Tag: Texans 2024 Season

Texans vs. Jaguars: RB Joe Mixon ruled out against Jaguars

The Houston Texans will be without their top running back, Joe Mixon, against the Jacksonville Jaguars as he rehabs his ankle injury.

For the second straight week Cam Akers will be the Houston Texans leading running back. Already without backup Dameon Pierce, Houston ruled out Joe Mixon with a sprained ankle.

Mixon returned to practice on Friday, sparking some optimism he may return. He arrived on Sunday as a game time decision, but will not be on the field as he continues to rehab the ankle injury he sustained in Week 2.

The former Pro Bowl running back left early in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears after linebacker T.J. Edwards committed what appeared to be a hip drop tackle, which was banned by the league in the offseason. Edwards received a $16,883 fine for the play.

Mixon rushed for a team-high 184 yards in the first two weeks, including a 159-yard debut in the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Since the Texans 213 yards in Week 1, they’ve totaled just 113 on the ground.

Akers will assume lead back duties again, after rushing for 21 yards on nine attempts. Akers is in first season with Houston after previous stints with the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings.

Houston also elevated running back J.J. Taylor from the practice squad to provide more depth behind Akers and passing down back Dare Ogunbowale.

Mixon and Tank Dell are two of the offensive weapons missing for quarterback C.J. Stroud, who will attempt to lift the unit after scoring just seven points a week ago.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud gives praise to winless Jaguars team

Despite being 0-3, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud isn’t taking the Jacksonville Jaguars lightly this week.

The Jacksonville Jaguars head to Houston winless after an embarrassing 47-10 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud isn’t taking the AFC South foe lightly headed into Week 4.

“They were doing really well against Miami, really had that game in the bag,” Stroud said Wednesday. “Then same thing with Cleveland, played them really tough. Then of course kind of had a little off day against Buffalo. I don’t think their record speaks for what type of football team they are.”

Houston (2-1) suffered its first loss in a 34-7 blowout against the Minnesota Vikings. The offensive line struggled to avoid the penalties, but Stroud never got in a rhythm passing, tossing two interceptions that eventually led to scoring drives.

Houston’s yet to cover the spread despite being favored in all three games. Running backs Dameon Pierce and Joe Mixon could be out Sunday. The same goes for Tank Dell, who left early in Sunday’s loss with what is being ruled a chest injury.

Dell terrorized the Jaguars last season, hauling in 10 passes for 195 yards and two TDs in two games. His absence could lead to more struggles through the air while facing a potent pass rush headlined by Josh Hines-Allen.

“They have a really great D-line starting with Josh Hines-Allen and (Arik) Armstead, and ‘44’ (Trevon Walker) on the other side. [Andre] Cisco is playing good ball, five, getting coached really well,” Stroud said. “So another great defense we have to play against and we have to be on our A game. I definitely don’t think their record shows exactly what they put on film.”

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans vs. Vikings: RB Cam Akers makes first start since 2023

For the first time in over a year, Houston Texans running back Cam Akers is starting a football game.

For the first time since Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, Cam Akers is starting at running back.

The best part? It’s against his former team.

With the Houston Texans down two running backs, Akers started the game behind C.J. Stroud at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Minnesota Vikings. 

After a promising preseason, Akers proved he could still have value as a secondary runner despite coming off a torn Achilles. He led the Texans in rushing yards and scored a pair of touchdowns as the team’s top back against the Los Angeles Rams.

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After starting with Los Angeles in 2023, Akers was traded to the Vikings. He was in a groove as the No. 2 option before suffering a second torn Achilles on November 5.

Earlier this week, Akers said he was ready to start if given the opportunity.

“You don’t got to get ready when you stay ready,” Akers told reporters. “I’ve been preparing for this moment, and I’m ready for it. I’m ready to take advantage.”

The Texans are looking for their first start since 2012 and their first win over the Vikings in franchise history.

Texans HC DeMeco Ryans provides update on RB Joe Mixon following potential hip-tackle

DeMeco Ryans said he would have to check the tape to see if Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards performed a hip tackle against Joe Mixon in Sunday’s win.

Joe Mixon’s season likely isn’t over, but the Houston Texans leading rusher is upset with how his night nearly ended against the Chicago Bears.

The star running back injured his ankle with 11:57 left in the third quarter after a potential illegal hip-drop tackle from Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards. Mixon caught a pass from C.J. Stroud and tried to head out of bounds to stop the clock.

Edwards wrapped him up, then rotated his hips, dropping all his weight onto the legs of Mixon, who had his right ankle caught up under Edwards’ body weight. The NFL approved a rule proposal to ban the swivel hip-drop tackle that has caused mainly lower leg injuries in recent years.

Officials did not penalize Edwards as Mixon got up limping and hobbled to the sideline before entering the medical blue tent. He went to the locker room for further treatment on the ankle before returning late in the fourth quarter.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the play “didn’t look good” from his view but that he would have to see the film evaluate the hit. If Edwards had been flagged, the Texans would have gained 15 yards and a first down en route to a 19-13 win on Sunday Night Football.

“Joe got rolled up. The guy’s weight definitely came down on his ankle,” Ryans said. “We’ll evaluate Joe throughout the week. Hopefully he’s OK.”

Mixon, who last week rushed for an NFL-leading 159 yards, only totaled one carry for seven yards after returning. He finished the night with nine carries for 25 yards.

After the game, Mixon elected not to speak to reporters but did vent his frustrations on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Pro Bowl runner said he asked the referee about the tackle at the moment before heading to the sidelines.

The answer was not what he expected.

“When I got up, I asked the ref where is the flag, that was a hip tackle. & his reply was, no it wasn’t,” Mixon posted.

Mixon, who signed a three-year extension worth $27 million this offseason, is the bellcow back for Houston. Cam Akers finished with a team-high 32 rushing yards but also coughed up the football at the 1-yard line.

“I really didn’t notice (the tackle),” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said of the hit. “I saw him kind of just fall down weird. I was like, ‘Man, that didn’t look good.’ So, I definitely am praying for him.”

Right now, Mixon’s status remains in jeopardy entering Week 3’s road test against an undefeated Minnesota Vikings roster.

“I know he’s a tough guy,” Stroud said. “Just take care of himself right now. Hope he’s back on the field soon.”

Watch: Texans rookie CB Kamari Lassiter records first NFL interception

Houston Texans 2024 second-round pick Kamari Lassiter recorded his first interception in the NFL a series after Derek Stingley Jr. added one

First, Derek Stingley Jr.

Now Kamari Lassiter.

Both Houston Texans cornerbacks can say they’ve intercepted No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams on primetime television.

The Bears’ rookie quarterback escaped a sack from Danielle Hunter but tried to do too much and underthrew a pass intended for Rome Odunze. Lassiter, the Texans’ second-round pick out of Georgia, intercepted the pass for his career pick in the pros.

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Nicknamed ‘Locksmith,’ Lassiter had an interception erased earlier in the game by a defensive holding penalty. His pick was the second straight Chicago drive that ended in turnover.

The Texans secondary, which allowed three 50-yard completions a week ago, has kept Chicago’s passing attack in check for most of the evening.

The pair of interceptions bring Houston’s season total to three. Lassiter also is the second member of the Texans’ rookie class to create a turnover, joining third-round safety Calen Bullock.

Texans provide injury update on RB Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon is currently dealing with an ankle injury suffered during the third quarter against the Chicago Bears.

While the Houston Texans lead, they might have lost a key offensive weapon.

Running back Joe Mixon is questionable to return with an ankle injury against the Chicago Bears. The Texans likely rest him for the rest of the evening knowing his value for the remainder of the season.

https://twitter.com/HoustonTexans/status/1835507250594566554

Acquired from the Cincinnati Bengals in the offseason, Mixon caught a pass from C.J. Stroud and headed toward the sideline. Following the tackle, he was slow to get up but was able to limp his way back to the sidelines.

It looked like a hip drop tackle from the defensive back, but nothing was called by the officials. Mixon was first evaluated in the blue tent and then later walked back to the locker room.

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Last week in a 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Mixon led the NFL with 159 rushing yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. Through two-plus quarters, Mixon has 20 yards off seven carries.

If Mixon doesn’t return, the Texans will turn to Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale for the rest of the evening.

UPDATE: Mixon has returned to the game after further evalution from the medical staff. 

Watch: Texans WR Nico Collins scores first TD of season against Bears

Nico Collins is a man on a mission to be the NFL’s top receiver against the Chicago Bears.

It’s best not to make Nico Collins angry.

You won’t like him when he’s angry.

Well, you’ll him if you’re a Houston Texans fan.

Collins, who last week led the Texans with 117 receiving yards, pulverized three Chicago Bears defensive backs on his way to the end zone for  a 28-yard touchdown at NRG Stadium.

The Texans broke a 3-3 tie thanks to the score.

https://twitter.com/HoustonTexans/status/1835482326920269849

Collins, one of the more mild-mannered players in the Texans’ locker room, started getting aggressive with Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson during the end of the first quarter and was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty. S

Stevenson, who last week won NFC Defensive Player of the Week, shoved his finger through the helmet into Collins’ face. The fourth-year pro then slapped him in the helmet, leading to the flag.

That was Stevenson’s first mistake. The second? Lining up against him on the next play.

C.J. Stroud wasted little time finding Collins across the middle of the field for a first down. After that, the 6-foot-4 receiver broke through tackles from Kevin Byard and Jaylon Johnson for the score.

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Next time, let Collins keep his composure. He just signed a three-year, $72.5 million extension and plans to be the No. 1 target in Houston as the new version of Andre Johnson.

Texans HC DeMeco Ryans, C.J. Stroud praise Bears’ secondary ahead of Sunday Night Football

DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud both were impressed with the second-half performance Chicago put on against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1.

If the Houston Texans can’t jump out to an early lead on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears, they could be in for a dogfight late.

That was the case for fellow AFC South roster Tennessee in a Week 1 24-17 loss at Soldier Field. Don’t let the scoreboard fool you, the Titans were up 17-3 at halftime before chaos ensued in the third quarter.

A blocked punt from former Texans standout Jonathan Owens led to a 21-yard touchdown. Second-year quarterback Will Levis threw a distasteful pass that was inter Tyrique Stevenson for a 43-yard pick.

Cario Santos drilled two fields to tack on six points while Levis heaved a late pass to Tyler Boyd that was picked off by Jaylon Johnson with 1:15 remaining.

So while Caleb Williams’ numbers looked pedestrian, it’s clear the defense and special teams can carry the load until the No. 1 overall pick becomes comfortable.

“They take the ball away,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wedensday of Chicago’s pass coverage. “It’s really impressive the way they attack the football, both of their corners last week ended up with picks, to game-changing plays to give them the lead there and to end the game. So, we have to understand that those guys are ball hawks and we have to protect the football so that’s what they present.”

The Bears allowed one touchdown in coverage but also held Tennessee to just 127 yards passing. It’s a credit to the pass rush forcing Levis to play uncomfortably.

On the pick-six, Levis tried to reset the play by chucking the ball out of bounds with DeMarcus Walker about to finish the sack. Instead, Stevenson grabbed it and ran it back for an easy score.

The Texans must prepare to defend C.J. Stroud against a violent front seven headlined by former Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat. In Sunday’s 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Houston’s offensive line allowed four sacks and 10 quarterback hits.

Stroud, who finished  24-of-32 passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns, also threw two interceptions under pressure to Kenny Moore and JuJu Brents, though both were overturned. Moore was flagged with a holding call while Brents failed to keep his feet inbounds on the opening drive of the third quarter.

“We’ve got to be cognizant of that and know that you’ve got to be careful with the ball because they won the game, pretty much, on defense last week,” Stroud said. “So, definitely a great defense. A lot of respect for those guys and can’t wait to compete against them.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. at NRG Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Texans-Colts Week 1: Offense, defense and special teams snap counts

Here’s the total snap count for the Houston Texans in their Week 1 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

The Houston Texans bested the Indianapolis Colts, 29-27, on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, improving to 1-0 on the year.

Behind a 159-yard performance from Joe Mixon, the Texans dominated on offense. They held the ball for 40 minutes and nearly 25 minutes in the second half.

Stefon Diggs made his presence felt with six catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns. Nico Collins picked up his third 100-yard performance against Indianapolis in two years, along with six receptions.

The defense wasn’t perfect, but it managed to pressure Anthony Ricardson into making mistakes. Calen Bullock recorded his first career interception. Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards Jr. each totaled a sack.

Here are the snap counts for every player that contributed to the Texans’ Week 1 win.

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Offensive snaps: 80
Defensive snaps: 45
Special teams snaps: 19

It was an overall solid snap spread for the Texans’ roster with just about every healthy body getting field time. The starting five offensive linemen saw all 80 snaps. Collins, who finished with a team-leading 117 yards, finished with the most snaps among the skill players at 64.

Jimmie Ward and Azeez Al-Shaair lived up to their captain persona, playing all 45 snaps. Rookie Kamari Lassiter also didn’t miss a rep when playing in coverage. Bullock and veteran Eric Murray each saw 25 reps at safety.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium for the home opener against the Chicago Bears this Sunday at 7:20 p.m. It marks the first primetime game for Houston since its Thursday Night showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9 back in 2022.

Instant analysis: Newcomers shine for Texans in 29-27 win over Colts

Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs shined in their debut with the Houston Texans en route to a win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon feel right at home in Houston.

Mixon rushed for 159 yards and scored a 3-yard touchdown as the Houston Texans secured a 29-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Diggs finished with a team-leading six catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 3-yard score in the fourth quarter.

The Texans wanted to build around reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud while still on his cost-friendly contract. Mixon, who spent the past seven years with the Cincinnati Bengals, inked a three-year deal worth $27 million this offseason.

Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl receiver with the Buffalo Bills, was looking for a change of scenery after tensions rose following four playoff exits.
Stroud completed 24 of 32 pass attempts for 234 yards.

Six of those passes went to Nico Collins, who finished with a team-leading 117 receiving yards on six receptions.

Collins, who last season totaled 195 yards in the Week 18 division-clinching win, helped set the tone in the second quarter with a 56-yard reception, pushing Houston into Indianapolis territory. Diggs, who became the eighth active receiver to surpass 10,000 career receiving yards in the first quarter, secured his first touchdown with a 9-yard reception.

Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson nearly wielded the Colts to victory in his first game back since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury last October. Combined with a blend of mobility and deep ball accuracy, the former No. 4 overall pick finished with 212 passing yards, 56 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns.

Both teams were aggressive in the fourth quarter to secure a division-defining win. On fourth-and-goal, Stroud found Diggs for a score to extend Houston’s lead to nine.

Richardson, who connected with Alec Pierce for a 57-yard completion on the ensuing drive, kept it himself on fourth-and-goal for a 3-yard touchdown run.

Mixon, who became the first Texans’ running back since Dameon Pierce in 2022 to rush for 100 yards in a single game, secured the win on a 9-yard run on third-and-short. Stroud might have done most of the heavy lifting for a 12-yard competition to Collins on a 3rd-and-11 near the sidelines.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium for their home opener against the Chicago Bears next Sunday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m.