Tag: Will Anderson Jr. injury

NFL fines Texans DE Will Anderson for ref comments vs. Chiefs

The Houston Texans star defensive end is being fined by the league office for calling out the refs.

Houston Texans Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon was reissued a $25,000 fine by the NFL on Wednesday for his comments about the officiating in the divisional round loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now, Will Anderson Jr. is getting the same penalty.

According to KRPC2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, Anderson was fined $25,000 by the NFL for his postgame comments on the controversial officiating calls against the two-time defending champions.

Multiple times, the Texans were slapped with penalties because of supposed late hits against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes that led to scoring drives. Anderson was flagged for roughing the passer on third down, eventually leading to a Harrison Butker field goal.

Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o and Anderson were called for an unnecessary roughness play as Mahomes, which led to an 11-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce.

The Texans couldn’t catch a break during a frustrating loss despite outplaying Kansas City in nearly every phase.

“We knew it was going to be us versus the refs going into this game,” Anderson said postgame.

Perhaps the lone positive of the unheralded calls is that the league will discuss those to be reviewed and later reversed during the offseason.

Anderson also made it clear that Houston didn’t lose because of officiating, but rather self-inflicted wounds.

“At the end of the day, it’s about us,” Anderson said. “We have to do a better job of executing, we have to do a better job of being ready and no matter what the outcome we have to do a better job of handling Texans business on both sides of the ball.”

The Texans finish the 2024 season 11-8 after securing their second AFC South division title. Houston owns the No. 25 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Texans vs. Titans inactives: Is Will Anderson Jr. out?

Here’s who’s NOT playing for the Houston Texans in Week 18’s regular-season finale.

The Houston Texans (9-7) have released their inactive list ahead of Week 18’s showdown against the Tennessee Titans (3-13). With a win, Houston would secure its second double-digit win season under DeMeco Ryans.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is a healthy scratch after dealing with a hand injury in Week 17’s battle against the Baltimore Ravens. Third-year linebacker Christian Harris also is a healthy scratch, though he was listed as questionable coming into Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.

Here’s a look at the full inactive for both the Texans and Titans.

Texans inactives

  • DE Will Anderson Jr.
  • LB Christian Harris
  • CB Jeff Okudah
  • DL Denico Autry
  • DL Foley Fatukasi
  • OL Shaq Mason
  • OL Nick Broeker

Titans inactives

  • WR Tyler Boyd
  • OT Jaelyn Duncan
  • S Amani Hooker
  • OLB Arden Key
  • RB Tyjae Spears
  • K Nick Folk
  • WR Jha’Quan Jackson

Kickoff from Nissan Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

Is Will Anderson Jr. playing today? Latest updates for Texans DE

Will Anderson Jr. will see action on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The Houston Texans are at a crossroads entering Week 18 of the regular season.

Starters are expected to play against the Tennessee Titans, but the question is for how long? Texans coach DeMeco Ryans initially didn’t plan on playing starters, but plans changed after an abysmal outing against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.

“For us right now, we’ve got to go play better,” Ryans said. “Our last outing on the field was not good enough. It was not representative of who we are. Defensively, offensively, just not a good representation of our team entirely. So we’ve got to go out and play better football.”

Among those who could miss the second half is defensive end Will Anderson Jr. The Pro Bowl alternate hasn’t been at 100% for weeks, so having him rest for perhaps with a lead isn’t the worst idea.

Players, however, want to end their season on a high note en route to a 10-win campaign.

“You can never take that for granted,” Texans running back Joe Mixon said. “You got people after this week that are going home. You’ve got 14 teams left and from there, it’s time to put your best stuff on tape. I think that we have a great opportunity in front of us to go out there against Tennessee to try and do whatever we can to go into the playoffs with a great taste.”

Will Anderson Jr. update

Initially thought to play after a strong week of practice, Anderson will not play on Sunday at Nissan Stadium. Houston plans on resting him for next week’s wild-card round matchup at NRG Stadium.

Anderson, who’s closing in on a potential All-Pro season, appeared on the injury report with a hand issue but was a full participant at practice this week.

Houston will face either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Los Angeles Chargers, depending on the Chargers’ outing against Las Vegas.

Will Anderson Jr.’s stats

After a breakout rookie season, Anderson has continued to impress. In 14 games, he’s totaled 11 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 36 tackles and two pass breakups.

Texans DE depth chart

Behind Anderson and fellow Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter are Derek Barnett, Dylan Horton, and Solomon Byrd. Denico Autry is out for Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.

NFL’s sack leaders (including Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.) entering Week 17

Did Danielle Hunter or Will Anderson Jr. gain ground in the hunt for the title of sack master in 2024 following Wednesday’s Christmas game?

How good is the duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter? Let’s just say the Houston Texans duo are in a class of their own.

Well, they share the title with another duo from the Great White North.

Along with Minnesota Vikings pass rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andre Van Ginkel, Anderson and Hunter are the only pass-rushing duo to have double-digit sacks entering Week 17. Both rank inside the top eight in sacks and top five in tackles for loss.

During Wednesday’s 31-2 loss against the Baltimore Ravens, Hunter didn’t record a sack and finished with four total tackles. Anderson the former No. 3 overall pick, was one of two players to finish with a sack and led the team with two tackles for loss.

Going the rest of Week 17, Hunter ranks second in the NFL with 12 sacks, trailing only Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson. Anderson, who joins J.J. Watt as the second Texans player to record double-digit sacks in his second season, now ranks just outside the top five with 11 on the year.

Hunter remains a dark horse to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year entering the season finale against the Tennessee Titans. Anderson, who ranks eighth in the NFL with 16 tackles for loss, also could gain ground with a sound performance in Nashville next week.

NFL sack leaders going into Week 17

  1. Trey Hendrickson: 13.5
  2. Danielle Hunter: 12.0
  3. Myles Garrett: 12.0
  4. Kyle Van Noy: 10.5
  5. T.J. Watt: 11.5
  6. Nik Bonitto: 11.5
  7. Will Anderson: 11.0
  8. Andrew Van Ginkel: 11.0
  9. Jonathan Greenard: 11.0
  10. Will McDonald: 10.0

The Texans, who already clinched the AFC South division title in Week 15, hit the road next week after 10 days off to take on the Titans at Nissan Stadium.

Texans vs. Jaguars injury report: Latest updates, news for Thursday

Here’s the injury report from Thursday’s practice as the Houston Texans prepare to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Here are the full injury reports from Thursday’s practice for the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of their Week 13 matchup at EverBank Stadium:

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

Did not practice

  • LB Yasir Abdullah (hamstring)

Limited participation 

  • CB Tyson Campbell (shoulder)
  • QB Trevor Lawrence (non-throwing shoulder)

Full practice

  • RB Tank Bigsby (ankle)
  • OL Brandon Scherff (knee/shoulder)

Houston Texans (7-5)

Did not practice

  • DT Folorunso Fatukasi (foot)
  • DB Jalen Pitre (shoulder)

Limited participation 

  • LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee)
  • DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle)
  • DE Denico Autry (knee/oblique)
  • WR Xavier Hutchinson (shoulder)

Full practice

  • OT Blake Fisher (concussion)
  • DB Jimmie Ward (knee)

* Bold indicates an upgrade from Wednesday’s practice.

Note: TE Teagan Quitoriano was moved from the injury report to the injured reserve on Thursday morning. 

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans vs. Jaguars injury report: Latest updates, news for Wednesday

Here’s the injury report for Wednesday’s practice as the Houston Texans prepare to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Here are the full injury reports for the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of their Week 13 matchup at EverBank Stadium:

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

Did not practice

  • LB Yasir Abdullah (hamstring)

Limited participation 

  • CB Tyson Campbell (shoulder)
  • QB Trevor Lawrence (non-throwing shoulder)

Full practice

  • RB Tank Bigsby (ankle)
  • OL Brandon Scherff (knee/shoulder)

Houston Texans (7-5)

Did not practice

  • DE Denico Autry (knee/oblique)
  • DT Folorunso Fatukasi (foot)
  • DB Jalen Pitre (shoulder)
  • DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle)

Limited participation 

  • LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee)
  • OT Blake Fisher (concussion)
  • WR Nico Collins (rest)
  • OL Shaq Mason (rest)
  • DB Jimmie Ward (knee)
  • OT Laremy Tunsil (rest)
  • WR Xavier Hutchinson (shoulder)
  • TE Teagan Quitoriano (knee)

Full practice

N/A

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

 

Texans receive best news possible on Will Anderson Jr.’s status for Week 12

Will Anderson Jr. was a full participant during Friday’s practice as the Houston Texans prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans.

Will Anderson Jr. is back. That’s good news for the Houston Texans and bad news for the Tennessee Titans.

The second-year defensive end returned to practice on Wednesday and hasn’t missed a day. He was a full participant during Friday’s walkthrough and is expected to play on Sunday when Tennessee arrives for an AFC South showdown at NRG Stadium.

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

Anderson, the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Month, left during the first quarter of Week 9’s loss to the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football” with an ankle injury. While he returned three different times for four plays in the second quarter, Houston elected to rest him for the second half.

He hasn’t played since. The Texans went 1-1 during that span with a comeback loss against the Detroit Lions and a double-digit victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Fully healthy, he comes back at the right time to help Houston potentially clinch a 5-0 record in the division before the bye week following a showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 1.

“I’m excited to be back,” Anderson told reporters Friday. “Just to be back out there with the guys. I was trying my best to hurry up and get back. I’m good now.”

It’s a long shot, but a surging December could put Anderson back in the running for Defensive Player of the Year recognition. He had 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss through the first nine weeks, both ranking among the top three.

Although the pass rush will welcome Anderson back with open arms, four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter has picked up the slack in the former Defensive Rookie of the Year’s absence.

Hunter, who leads the NFL in pressures and had two sacks in the win over the Cowboys on Monday, is now tied for the team lead in sacks with Anderson.

Houston (7-4) is also expected to be without Denico Autry, who’s missed practice all week with a knee injury suffered in Arlington. Defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, who missed Monday’s matchup in the Lone Star Showdown, isn’t expected to play because of a knee injury.

The Titans (2-8) have allowed the fifth-most sacks this season with 33. Second-year quarterback Will Levis often holds the ball for too long, leading to the eventual 27 sacks recorded.

Kickoff between the AFC South foes is scheduled for noon CT.

Texans-Cowboys inactives: Who’s in, who’s out for Week 11

Here’s who’s out for the Houston Texans against the Dallas Cowboys on ‘Monday Night Football.’

For the most part, the Houston Texans know who won’t be suiting up at AT&T Stadium on Monday night.

Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (foot) and cornerback Kamari Lassiter (concussion) all were listed as inactive for another primetime against the Dallas Cowboys. Rookie offensive tackle Blake Fisher (concussion) was ruled out before the team left for Arlington on Sunday afternoon.

Cornerback Jeff Okudah was listed as questionable after being limited all week in practice but his status wasn’t really in serious doubt. He’s officially active, along with defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. and will back up Ka’Dar Hollman in Houston’s secondary.

The Texans should have Lassiter back next week after he was cleared to practice on Sunday. Houston has been precautious all season with players in concussion protocol.

On the opposing side, wideout CeeDee Lamb, who was listed as questionable for the week, will suit up for ‘Monday Night Football.’ In 2022 when Houston visited Arlington,the All-Pro target caught five balls for 33 yards.

Here’s the full inactive list for both the Texans and Cowboys. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Houston Texans (6-4)

Dallas Cowboys (3-7)