Texans Get Key Reinforcements Back at Practice Ahead of Crucial Matchup with Chargers
HOUSTON - With playoff positioning on the line and a tough matchup looming against the Chargers, the Texans are starting to get some much-needed help back - and just in time. Starting running back Woody Marks returned to practice this week after missing last Sunday's narrow win over the Raiders with an ankle injury that’s been lingering for a while. His return gives Houston a more complete backfield rotation heading into Saturday’s game.
In Marks’ absence, the Texans leaned on Jawhar Jordan and veteran Nick Chubb to carry the load. Jordan showed flashes of burst, finishing with 53 yards on 15 carries, while Chubb ripped off a 30-yard run that served as a rare highlight in an otherwise inconsistent ground game. With Marks back in the mix, Houston’s backfield now has more versatility - and more options - to attack a Chargers defense that’s had its share of struggles against the run.
Also back on the field: Pro Bowl linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair, who was sidelined last week with knee and ankle issues. His return is a big lift for a Texans defense that’s been leaning heavily on its front seven to compensate for injuries in the secondary.
And speaking of injuries, the Texans’ Tuesday practice report painted a mixed picture. Offensive tackles Aireontae Ersery and Trent Brown did not practice, and both are considered key question marks heading into Saturday.
Ersery, who broke his hand against the Raiders, may require surgery and could be looking at playing with a protective club once cleared. The expectation, though, is that he’ll return at some point this season.
Brown, meanwhile, is dealing with a left knee injury and is considered day-to-day. His status will be monitored closely throughout the week.
Other players who sat out included linebacker Jake Hansen (chest), cornerbacks Kamari Lassiter (foot) and Derek Stingley Jr. (oblique), defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (knee), and defensive end Denico Autry (knee). Despite the DNPs, the expectation is that Stingley, Lassiter, Rankins, and Autry will all be available for the Chargers game.
Last week’s win over Las Vegas was a gritty, grind-it-out type of performance - not pretty, but enough to get the job done. The offensive line, already banged up, had to shuffle mid-game when Brown exited.
That’s when the Texans leaned on their depth and versatility, sliding Tytus Howard out to right tackle and plugging Jarrett Patterson in at left guard. The adjustment worked well enough to keep C.J.
Stroud clean - the rookie quarterback wasn’t sacked once, even with Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby on the other side.
Howard, a former first-round pick who’s played everywhere on the line except center, was ready for the moment.
“I’ve been preparing for that moment every week,” Howard said. “Even though I’ve been playing guard, I’m always taking tackle reps because I know at any given moment, I gotta go back out there and I gotta be ready. That’s something I’m prepared to do.”
Howard’s adaptability, combined with solid contributions from Patterson and Blake Freeland, helped stabilize a unit that’s been tested all season. That same lineup may be called upon again this Saturday, depending on Brown’s availability.
Still, the offense as a whole had trouble finding rhythm. The Texans didn’t score a touchdown until the second half and had to rely on kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn’s leg to stay afloat - and he delivered, drilling field goals from 55, 50, and 49 yards.
Stroud had a slow start but found his footing in the fourth quarter, leading a couple of crucial drives to help seal the 23-21 win. He took a few hits - four in total - but avoided sacks and made smart decisions under pressure.
The run game, though, left plenty to be desired. Houston finished with just 83 yards on 26 carries, a 3.2-yard average that underscores the lack of push up front. Head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t sugarcoat it.
“We’ve got to get more movement, we’ve got to get a hat on a hat better,” Ryans said. “Too many guys in the backfield.”
Ryans pointed to the contrast between his team’s struggles and the Raiders’ success on the ground. Rookie Ashton Jeanty gashed the Texans for 128 rushing yards, and Las Vegas consistently won the battle in the trenches.
“The main thing is we couldn’t run the football,” Ryans added. “We didn’t control the line of scrimmage how we needed to.
They got a lot of tackles for loss, knocked us back a few times. On the flipside, they were able to run it effectively - that was the difference in the game.”
Despite the offensive hiccups, the Texans found a way to win - their seventh straight - improving to 10-5 and holding onto the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoff picture.
With Marks and Al-Shaair trending toward a return, and the offensive line holding up under pressure, Houston is showing the kind of resilience you need in December. But if they want to keep climbing, especially against a Chargers team that can score in bunches, they’ll need more consistency in the run game and a cleaner performance up front.
Saturday’s game is shaping up to be another test - not just of talent, but of depth, toughness, and execution. The Texans have passed plenty of those tests already. Now they’ll try to pass another, with the postseason in sight.