by New York-Buffalo and Chicago-Minnesota.

For more information on the rest of the NFL and college football, please check out our sister site, the Sportsbook Wire.

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