The Texans got a welcome sign this week with Jalen Pitre back on the practice field, and that matters because his game can change how Houston operates near the line of scrimmage. The versatile defensive back was listed with a shoulder injury, but he was a full participant on both Nov. 4 and Nov.
- His Friday status had not yet been updated on the official injury report, so his final designation for Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers was still waiting to be confirmed.
That kind of practice progress is the kind of thing a defense can build on, especially for a player whose value comes from doing a little bit of everything. Pitre’s presence gives Houston more options in the nickel, where he can cover, help against the run or bring pressure. Against the Chargers, that flexibility could force the offense to spend extra time sorting out what the Texans are showing before the snap.
But the real test starts once the ball is live. Showing pressure only matters if the coverage holds.
Closing on a runner only matters if the tackle gets made. If Pitre is active, Houston’s best use of him is straightforward: give him clear responsibilities and let his workload grow naturally as the game unfolds.
There was other movement on the injury front Thursday as well. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair moved from limited to full participation, and tackle Braden Smith and tight end Brevin Jordan also were full participants. Reed Blankenship, though, remained out with concussion and hand injuries.
That makes Pitre’s status part of a bigger picture for Houston’s defense. If Blankenship is still unavailable, the secondary has another hole to manage, and that puts even more weight on communication. Motion, inside routes and help over the top all become more important when pieces are shifting around.
For Houston, the remaining games can still tell a lot about which combinations work and which players can handle bigger roles. Pitre’s practice week at least gives the Texans something encouraging to work with heading into Sunday.
In Other News...
Texans Trade Deadline Push Now Centers On One Surprising Upgrade
As the trade deadline creeps closer, the Texans search for help has started to focus on an area that could shape the rest of their season: the offensive line. Houston has been linked in speculation to Philadelphia guard Landon Dickerson, a name that stands out because he would represent more than a routine depth add. He is the kind of interior upgrade that can change how a front five functions, especially for a team trying to steady its protection and keep its offense on schedule.
The fit makes enough sense to keep the idea alive, but it remains just that for now. Philadelphia would have to decide whether it makes sense to move a player of Dickersons caliber, and Houston would have to weigh the cost against the urgency of improving up front. For the Texans, this is the sort of deadline conversation that says plenty about where they see the roster, even if no deal has been reported. [Read more 🡒]
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Names like Devin Singletary and Breece Hall have come up as possible fits for what the Texans need, while the biggest names on the market would likely take more than Houston wants to spend. Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry would all come with a steep price, which is why this feels more like a depth play than a chase for a headline-grabbing upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Could Still Move An Underused Piece Before The Deadline
With the NFL trade deadline closing in, the Texans still have not made a move, but the conversation around their roster has not gone quiet. Four names have surfaced as possible trade candidates, including offensive linemen Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, along with quarterback Davis Mills, whose role and contract situation keep him in the mix as teams weigh what they need and what Houston might be willing to discuss.
Mills is the most intriguing piece in that group because he has been part of the Texans' quarterback picture without being a central figure in it. Whether Houston decides to explore a deal or simply keep its depth intact, the next few days will reveal how aggressively the team wants to balance flexibility against the value of holding onto experienced depth. [Read more 🡒]