Tag: Texans vs. Jets 2024

Will Jerry Hughes play this week? Latest injury updates for Texans DE

Houston Texans DE Jerry Hughes has been dealing with a hip injury. Here are the latest updates entering Monday’s practice.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The Houston Texans aren’t back to full strength yet, but they could gain an essential part of their defensive depth in the trenches for Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions on NBC.

Defensive end Jerry Hughes was cleared to practice first time in four weeks on Monday afternoon. Here’s what happened and his current status entering Sunday Night’s matchup at NRG Stadium.

Jerry Hughes injury update

Hughes, 36, was placed on the injured following Week 4’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars with a hip injury. The veteran had been limited in his play time, often used on pass-rushing downs late in games.

Houston elected to activate Hughes’ 21-day windows to be restored to the active roster. The team will have until Nov. 25 to decide if they’ll bring him back to the 53-man squad or return him to the injured reserve for the remainder of the regular season.

Jerry Hughes stats

Entering his third season with the Texans, Hughes only recorded one tackle before being placed on the IR back in September. A former first-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts, the Pro Bowl defensive end led Houston with nine sacks in 2022.

A native of Sugar Land and former TCU star, Hughes has totaled 70 career sacks, 480 tackles, 142 quarterback hits and 19 forced fumbles.

Texans DE depth chart

With Hughes out, former 2023 fourth-round pick Dylan Horton has seen an expanded role in Houston’s defensive front. Here’s the rest of the defensive ends on the active roster:

  • Will Anderson Jr.
  • Danielle Hunter
  • Denico Autry
  • Dylan Horton

Autry is coming off his best outing in Texans’ uniform after totaling two sacks and a tackle for loss in Thursday’s 21-13 loss against the New York Jets.

Anderson, who left Thursday’s game with an ankle injury, is currently on pace to win Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 7.5 sacks in eight games. He also led the NFL with 11 tackles for loss entering Week 9.

Barnett has been an ideal No. 3 option this season. In Thursday’s loss, the former first-rounder totaled three pressures and a tackle.

Announcers set for Texans vs. Jets Week 9 game

The Houston Texans take center stage on Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets

For the second time in 2024, the Houston Texans will have a stand-alone game.

In a battle for AFC dominance, the Texans (6-2) travel to East Rutherford, N.J., for a showdown with the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football.” The game will air on Amazon Prime as part of the NFL’s partnership with the company.

Al Michaels will handle the play-by-play, while Kirk Herbstreit will serve as the color commentator. Kaylee Hartung will serve as the sideline reporter.

The Texans are coming off a 23-20 divisional win over the Indianapolis Colts but will be short-handed at receiver. DeMeco Ryans announced Tuesday that Pro Bowl target Stefon Diggs would miss the rest of the regular season with a torn ACL suffered during a non-contact injury in the third quarter.

Diggs, who will be a free agent after the regular season, was a constant No. 2 weapon for Houston and had taken over as the team’s No. 1 after Nico Collins was placed on the injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He ranked seventh in the NFL in catches (47) this season and was second on the Texans in receiving yards (496).

“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 leader, the way he worked every single day,” Ryans said. “Have to pick up the slack. A lot of guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Definitely praying for him.”

The Jets (2-6) are coming off an underwhelming outing against the New England Patriots and could be in do-or-die mode for the remainder of the season. Even after adding All-Pro receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders,  Aaron Rodgers struggled to find a consistent pattern in the passing game.

Should Houston secure a victory, it would remain in second place for the AFC seeding since it holds the tiebreaker over Buffalo.

It would also set up a potential matchup of seven-win performers against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football in Week 10.