Tag: Texans 2024

Texans sign former starting TE to active roster ahead of Chiefs game

Houston Texans tight end Irv Smith Jr. is getting a promotion before Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Houston Texans are calling up Irv Smith Jr. for the remainder of the 2024 season.

The Texans elected to sign the veteran tight end to the active roster following two standout games as a member of the practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The tight end has become a position of need with Cade Stover’s recent medical concern. Last week, Stover had to undergo emergency appendectomy surgery the night before the Miami game and has yet to recover.

Smith, who’s served as a quality blocker in his place, now should take over as the long-term answer until Stover is healthy. It’s expected the rookie will miss the next two games, but could be cleared to return before the team’s season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

For his career, Smith has 109 career receptions in the NFL for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Last season with the Cincinnati Bengals, he caught 18 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown last season in 12 games.

A second-round pick out of the University of Alabama, Smith’s best season came during his rookie campaign with the Minnesota Vikings. He caught a career-high 36 passes for 311 yards. The following season, he finished with a career-best 365 yards and five touchdowns in 2020 for Minnesota.

Kickoff from Arrowhead is scheduled for noon CT. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Patrick Mahomes injury update: Will Chiefs QB start vs. Texans?

Here’s the latest injury update on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for Sunday’s matchup against the Houston Texans.

The Houston Texans could face off against two quarterbacks at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes suffered a mild high-ankle sprain during Sunday’s road win over the Cleveland Browns. While the injury looked serious at the time, it doesn’t appear that it is going to keep the two-time MVP off the field for long.

The three-time Super Bowl champion was a full participant at practice all three days, including Thursday’s walkthrough period. Barring a setback, it’s expected that he will at least start Saturday’s game against the defending AFC South champions.

Here’s what to know about Mahomes’ status for Week 16.

Patrick Mahomes injury update

Chiefs coach Andy Reid provided an encouraging update about his Mahomes before the team’s final practice of the short week on Thursday.

“He’ll most likely end up playing,” Reid said. “We’ll just see how things work out today.”

Kansas City also removed from the injury report on Thursday following drills.

Reid admitted that at the time of the prognosis, he wasn’t sure that Mahomes would suit up with a short week ahead. He also said it wasn’t a surprise that Mahomes was on the verge of pulling off the quick recovery that usually keeps players sidelined for multiple weeks.

“I’ve been through it with him before and he amazes me every time he does it,” Reid said of Mahomes’ injury recovery. “He’s so mentally tough. It’s a mindset he has going into it. Where he was a few days ago, I’d probably say it was a longshot. He’s done well with it.”

Kansas City can’t clinch the No. 1 seed with a win on Saturday, but it could push itself further ahead of Buffalo with a victory. Should the Chiefs defeat the Texans, they would need a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers to control the AFC path.

Reid, who mentioned earlier in the week that the team had faith in Carson Wentz to start if need be, said Mahomes looked healthy in practice, making him confident that the quarterback could play in Week 16.

“He moved around pretty good,” Reid said. “You’re always looking to make sure they can get out of the way, not to further any harm to them.”

High-ankle sprain recovery timeline

Recovery time differs per injury. A Mild sprain typically heals within 2-4 weeks. Moderate to severe sprains take 6-12 weeks to heal, per Dr. Scott Dixon of Integrative PT.

If Mahomes stays in the game, this would mark the second time he’s played on an injured ankle. He first suffered the injury in the team’s divisional-round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023; he returned to the game after halftime with his ankle heavily taped.

He aggravated that injury in the Super Bowl but played through it to deliver Kansas City its second Lombardi Trophy.

Patrick Mahomes stats

In 14 games, Mahomes has completed 66.7% of his passes for 3,348 yards and 22 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 262 yards and a touchdown.

What’s the latest with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in preparation for Texans game?

The three-time Super Bowl MVP is going to try his best to secure a win over the Texans on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes might be limited in Saturday’s contest against the Houston Texans, but he won’t be inactive when kickoff comes around. 

Mahomes, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 15’s win over the Cleveland Browns, hasn’t missed a beat since leading up to the showdown with the AFC South champions.

The three-time Super Bowl winner has been a full participant in practice on both days leading up to Saturday’s kickoff. 

Mahomes admitted to reporters Tuesday that if his ankle is still bothering him come Saturday, he probably won’t try to push things since it’s not a playoff game. 

“I wouldn’t say it’s dire that I play,” Mahomes said, via ESPN.com. “It’s not in the AFC Championship Game where we’re playing to get to the Super Bowl. We have a little bit of room to kind of spare, but at the end of the day, we’re trying to win.”

The current new G.O.A.T. of the league also said he won’t be in place to decide on his status for the game against the Texans until later in the week. 

“I’ll push myself to get to the best place possible over these next few days and we’ll be able to make a decision then,” Mahomes said. “I’m not going to put our team in a bad position.”

Sitting at 13-1 with a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City might be wise to rest Mahomes.

Even with an all-time 2-2 record without the two-time regular season MVP, the Chiefs still feel confident in backup Carson Wentz to take over with the first-team offense.  

“If I feel like I can play and go out there and win a football game, I’ll play,” Mahomes said. “And if I don’t feel like that’s the best-case scenario, I’ll let guys like Carson play.”

Much like Houston, Kansas City returns on short rest Wednesday for a Christmas showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road. Mahomes admitted that the timing of the injury couldn’t come at the worst time since the Chiefs have three games in 11 days. 

“You never want to play this many games in this short of time,” Mahomes said. “It’s just not great for your body. But at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.”

The Chiefs can clinch the No. 1 overall seed by going 2-1 in their final three games, so Saturday’s showdown isn’t a clinching scenario.

If Mahomes does have to sit this week, the Chiefs would still be in a spot to earn the top seed with wins over the Steelers and Denver Broncos. 

Kickoff from Arrowhead is scheduled for noon CT. The game will be nationally televised on NBC. 

Texans vs. Chiefs broadcast map: Will the game be on TV?

Where can fans watch the Houston Texans take on the Kansas City Chiefs? Everywhere, of course!

The Houston Texans (9-5) hit the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) on a special Saturday afternoon showdown in Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season on Dec. 19.

The potential AFC playoff preview at Arrowhead Stadium is scheduled to kick off at noon CT. With a win, the Texans would secure their second consecutive 10-win season behind quarterback  C.J. Stroud and second-year coach DeMeco Ryans.

The Texans-Chiefs game will be available to watch on NBC. Football fans who watch on mobile devices can stream the game for free on Twitch (here’s how).

Noah Eagle (play-by-play) and Todd Blackledge (analyst) will serve in the broadcast booth with Kathryn Tappen reporting from the sideline.

On the radio, the game will be nationally broadcast on Westwood One and broadcast locally on SportsRadio 610

Since the game is on national television, everyone can watch the game. Here’s a map of the major broadcast locations.

The Chiefs lead the all-time series against the Texans. Houston enters as a 3-point road underdog.

The Texans have already clinched the AFC South, but could secure a top-three seed in the AFC with a win and a Pittsburgh Steelers loss.

Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Derek Stingley Jr. helped the Houston Texans win the AFC South and could be on his way to securing Defensive Player of the Month honors.

Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. proved on Sunday that he’s possibly the league’s top defensive back in man coverage.

The NFL tends to agree with that statement heading into Saturday’s showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Stingley was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his two-interception performance that helped the Houston Texans capture their second consecutive AFC South Division Championship.

This marks the second time Stingley has won the award since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2022.

“Stingley has been impactful throughout the entire year. I think for the past three wins, he’s been our defensive player of the game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “So, when he’s making impact plays, it’s putting us in position to win football games.”

In Week 15’s 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins, Stingley notched five tackles, including two for loss, two interceptions and two pass breakups. He also secured the victory with a game-sealing interception against Tua Tagovailoa while in man coverage against All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill.

Stingley led the NFL in interceptions for the week while his two tackles for loss also paced the league for defensive backs.

He became the first cornerback in NFL history to record two interceptions and two tackles for loss in a single game.

With his two interceptions, Stingley became one-of-two players in the NFL this season to record multiple interceptions in the fourth quarter of a game.

“All-Pro Sting,” safety Calen Bullock said following the game. “I’ve been calling him that since camp. And I think he’s gonna go get it.”

In 15 games, Stingley has tallied a career-high 46 tackles, four tackles for loss, five interceptions and 17 passes defended. He’s also recorded a franchise-record six interceptions in the month of December despite missing the entire month due to injury in his rookie campaign.

Derek Stingley Jr. helped the Houston Texans win the AFC South and could be on his way to securing Defensive Player of the Month honors.

The accolade marks the 61st time a Texan has been named Player of the Week and the 22nd time a defensive player claimed the award.


Stingley joins running back Joe Mixon, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and defensive end Will Anderson Jr, as Texans players to win Player of the Week honors in 2024.

Ryans, who handed him the game ball following Sunday’s performances, wants more from the league before the season ends.

“He better be the Defensive Player of the Month,” Ryans said to the locker room postgame

Could Stefon Diggs return to the Texans in 2024?

Four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs very well could head back to Houston for the 2025 season with the Texans.

Stefon Diggs might be out of sight, but the Houston Texans are on his mind following their 20-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

He also is thinking about a potential reunion in 2025.

Diggs, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts, told NFL Network’s Good Morning Football Crew Tuesday that “everything is good” with his recovery. He’s expected to be ready to go for the start of the 2025 season after a few more months of rehabilitation.

“It’s been a long road,” Diggs said. “I just took it day by day. It was tough in the beginning definitely, not being mobile, not being able to move around. But the more I get my two feet back, I’m just super blessed. I’m in a good spot.”

Diggs also mentioned the idea of returning to Houston for a second season, stating that with the path the team is headed on, he’d be “excited” to return for another year after an abrupt end.

“I don’t know what the future holds but I definitely got a home in Houston, and I love those guys over there,” Diggs said. “They’re good people.”

After joining the Texans following four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Diggs was on pace for another promising season as C.J. Stroud’s top target. Before suffering the injury, he had 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in what could be his lone year with the Texans.

While signed to a long-term deal with the Bills, Houston restructured Diggs’ contract to a one-year deal after acquiring him for a 2025 second-round pick in April, allowing him to become a free agent after the regular season.

Before the injury, Diggs mentioned that Houston made him feel like there was something special in the works. The impact felt around the locker room helped him play better during his eight seasons.

“I knew them before like they were relatives of mine,” Diggs said. “Going into this season, it was just so much fun. I woke up every day with a smile.”

Since the injury, Diggs said he’s been away from the team but plans to be in the building for Houston’s Christmas Day game against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I’m extremely excited, and hopefully everything’s in a good spot,” Diggs said. “I can’t wait to see (my teammates), it’s been a while.”

The Texans (9-5) hit the road this weekend after clinching the AFC South to take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadiunm. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Analysis: Texans inch closer to division title with win over Dolphins

The Houston Texans are a victory away from back-to-back 10-win seasons following Sunday’s outing against the Miami Dolphins.

The Houston Texans did their job. Will the Denver Broncos help them out?

Nico Collins caught two touchdown passes from C.J. Stroud while the Texans’ defense forced four turnovers, including two fourth-quarter interceptions by Derek Stingley, to secure a 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

“Stingley is playing just unbelievable football right now,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.

Should the Broncos beat the Colts out west, Houston would secure its second division title under Ryans in as many years.

Stingley. who could be the dark horse to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honors, iced the game with 1:23 remaining with a pick against Tua Tagovailoa on a pass intended for Tyreek Hill.

Earlier in the game. Houston capitalized on another Tagovailoa turnover, this time caused by a stip-sack from Will Anderson Jr. Tim Settle recovered the ball and returned it to the Miami 26. Four plays later, Stroud connected with Collins for a 6-yard score.

The duo would find the end zone again with 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter after Dare Ogunbowale picked up 35 yards on a fake punt.

Stroud threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He also finished with a 106.6 passer rating, a season-best since Week 6’s win over the New England Patriots.

Houston’s ground game was limited behind Joe Mixon being shaken up by a hard hit during the second quarter. He finished with 23 rushing yards, but led the offense with five receptions for 33 yards.

Tagovailoa tried to lead a comeback down by 14 thanks to an 11-play, 73-yard drive capped off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith on fourth down. Miami could have been within a touchdown, but Jason Sanders’ kick went wide left, leading to an 8-point margin.

Two late interceptions sealed the deal for Tagovailoa, who was credited with a season-high four turnovers. Miami (6-8) played without starting tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm. Tagovailoa threw for 196 yards, 143 of which came in the second half.

A scare occurred midway through the third quarter as Dolphins Grant DuBose was carted off after colliding with rookie defensive back Calen Bullock. Tagovailoa tried to lead DuBose out, but the receiver’s head violently hit the turf.

“There’s been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “He will stay here overnight, and we’ll find out more by (Monday).”

Bullock was given a flag for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver on the play.

DuBose remained on the field for more than 10 minutes. Emergency medical assistance from trained personnel was required, which resulted in them having to cut off his jersey and a neck brace was put on him while he was taken to an ambulance.

The team said he was in stable condition and being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Danielle Hunter inched closer to making league history with his 1.5-sack performance. He needs a half-sack from now until the end of the regular season to join the 100-career club before the end of the regular season.

Injuries

Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and didn’t return.

Texans tight end Cade Stover was ruled out before kickoff after having an emergency appendectomy Saturday night.

Texans defensive Foley Fatukasi injured an ankle in the second quarter and did not return.

Stat of the Game

Once the Texans moved Stingley over to covering All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill, the game was close to over. The third-year defensive back limited Hill to one catch for 15 yards.

For the afternoon, Hill finished with two receptions for 36 yards.

“It’s a good opportunity going against somebody that’s the face of the NFL,” Stingley said. “So anytime you get to go out there on the field, it’s just a good time, just time to have fun.”

Up Next

The Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City might be short-handed without star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is considered week-to-week after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday’s win against the Cleveland Browns.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

How to watch Dolphins vs Texans today: Time, TV channel for Week 15

Here’s everything you need to know about the Texans vs. Dolphins heading into Sunday’s game at NRG Stadium.

Coming off the bye week, the Houston Texans remain ahead by two games over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South standings. With a win in Week 15, Houston could put the Colts’ playoff chances on life support.

Standing between a Texans’ division title and a home playoff game is the Miami Dolphins, the first of a challenging trio they’ll face over the next 11 days. Miami’s offense remains hot and the backbone of the roster, winning four of its last five games, including Week 14’s overtime victory.

After starting the year 6-2, the Texans have stumbled in recent weeks, with only two wins in their last five outings. Injuries have contributed to the speed bump, but Houston enters Week 15 after spending last weekend on a bye.

Should the Texans win, they would need a Colts loss to clinch the division. With both teams winning, they’d need a victory over the Chiefs to secure a playoff berth. And the betting odds bode well for Houston, which has a 96% playoff percentage entering Week 15.

Here’s how to watch the Texans game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

What channel is Dolphins vs Texans game on today? Time, TV schedule

TV Channel: CBS

Start time: noon CT.

Dolphins vs. Texans will broadcast regionally on CBS in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season. Kevin Harlan and Trent Green will call the game from the booth at NRG Stadium, with Melanie Collins reporting from the sidelines.

Where to watch Dolphins vs Texans on livestream

Streaming options for the game include FUBO and Paramount+:

For FUBO:

Watch Dolphins vs Texans live on Fubo

For Paramount+:

Watch Dolphins vs Texans live on Paramount+

Dolphins vs Texans predictions, picks, odds

Dolphins 30, Texans 20:Tua and the Dolphins’ offense are red hot heading down the stretch. Jonnu Smith has become an X-factor in the red zone and the run game remains potent. This is a Miami roster that’s won four of its last five games can nearly came back down by three scores against the Packers in frozen conditions of Green Bay.

Even though Miami has struggled to play in the cold under Tua in the past, turning the AC units down won’t be enough to slow down the AFC’s sneakiest dark horse. Add in the loss of Jalen Pitre and Azeez Al-Shaair, perhaps this game gets out of hand early at home.

ODDS: Texans by 3

O/U: 45.5

All NFL Odds via BetMGM.

Texans schedule

  • Week 1: at Indianapolis (W, 29-27)
  • Week 2: Chicago (W, 19-13)
  • Week 3: at Minnesota (L, 34-7)
  • Week 4: Jacksonville (W, 24-20)
  • Week 5: Buffalo (W, 23-20)
  • Week 6: at New England (W, 41-21)
  • Week 7: at Green Bay (L, 24-22)
  • Week 8: Indianapolis (W, 23-20)
  • Week 9: at New York Jets (L, 21-13)
  • Week 10: Detroit (L, 26-23)
  • Week 11: at Dallas (W, 34-10)
  • Week 12: Tennessee (L, 32-27)
  • Week 13: at Jacksonville (W, 23-20)
  • Week 14: Bye
  • Dec. 15: Miami
  • Dec. 21: at Kansas City
  • Dec. 25: Baltimore
  • Jan. 5: at Tennessee
  • Record: 8-5

Dolphins schedule

  • Week 1: Jacksonville (W, 20-17)
  • Week 2: Buffalo (L, 31-10)
  • Week 3: at Seattle (L, 24-3)
  • Week 4: Tennessee (L, 31-12)
  • Week 5: at New England (W, 15-10)
  • Week 6: Bye
  • Week 7: at Indianapolis (L, 16-10)
  • Week 8: Arizona (L, 28-27)
  • Week 9: at Buffalo (L, 30-27)
  • Week 10: at Los Angeles Rams (W, 23-15)
  • Week 11: Las Vegas (W, 34-19)
  • Week 12: New England (W, 34-15)
  • Week 13: at Green Bay (L, 30-17)
  • Week 14: New York Jets (W, 32-26)
  • Dec. 15: at Houston
  • Dec. 22: San Francisco
  • Dec. 29: at Cleveland
  • Jan. 5: at New York Jets
  • Record: 6-7

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Texans elevate former starting tight end from practice squad to game-day roster

The Houston Texans are adding another player from the practice squad for Sunday’s contest.

The Houston Texans are calling up reinforcements from the practice squad ahead of their Week 15 showdown with the Miami Dolphins.

The Texans elevated tight end Irv Smith Jr. to the game-day roster, the team announced Saturday. They will revert back to the practice squad on Tuesday.

For his career, Smith has 109 career receptions in the NFL for 973 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Last season with the Cincinnati Bengals, he caught 18 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown last season in 12 games.

Players can be elevated up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This marks Smith’s second elevation since being picked up off waivers last month.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). Playing at home, the Texans are considered favorites against the Dolphins.

With a win and an Indianapolis Colts loss, Houston would clinch the AFC South title for a second consecutive season.

Texans get back LB Christian Harris for postseason push

Linebacker Christian Harris is back for the Houston Texans.

Christian Harris is officially back for the Houston Texans.

The Texans added the third-year linebacker back to the active roster after clearing him off the injured reserve earlier this week. He’ll take the roster spot of defensive back Jalen Pitre, who will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a chest injury in Week 12.

Harris, who finished second with 101 tackles for the Texans in 2023, has been on injured reserve since training camp with a calf injury. He’s nearly worked his way back twice but suffered setbacks that led to Houston being cautious with his recovery time.

Expectations around the locker room have been that he’ll play on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. While listed as questionable, removal from the injured reserve is a sign that he’s likely trending toward playing.

“I don’t know how they’re gonna play it in terms of a snap count,” Texans running back Joe Mixon told reporters earlier this week. “But I know for a fact, when he enters, he’s gonna give us 1,000 percent. I think it’s gonna be a great uplift for the defense.”

Harris’ return should be a big lift, especially with fellow linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair suspended for the next three games. The Texans have also been short-handed at the linebacker spot multiple times this season and can’t afford to not have someone covering Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith.

Kickoff from NRG Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.