The Houston Texans will have to move on without one of their most dangerous playmakers. Jaylin Noel was placed on injured reserve during the team’s Week 8 bye because of a foot injury, a move that is expected to end his season.
That leaves Houston without a receiver who had become a real spark in the offense. In seven games, Noel posted 19 catches for 331 yards and two touchdowns, and he emerged as the Texans’ leading receiver in total yards through eight weeks. His numbers jump off the page even more when you look at the efficiency: 17.4 yards per reception and 14.4 yards per target both led the NFL.
Now that the Texans are back from the bye and preparing for Week 9, head coach DeMeco Ryans addressed what losing Noel means for the offense and special teams. Ryans made it clear that Houston will miss the production, but he also pointed to the opportunity that opens up for others.
"We’ll miss J-Noel’s explosive ability. He came in and he gave us a ton of big plays on offense, his return ability as well-- as a kick returner and punt returner. He did a lot for us offensively and special teams-wise," Ryans said.
"So, we’ll miss that production from him. And with that being said, a lot of times, you miss a guy, that’s someone else’s opportunity to step up and fill that void."
"We still have five good receivers that we that we like on our roster. We feel like they can still all provide some explosive plays for us. So, we’ll miss J-Noel, but we know other guys have to step up."
Houston’s receiver room looked thinner earlier in the year, but it has changed quite a bit by the middle of the season. Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, and Kayshon Boutte have been in the mix since the start, while Marvin Harrison Jr. arrived in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals and Tank Dell returned from his 670-plus-day injury in the Texans’ last game against the New York Giants.
Noel’s absence takes away a chunk of explosiveness and big-play juice, but Ryans’ comments suggest the Texans believe they have enough depth to absorb the loss. That could mean more chances ahead for Harrison Jr. and Dell as Houston reshuffles its passing game.
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For the Texans, the bigger issue is not just whether Blankenship can get back on the field, but when he can clear the checkpoints that matter most. His availability for the next stretch will hinge on how he holds up in practice and how the medical evaluations go, which leaves Houston waiting on more than just a return date. [Read more 🡒]