Tag: Texans 2024

Lions add new DE before Week 10 matchup vs. Texans

The Detriot Lions are adding in a defensive end just in time to face off against the Houston Texans in Week 10 on Sunday Night Football.

The Houston Texans must prepare for the Detroit Lions, but must also study some Cleveland Browns’ defensive line tape.

The Lions acquired Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the AFC North franchise early Tuesday morning, adding a veteran pass rusher to their defense just a few hours before the 3 p.m. 2024 NFL trade deadline.

Smith, who’s racked up five sacks in nine games this season, is expected to be good to go when the Lions (7-1) take on the Texans (6-3) on Sunday Night Football in Week 10.

Smith, 32, has been a constant No. 2 option in the pass-rushing department over his decade in the Pros. The three-time Pro Bowler has 65 career sacks over the past 10 seasons with the Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens.

Houston’s offensive line should at least know what to expect from Smith since Laremy Tunsil, Juice Scruggs and Shaq Mason went head-to-head with him twice down the stretch last season, including in the AFC Wild Card Round. Smith recorded two sacks on Christmas Eve against Case Keenum in the Browns’ 36-22 win during the regular season.

The Texans had the last laugh after taking him out of the game in a 45-14 win the following month in the wild-card matchup at home.

The Lions, winners of six straight and NFC favorites, have struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks since Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg in a Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Hutchinson was the star player, but not the only defender to sustain a season-ending injury, as fellow edge rusher Marcus Davenport suffered a knee injury last month. Detriot has recorded five other quarterback hits by defensive linemen in the past two games.

Houston’s offensive line could be in trouble if Smith starts hot. The Texans have allowed the second-most sacks (31) and the fourth-most pressures (89) through nine games this season.

“We have to be at our best at all times,” offensive lineman Tytus Howard said Monday. “We see everybody and hear everybody talk. We just have to be better because, at the end of the day, if we do our job, they don’t any reason to be talking about us.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. made a case to win Defensive Player of the Year for his performance in the month of October.

Another week, another accolade for Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

The second year pass-rusher was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month Thursday, the league office announced prior to Houston’s matchup against the New York Jets.

This marks the first time Anderson has earned Player of the Month honors. The former No. 3 overall pick has been the defensive back toward a 3-1 record during the month of October and 6-2 overall, the team’s best start since 2012.

Entering Thursday’s game, Anderson recorded 17 tackles, including an NFL-leading seven for loss. He’s also accumulated five sacks, one pass defensed that resulted in an interception and one fumble recovery that sealed a victory.

His sacks led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL during October, while also recording 12 stops at or behind the line of scrimmage, the second-most in the NFL.

Drafted out of Alabama in 2023, Anderson  has recorded at least one sack in the last three contests, just one-of-eight players to do so across the league this year. His magic month is highlighted by a Week 6 performance that featured four tackles for loss, a career-high three sacks and a pass defensed that was deflected to his teammate for an interception.

Anderson’s career day concluded with him being honored as AFC Defensive Player of the Week after becoming just the 12th player in NFL history to record at least five tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and one pass defensed in a game.

Through eight games, Anderson has a career-high 7.5 sacks and also leads the NFL with 11 tackles for loss.

This marks the 20th time a Texan has been honored as player of the month and the first time a defensive player has garnered the award since J.J. Watt claimed the nod in September of 2018.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Detroit Lions on Nov. 10 as the primetime game on Sunday Night Football.

Will Henry To’oTo’o play today? Latest injury updates for Texans LB

Houston Texans LB Henry To’oTo’o has been dealing with a concussion. Here are the latest updates entering Thursday night.

With the Houston Texans on a short week, current injured players might be out again if not fully cleared.

That might not be the case for second-year linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, who suffered a concussion earlier this month but returned to practice last week.

He was a last-second inactive for Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts and could have played if the team was desperate. 

Will Al-Shaair suit up on “Thursday Night Football” when the Texans take on the New York Jets? Here’s what happened and his current status entering Thursday morning.

Henry To’To’o injury update

To’oTo’o suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter of Week 6’s win over the New England Patriots. He didn’t practice before Week 7’s loss against the Green Bay Packers and was limited last week.

The former Alabama star practiced on Wednesday last week but then missed Thursday’s drills for further evaluation. To’o’To’o returned on Friday and was listed as questionable on the final injury report. 

To’oTo’o was a full participant in drills this past week and cleared the protocol. He plans on playing Thursday night and is excited to return to the starting lineup after having to watch the Texans go 1-1 without him.

“I’m excited,” To’oTo’o said. That’s my biggest thing. I’m just so excited to be able to play the game. I love it and also to be out with the guys that you work so hard with every single day. I’m excited. I’m juiced up and ready to go.”

Fellow linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair did practice on Tuesday, but the Texans ruled him out once more. He will miss his third consecutive game as Houston looks to improve to 7-2 to close out the month of October.

Henry To’To’o stats

Through six games, To’oTo’o leads the Texans with 46 tackles. He’s also recorded two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup. 

Texans LB depth chart

With Al-Shaair out, Texans must decide who will line up next to To’oTo’o as the team’s MIKE linebacker.

Here’s the rest of the linebackers on the active roster:

  • Neville Hewitt
  • Jake Hansen
  • Devin White
  • Jamal Hill
  • Del’Shawn Phillips

Hewitt and Hansen rotated in last week and likely will do the same opposite To’oTo’o. Hewitt, best known as a special teams ace, has been the team’s top tackler over the previous two games. He finished with 15 total stops against the Patriots and Packers, respectively. 

White, a former first-round pick in 2019, isn’t expected to start but could see prominent reps as the No. 3 option. Last week against the Colts, he recorded three tackles.

Last season with the Buccaneers, White had 83 tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions. 

Will Jarrett Patterson play today vs. Jets? Injury updates for Texans OL

Houston Texans OL Jarrett Patterson is dealing with a concussion entering Thursday’s game against the New York Jets. Here are the latest updates.

With the Houston Texans on a short week, current injured players might be out again if not fully cleared. 

That seems to be the case for second-year offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson, who suffered a concussion during Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts. 

Will Patterson suit up on “Thursday Night Football” when the Texans take on the New York Jets? Here’s what happened and his current status entering Thursday morning.

 Jarrett Patterson injury update

Patterson, who replaced former first-round pick Kenyon Green, suffered a concussion during the second quarter when he set up a block for Joe Mixon’s 14-yard touchdown run. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that the former Notre Dame offensive lineman was in the concussion protocol. 

“Jarrett did a really nice job when he went in and had some good plays,” Ryans said. “Unfortunately, he was out and Kenyon was back in.”

The Texans ruled out Patterson as he remains in concussion protocol. He did not practice this week and will not be able to return until cleared by the team’s medical staff. 

How long will Jarrett Patterson be out?

For now, Patterson might only miss Thursday’s game. The Texans play next Sunday night, so Houston will have nearly 10 days to evaluate him before deciding on his immediate status. 

Green, who improved when he returned to the starting lineup, likely will start for the ninth consecutive game, though the Texans could also turn to veteran Kendrick Green if he struggles. 

Jarrett Patterson stats

Patterson started last season at left guard after Green was ruled out with a season-ending shoulder injury. He suffered a knee injury in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers and was placed on the injured reserve. 

Texans OL depth chart

The Texans should feel good about their depth on the offensive line, but questions start when asked who can thrive in first-team reps. Here’s the rest of the interior offensive linemen on the active roster:

  • Kenyon Green
  • Kendrick Green
  • Nick Broeker

Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT.

All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including C.J. Stroud) ranked by Total QBR entering Week 9

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud remains one of the top passers in QBR rankings entering Week 9.

Houston Texans second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud wasn’t perfect in Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, but he did enough to impress the QBR pundits. 

The former Offensive Rookie of the Year completed 25-of-37 pass attempts for 285 yards and a touchdown pass in the second quarter. He completed 66.7% of his throws and connected on four balls over 15 yards downfield. 

With that overall solid performance, Stroud remained idle at No. 12 in ESPN’s Total QBR rankings this week. ESPN gave Stroud a 60.2 QBR rating against Indianapolis, which is the middle of the pack for the 2024 season. 

Stroud’s traditional passer rating against the Colts was 99.5, which marked the fourth-highest rating of the season. He posted a 115.9 rating in a 29-27 win over Indianapolis in Week 1’s victory.  

The Total QBR differs from the traditional passer rating. According to ESPN, the QBR “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties.”

The metric also considers scenarios that a traditional passer rating overlooks and  looks at “a team’s level of success or failure on every play to provide the proper context and then allocates credit to the quarterback and his teammate to produce a clearer measure of quarterback efficiency.”

Through eight games, Stroud’s thrown four interceptions and been sacked 23 times. Two turnovers came in the 34-7 loss against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3.

Here’s a look at where Stroud stacks up against the NFL’s other starting quarterbacks entering Week 8 when it comes to QBR.

NFL QBs ranked by Total QBR before Week 9

  1. Joe Burrow: 75.4
  2. Lamar Jackson: 74.9
  3. Kyler Murray: 74.4
  4. Josh Allen: 73.7
  5. Jayden Daniels: 73.7
  6. Jalen Hurts: 69.3
  7. Patrick Mahomes: 67.0
  8. Trevor Lawrence: 65.7
  9. Brock Purdy: 62.4
  10. Kirk Cousins:  61.4
  11. Matthew Stafford: 61.4
  12. C.J. Stroud: 60.2
  13. Sam Darnold: 58.7
  14. Geno Smith:  57.3
  15. Justin Herbert: 56.0
  16. Baker Mayfield: 55.8
  17. Jordan Love: 55.6
  18. Andy Dalton: 54.9
  19. Justin Fields: 53.6
  20. Bo Nix: 53.6
  21. Jared Goff: 52.8
  22. Aaron Rodgers: 50.4
  23. Dak Prescott: 47.5
  24. Caleb Williams: 45.8
  25. Jacoby Brissett: 44.7
  26. Daniel Jones: 44.6
  27. Anthony Richardson: 38.4
  28. Gardner Minshew: 38.1
  29. Will Levis: 26.0
  30. Deshaun Watson: 22.8

Stroud and the Texans will take on the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football at MetLife Stadium at 7:15 p.m. CT.

Where the Texans rank statistically heading into Week 9

Here’s where the Houston Texans stack up in every category entering Week 9’s showdown against the New York Jets.

The Houston Texans (6-2) will battle the New York  Jets (2-6) in Week 9 on “Thursday Night Football” for bragging rights in the AFC.

The Texans are coming off a 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but lost a vital player in the process. Two-time All-Pro Stefon Diggs suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact play in the third quarter and will miss the remainder of the year.

While Diggs is expected to make a full recovery, he’s also a free agent. The Texans are also down top target Nico Collins for at least another week since he isn’t eligible to come off the injured reserve yet.

With Week 9 set to begin, how do the Texans compare to the rest of the NFL this season? Looking at the major metrics (courtesy of Team Rankings, ESPN, The Football Database and StatMuse), here is where Houston ranked following Week 8:

Texans officially place WR Stefon Diggs on season-ending injured reserve

Stefon Diggs’ season with the Houston Texans has come to an end after suffering a torn ACL in Week 8.

Stefon Diggs’ season is officially over.

The Houston Texans placed the four-time Pro Bowler on the reserve/injured reserve Tuesday after suffering a torn ACL during Sunday’s win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Diggs, who will be a free agent at the end of the regular season, is expected to make a full recovery and play in 2025.

“He’s been such an important part to our team and everything that he brought, not only on the field, but off the field. The energy, the leader, the way he worked every single day,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday. “Have to pick up the slack. A lot of guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Definitely praying for him.”

Acquired this offseason from the Buffalo Bills, Diggs suffered the injury on a non-contact play in 1:51 remaining in the third quarter. He tried to cut inside against Colts defensive back Kenny Moore II on a route and grabbed his right knee, then sat on the turf.

While Diggs walked off on his own power, he headed to the locker room and didn’t return.

“It’s not easy,” Stroud said. “You try to think positively but it’s not a bunch of positive thoughts. And I just really feel bad for him.”

Expected to be the No. 2 option, Diggs had taken over as Stroud’s favorite target with Nico Collins sidelined. He ranked seventh overall in receptions (47) and was second on the team in receiving yards (496).

“He’s one guy who gave his all to everything we ever asked him to do,” Ryans said. “He’s hurting and we’re hurting for him as well.”

The Texans take on the New York Jets Thursday Night at MetLife Stadium at 7:15 p.m. CT.

Is Stefon Diggs out for the year? Update on Texans WR

Houston Texans Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The Houston Texans have an update on Stefon Diggs. It’s not the one that fans wanted to hear entering Thursday’s game against the New York Jets.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans announced that Diggs suffered a torn ACL during Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts and will miss the remainder of the season.

“It hurts,” Ryans said. “It hurts our team to hear that news. He’s been such an important part of our team and everything that he brought, not only on the field but off the field, the energy, the leadership, the way he worked every single day; he brought a lot to our team.

“It’s definitely a blow to us.”

Stefon Diggs injury update

Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro with the Buffalo Bills, tried to cut inside on a route against Colts cornerback Kenny Moore with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter and immediately dropped to the ground. While he was able to leave the field on his own power, he was on the turf for several minutes while being checked out by the Texans’ medical staff.

How long will Stefon Diggs be out?

Even though the Texans didn’t practice on Monday, the team released an injury report stating that Diggs wouldn’t have practiced. He’s expected to undergo surgery and should be cleared to return at some point next season.

Stefon Diggs stats

With Nico Collins sidelined because of a hamstring injury, Diggs has stepped up as the new No. 1 threat. In his eight games, the All-Pro target led the Texans with 47 receptions, ranks second in receiving yards with 492 and is tied for first in receiving touchdowns with three.

Prior to leaving, Diggs was on pace to record his first 100-yard outing of the season. He finished with five catches for 81 yards, including a season-long 49-yard reception in the third quarter.

“It sucks,” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “It’s not easy. It’s not something I can have a whole bunch of words for. I’m just hoping and trying to wrap my mind around what happened. It’s tough.”

Texans WR depth chart

With Collins and Diggs out, Houston must turn to its other quality options. Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz, John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson and Robert Woods all must step up until Collins can return for Week 10’s matchup against the Detroit Lions.

In Sunday’s game, Schultz finished with 52 yards off four catches. Dell hasn’t found his stride yet, but he did catch a 7-yard touchdown pass just before halftime and finished with 32 yards.

Metchie stepped up in Diggs’ place and had three catches for 29 yards, including a critical 28-yard catch in the third quarter.

Hutchinson and Woods both caught passes over 12 yards in Sunday’s win and picked up first downs.

“Our guys have been here and been working,” Ryans said. “They understand how we do things and what we do. We’re excited to see who steps up next.”

The Jets could create problems in the passing game for Stroud. Despite being 2-6, New York ranks in second passing yards per game at 161.1.

Kickoff from MetLife Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Texans Wire will continue to update you on the Diggs’ status. 

Report: Texans WR Stefon Diggs to undergo MRI on knee

Stefon Diggs will receive an MRI on his knee Monday to find out more about the severity of his injury.

The Houston Texans still don’t have a direct answer on Stefon Diggs‘ status for the remainder of the season entering Monday’s press conference.

They will have an answer before the team departs for New York to take on the Jets this Thursday.

According to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander, Diggs is expected to have an MRI done on the knee on Monday, which is expected to reveal the extent of the injury. The four-time Pro Bowl receiver left Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts during the third quarter after suffering a non-contact injury.

Diggs, who was traded this offseason to Houston by the Buffalo Bills, was trying to break past Colts defender Kenny Moore when he immediately grabbed his right knee. Trainers checked on him for several minutes before he stood up and headed straight for the locker room.

Before leaving the field, Diggs gave a thumbs up to the crowd, letting them know he was fine. The MRI should show if Diggs suffered a torn ACL or MCL or perhaps a simple strain.

“Unfortunate to see Stef go down there,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s still being evaluated for a knee. We’ll find out further information as the week goes on.”

Losing Diggs could be detrimental to the Texans’ already depleted receiver room. Nico Collins is already on the injured reserve and not expected back until at least Nov. 10.

Tank Dell, who caught a touchdown pass during the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 victory, hasn’t been able to duplicate his rookie success through eight games.

Diggs, who finished Sunday’s game with a team-leading five catches for 81 yards, has been the go-to weapon for C.J. Stroud over the past three games. He ranks fifth nationally in catches with 47 and is second among Texans’ players in receiving yards with 496.

“Prayers go out to Stef. God doesn’t make any mistakes. I hope he’s OK,” Stroud said. “I don’t know what’s going on yet. I’m praying and hoping he starts to feel better … Not easy seeing him go down.”

The Texans kick off against the Jets this Thursday Night on Amazon Prime at 7:15 p.m.

Texans OL Jarrett Patterson leaves game vs. Colts with head injury

The Texans will be without Jarrett Patterson for the remainder of Sunday’s contest against the Colts.

The Houston Texans turned to Jarrett Patterson on the offensive line.

Six plays later, they were forced to turn back to Kenyon Green.

Patterson is out for the remainder of Sunday’s contest against the Indianapolis Colts after suffering a concussion during the second quarter. Houston has turned back to its first-round offensive lineman at left guard, though the Texans could look elsewhere moving into Week 9.


Patterson, a former sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame, remained down after Joe Mixon secured a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He was able to walk off the field, but needed the help of trainers.

He went directly to the blue medical tent for further evaluation.