Tag: Texans football

Texans receive positive news on DE Will Anderson Jr.’s status for Week 12

Will Anderson Jr. was back at practice for the Houston Texans on Wednesday for the first time in two weeks.

(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

Will Anderson Jr. is inching his way back to 100 percent.

Anderson, the Houston Texans’ leading pass-rusher and a favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, returned to practice for the first time in two weeks after dealing with an ankle injury.

The Texans listed him as limited on the injury report, but simply putting weight on the ankle is a positive sign for the second-year defensive end entering Week 12’s showdown against the Tennessee Titans.

“We’ve been missing him the past couple of weeks,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “His leadership style, his play style, his demeanor all around. So it’s good to have him back at practice.”

Anderson, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, hasn’t played since the second quarter of Week 9’s loss against the New York Jets on Halloween. After trying to return to the game, the Texans ruled him out and he hasn’t been on the field since.

A team captain and force in the trenches, Anderson was having a monster start to the 2024 season before missing the past two games against the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. Not only did he lead the NFL with 11.5 tackles for loss, but his 7.5 sacks also ranked top-three among all defensive players through the first nine weeks.

Anderson also was coming off winning AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October after finishing with 17 tackles, including an NFL-best seven for loss, five sacks, a pass breakup that resulted in an interception and a fumble recovery. His return would be welcomed opposite four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter.

Even with the injuries to receivers Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins, Houston’s defensive line might be the thinnest. Even after signing multiple players, the Texans have yet to see all four of their projected starting defensive linemen on the field at the same time this season.

Defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr., who had been suspended for four games for violating the league’s drug policy, returned to the lineup last week.

Denico Autry, who had been suspended the first six games for violating its policy against performance-enhancing drug use, came back right when Edwards was put on the suspended list.

Meanwhile, starting defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi missed last week’s game with a foot injury.

Having a dominant defensive line could be trouble for the Titans’ front five protecting Will Levis. Tennessee has allowed 33 sacks on the season, including 27 against the second-year starter.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT at NRG Stadium.

Texans bring back two recently cut players before Titans game

J.J. Taylor and Myles Bryant are back for the Houston Texans after being waived on Monday.

Myles Bryant and J.J. Taylor are leaving the Houston Texans after all.

According to the team’s transaction report, Taylor and Bryant are being signed back to the practice squad before Sunday’s showdown against the Tennesse Titans.

In a corresponding move, the Texans released offensive lineman Cam Erving and defensive end Rashad Weaver.

Both Taylor and Bryant saw action for the Texans due to injury. Bryant, a former starter for the New England Patriots, shifted inside to the nickel position once Jalen Pitre was asked to play safety.

He recorded four tackles in six games. Most recently, Bryant was a healthy scratch in back-to-back games before being released on Monday prior to the Texans’ Week 11 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

As for Taylor, he’s bounced around from the practice squad to the active roster this season. He played in five games before being waived on Monday, totaling 10 carries for 44 yards.

The Texans let go of both players to make room for defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. and cornerback Jeff Okudah.

Houston (7-4) takes on Tennessee (2-8) at NRG Stadium this Sunday at noon CT.

Texans TE trolls former team on Twitter following win over Cowboys

Dalton Schultz isn’t missing his chance to troll the Dallas Cowboys following Monday’s win

Dalton Schultz made it clear that he wanted to be with the Houston Texans after a promising 2022 season.

After spending five seasons in the hectic mess with the Dallas Cowboys, he enjoyed the low-down lifestyle in Houston.

It’s clear following Monday’s 34-10 win over the NFC East franchise that Schultz is loving life in Houston. That was only justified after he rubbed in the win on social media Tuesday morning.

Schultz posted a video of him pouring milk into two cups of coffee on his X account. Through the cups, there revealed a hidden message: “The Houston Texans are the best team in Texas!”

Mic drop. The end.

Schultz has been a vital piece to C.J. Stroud’s growth during his two seasons at NRG Stadium. Last year, the 28-year-old hauled in 59 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns while serving as Stroud’s security blanket across the middle of the field.

That eventually led to a new three-year, $36 million extension this offseason, keeping the tight end in Houston through 2026. While Schultz hasn’t been a touchdown machine this season, he remains a top target for the AFC South favorites, catching 34 passes for 343 yards.

The Texans return home for another bragging rights battle against a former Texas-based team as the Tennessee Titans come to NRG Stadium this Sunday at noon CT.

Texans-Cowboys Week 11: Offense, defense and special teams snap counts

Here’s the snap count total from the Houston Texans’ 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Monday Night Football.

That’s more like the Houston Texans fans expected to see in 2024.

Behind a three-touchdown performance from running back Joe Mixon, the Texans secured bragging rights in the Lone Star State with a 34-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football.”

Mixon, who’s averaged 101.3 yards per game over his last five outings, finished with 109 rushing yards and 53 total yards while helping Houston break its nine-quarter drought without a touchdown in the second half.

“Joe, when he’s on, he’s a force for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The run game starts with our offensive line. I challenged them to play fast, play aggressive. I thought they did a really nice job. I really like the way we just kept churning it in the run game, and proud of the guys for stepping up to the challenge.”

Mixon tied a Texans single-game record for rushing touchdowns, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat. He also secured his 10 rushing touchdown of the season, which marks the highest number of rushing scores by a Texans player since Arian Foster in 2012.

The 24-point victory margin was the Texans’ largest win since a 31-point swing over the Cleveland Browns during last year’s postseason run. It was also Houston’s most lop-sided victory over the Cowboys in seven meetings dating back to its inaugural season.

To emphasize how Houston looked, the Texans’ defense scored as many points as Dallas’ offense in one drive compared to 60 minutes. Defensive end Derek Barnett strip-sacked Cooper Rush in the fourth quarter, but the ball was recovered by Cowboys offensive tackle Tyler Guyton.

The rookie left tackle was then stripped by safety Jalen Pitre, landing in Barnett’s hands en route to the end zone for a 28-yard scoop-and-score.

“They flipped the momentum and got everybody juiced up on the sideline. It was just a huge play,” Ryans said.
Here’s the snap count from Monday night’s success:

Offensive snaps: 64
Defensive snaps: 83
Special teams snaps: 18

Nico Collins, who returned for the first time since Week 5 and finished with four catches for 54 yards, played only 32 snaps. John Metchie III, who caught three passes for 33 yards, finished second among receivers with 39 snaps while Tank Dell was credited with 41.

Mixon, who now ranks eighth overall in rushing yards despite missing three games, saw action on 81% of reps and finished with 153 total yards. Tight end Dalton Schultz was credited with 48 snaps while Cade Stover saw action on 45% of plays.

Defensively, Calen Bullock totaled his fourth straight game with 100% of reps. Derek Stingley Jr, who intercepted Rush and broke up a pair of passes intended for CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert, played 74 snaps along with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

The Texans return home next week to face off against the Tennessee Titans in an AFC South showdown. They could have back defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who’s missed the previous two games while dealing with an ankle injury.

Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Watch: Texans RB Joe Mixon gets hat trick in victory over Cowboys

Joe Mixon pile drives it in for his third touchdown of the night as the Houston Texans improve to 7-4 on the regular season.

Take a bow, Joe Mixon.

It’s not every day you get the trifecta.

Mixon, perhaps the league’s most underrated extension of the offseason, cemented a Pro Bowl-esque night after securing a 4-yard touchdown run for his third score of the night as the Houston Texans secured a 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

Houston’s offense has struggled to compete in the second half of games since Week 6. Entering Monday’s game, the Texans had gone eight quarters without scoring a touchdown in the second half.

Even though the Texans didn’t score in the third quarter, Derek Barnett ended the drought with a 28-yard scoop-and-score on a strip sack against Cooper Rush. Mixon sealed off the scoring to give Houston 14 points over the final 15 minutes.

The Texans improve to 7-4 on the regular season and secure their first victory since Week 8. Mixon, who finished with 109 rushing yards, averaged 5.5 yards per run and three scores.

Houston also picked up its first win on ‘Monday Night Football’ since 2018. Even though C.J. Stroud is the head of Houston, Mixon has been the face of the offense.

There are no off days for Joe. He’s always mixing it on.

Texans add two players to active roster before Lone Star Showdown with Cowboys

Jeff Okudah and Mario Edwards Jr. are back for the Houston Texans on ‘Monday Night Football’ against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Houston Texans are adding reinforcements for Monday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Houston activated cornerback Jeff Okudah and defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. to the active 53-man roster prior to the clash of Lone Star opponents on ABC and ESPN.

Okudah, a former first-round pick in 2020, has been out since suffering a hip injury Sept. 8 in the season-opening win at Indianapolis.

Edwards, who’d missed the past four weeks after being suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, was reinstated last week but officially added to the roster on Monday.

In a corresponding move, cornerback Myles Bryant and running back J.J. Taylor were waived.  Both could be added back to the practice squad if they clear waivers. Taylor could be a favorite to land back since he’s been with Houston’s practice squad on and off for two seasons.

The Texans also elevated defensive tackle Tommy Togiai from the practice squad to the active roster before Monday’s must-see game.

Monday marks the first time a season-opening loss to the Saints on Sept. 9, 2019, that Houston will play on ‘Monday Night Football.’ That also marked the start of a new era at left tackle following the acquisition of four-time Pro Bowler Lamrey Tunsil.

All time, the Texans are 5-9 in Monday night games. They’re 26-37 in nationally televised games, but 1-2 this season. Currently, Houston is entering its fourth standalone game and third in as many weeks.

Is Mario Edwards playing today? Injury news update for Texans defensive lineman

Mario Edwards Jr. is officially reinstated from his suspension entering Monday Night Football against the Cowboys.

The Houston Texans are nearing full strength with the return of linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and wide receiver Nico Collins entering Week 11’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on ‘Monday Night Football.’

Even without Will Anderson, Houston should be content with its pass rush at AT&T Stadium on primetime. That could be because of the return of defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr.

Will the veteran defensive tackle be cleared to play on Monday night? Here’s the final update entering AT&T Stadium

Mario Edwards Jr. update

Edwards, who was suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy, was activated to the final 53-man roster on Monday prior to kickoff. He’s not only expected to play but also start.

The Texans haven’t had an entire starting defensive line on the field at the same time through 10 games. Fellow free-agent signee Denico Autry was suspended for the first six games without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy. Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi was ruled out with a foot injury earlier this week.

Anderson, a favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, is also out this week after suffering an ankle injury in Week 9’s loss against the New York Jets.

He’s expected to be back at some point this season.

Mario Edwards Jr.’s stats

A former second-round pick out of Florida State, Edwards has started six games at defensive tackle. Before the suspension, he ranked third on the team in sacks (two), plus five quarterback hits and two tackles for loss.
Texans DL depth chart
With Edwards back but Fatukasi out, here’s a look at the Texans defensive line depth chart heading into Monday’s game:  
  • Mario Edwards Jr. 
  • Tim Settle
  • Denico Autry (will shift inside on third down)
  • Kurt Hinish
  • Tommy Togiai

Settle is expected to start, while Autry should see a majority of reps on the outside in place of Anderson.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on ABC and ESPN.

What channel is Texans vs. Cowboys on today? Time, TV schedule for Week 11 game

Here’s what you need to know heading into Monday’s matchup between the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys.

The Houston Texans (6-4) will battle the Dallas Cowboys (3-7) on Sunday in Week 11 in a battle for Texas bragging rights at AT&T Stadium on ‘Monday Night Football.‘

The Texans are coming off a demoralizing 26-23 loss to the Detroit Lions at home, which marked their second straight loss since the season-ending injury of Stefo Diggs. What makes matters worse is how Houston had a chance to secure an easy victory behind a dreaded day from Jared Goff.

After forcing five interceptions on Goff, Houston jumped out to a 16-point first-half lead. That dwindled behind two interceptions from C.J. Stroud and a missed field goal from Kai’imi Fairbairn.

The Texans became the second team since 1933, and the first since 1970, to lose a game in which they caught five interceptions and led by at least 15. Previously, teams were 373-1-1 when leading by at least 15 and snagging five interceptions.

Dallas, meanwhile, will be without star quarterback Dak Prescott for the remainder of the regular season after a hamstring injury suffered against the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys are currently on a four-game losing streak after starting 3-2.

Watch Cowboys vs. Texans live on Fubo (free trial)

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

What channel is Texans vs. Cowboys on today?

TV Channel: ESPN and ABC

Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

The Texans vs. Cowboys will broadcast on ABC and ESPN in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season as part of ‘Monday Night Football.’ Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will call the game from the booth at AT&T Stadium, with Lisa Salters reporting from the sidelines.

Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Texans legend J.J. Watt to be a part of Monday Night Football fun

J.J. Watt might not be on the field, but he’ll be on Monday Night Football when the Houston Texans take on the Dallas Cowboys.

The last time the Houston Texans were on “Monday Night Football,” J.J. Watt appeared on the television screen.

Five years might have passed and Watt might have retired, but the former All-Pro defensive end will still appear on your television when Houston faces off against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

Watt will appear on the “ManningCast” alternate telecast on ESPN2 opposite Peyton and Eli Manning during Monday’s game. The national broadcast will air on ABC and ESPN beginning at 7:15 p.m. CT.

Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year during his 10 seasons with the Texans, will appear during the fourth quarter with the Manning brothers. Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick will appear during the first half for his weekly segment.

While many Texans fans have been waiting for Watt to come out of retirement, at least they’ll see the top defensive player in franchise history talk about the program in prominence on national television.

The Texans will be playing their first Monday night outing since Sept. 9, 2019, when they opened the season with a 30-28 loss against the New Orleans Saints. That also marked the first appearance of Laremy Tunsil in a Houston uniform after the preseason trade leading into the new campaign.

The Texans (6-4) trail the series against the Cowboys (3-6) all-time at 4-2.

Texans vs. Cowboys injury report: Latest updates, news for Friday

Several Texans players were not at practice on Thursday afternoon in preparation for Week 11’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday

The Houston Texans have an extra day to prepare for their matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

That means an extra day to get players healthy enough for action.

Receiver Nico Collins and defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. practiced in pads for the first time in nearly a month after being added back to the active roster.

Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards with 567 during the first five games, missed the past five weeks with a hamstring injury. Collins, who was limited on Thursday, was a full participant on Friday and plans to be “good to go” against the in-state opponent.

Edwards, who started the first six games for the Texans, was recently activated after serving a four-game suspension without pay for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy.

The same might not be said about rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who did not practice Tuesday afternoon.

Lassiter, Houston’s No. 2 cornerback, left during the third quarter of Week 10’s 26-23 loss against the Detroit Lions with a concussion. He’s currently in the protocol stages before being cleared to return.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) and defensive tackle Foley Fatkukasi (foot) didn’t practice and might not make the trip north. Offensive tackle Blake Fisher (concussion) went from being is expected to be back on Friday.

Here’s a look at the injury report for the Texans and Cowboys after Friday’s practice: