The Texans’ Week 6 trip to London comes with a few notable absences, but one name on the inactive list stands out above the rest.
Houston ruled out seven players ahead of kickoff against the Jaguars, with safety Jalen Pitre and running back David Montgomery headlining the group. Both are dealing with injuries - Pitre with a shoulder issue and Montgomery with a groin problem - and both are considered week-to-week. That keeps the door open for a return in Week 7 against the New York Giants, but for now, Houston is making the trip overseas without them.
The biggest surprise, though, is offensive tackle Braden Smith. He was elevated from injured reserve this week after missing the first five games with a foot injury, but he still won’t make his Texans debut in London. Whatever the reason, Houston is holding him out for another week, meaning his first chance to suit up will likely come against the Giants.
With Smith unavailable, Trent Brown is set to continue starting at right tackle opposite Aireontae Ersery, with Blake Fisher likely serving as the backup swing tackle.
Houston will also continue to be without a pair of offseason draft picks in offensive guard Febechi Nwaiwu and tight end Marlin Klein. Klein’s healthy scratch streak now reaches three straight games.
The Jaguars’ inactive list is much more straightforward. Cornerback Jaylon Jones, who had been questionable with a hamstring injury, will not play.
Jacksonville is also missing starting left tackle Anton Harrison, who landed on injured reserve earlier in the week because of a knee injury. That should push Walker Little into his first start of the season.
Here are the full inactive lists:
Texans: S Jalen Pitre, RB David Montgomery, DE Sabastian Harsh, OG Febechi Nwaiwu, OT Braden Smith, OT Nate Thomas, TE Marlin Klein
Jaguars: CB Montaric Brown, WR CJ Williams, S Jalen Huskey, CB Jaylon Jones, LS Ross Matiscik, DE Wesley Williams, DT Albert Regis
Kickoff is set for 8:30 a.m. CT at Wembley Stadium, where the Texans will try to ride the momentum from last week into a second straight win.
In Other News...
Texans Have A Bigger Halftime Concern Than Their London Lead
The Texans reached halftime in London with a 17-14 edge over Jacksonville, and C.J. Stroud helped get them there by completing 66.6% of his passes and throwing two touchdown passes to Foster Moreau. Houston also got a boost from Henry To'oTo'o, who returned from injured reserve and contributed on defense, giving the club a few reasons to feel good about the way the first half unfolded.
The bigger concern, though, may be what happened on the back end. Safety Reed Blankenship struggled before leaving the game with an injury, and his status could matter as much as the scoreboard if Houston is going to protect its lead after the break. A narrow advantage is one thing, but losing a key defensive piece in a game that still feels very much up for grabs would be a far more pressing issue. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Special Teams Mistake Nearly Cost Them Before Halftime
Special teams often fade into the background until one decision changes the feel of a game, and the Texans were reminded of that in London. In a situation where eight seconds remained before halftime, the choice to put a kickoff into play against the Jaguars carried real risk because of how the clock, the timeouts and the field position could all work against a team in a hurry.
Cam Little also loomed as part of the calculation, with the potential for a long field goal attempt hanging over the end of the half. A single completed pass could have tied things up, which is exactly why the sequence stood out as the kind of special teams moment that can swing momentum without ever showing up in a conventional highlight reel. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Need Marvin Harrison Jr Fast And DeMeco Ryans Sees Something
The Texans spent the week adjusting to a major new addition, one that gives C.J. Stroud another high-end target as the offense looks to find more rhythm. Marvin Harrison Jr., acquired from the Cardinals in exchange for draft picks, has already drawn encouraging early reviews from DeMeco Ryans, who has seen the receiver settle in quickly and start building chemistry with his new quarterback.
Houston does not have long to wait to see how that translates on the field. Harrison is expected to make his Texans debut against the Jaguars in London, a game that offers an immediate chance to show how much the offense can change with him in the mix. For a team trying to sharpen its passing game, the early signs of that connection have become one of the more interesting storylines of the week. [Read more 🡒]