The Texans got a welcome sight at Wednesday practice: Nico Collins and Ed Ingram were both back on the field.
That matters because Houston has spent the last two weeks without two important pieces on offense. Collins, the top receiver in the room, has been out since Week 2 with a grade 1 hamstring strain.
Ingram, the starting right guard, has been sidelined after suffering a groin injury in practice. Their absences have been felt in different ways, but the result has been the same - a Texans offense that has been missing stability and firepower.
Collins’ return would give Houston its most dangerous target back at the top of the passing game. Ingram’s comeback would shore up the interior of an offensive line that has already had its share of issues. For a team trying to dig out of a winless start, getting both men back would be a major boost.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said the signs are moving in the right direction, though nothing is finalized yet.
"Nico is back practicing today. We'll see how the week goes," Ryans said on Collins.
“Nico does what he's always done. Just being attentive in our meetings, being attentive in our walkthrough sessions.
And when he gets reps in practice, just practicing the right way, being where he needs to be. He'll prepare the right way; he's a true pro."
Ryans was even more upbeat about Ingram, pointing to the physical edge he brings when he’s on the field.
"Getting Ed back should be helpful for us. Ed did a really nice job in our first game.
Ed plays physically, plays with low pads. He can really displace the line or scrimmage really well when he does it the right way.
So excited to get him back."
"The physical nature that he brings to the game, his ability to move people, will be beneficial for us."
Ryans also said Ingram would slide right back into his starting spot at right guard, which would send Wyatt Teller back to the bench. The rest of Houston’s five-man front would stay unchanged.
If both players are cleared for Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys, it would be the first time the Texans have had all of their projected offensive starters on the field together since the season opener against the Buffalo Bills.
There is still some uncertainty on the other side of the ball. Houston could be without both starting linebackers, depending on how Azeez Al-Shaair’s status develops before kickoff.
For now, though, the Texans have reason to feel better than they did a few days ago. There are still two more practices before Friday’s game designations, but the early read is encouraging.
In Other News...
Texans Wideout Depth Suddenly Back In Focus After Another Change
The Texans dipped back into a familiar pool for a little more receiver depth, signing TreyVHon Saunders to the practice squad after Mitchell Tinsley was taken off Houstons practice squad by the Bengals. Saunders, an undrafted rookie out of Colgate, had already spent the offseason and preseason with the Texans, so his return gives the team another developmental pass catcher who knows the system and the building.
For Houston, these are the kinds of small roster moves that can matter over the long haul, especially at a position where depth can change quickly. Saunders now gets another chance to continue his development in-house, while the Texans sort through the ripple effects of losing Tinsley and keeping the wideout room stocked behind the players already on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Face A Linebacker Crisis Ahead Of Dallas
Houstons linebacker room is suddenly a problem heading into the rivalry game with Dallas, and the timing could hardly be worse. E.J. Speed is out for the season, Henry TooToo is on injured reserve, and Azeez Al-Shaair is dealing with the groin injury he picked up in Week 3, leaving the Texans thin at a spot that usually has to do a lot of the dirty work in the middle of the defense.
If Al-Shaair cannot go, the Texans would be leaning on veteran Jake Hansen and rookie Wade Woodaz to absorb a much bigger load. It is the kind of depth test that can change the shape of a game plan in a hurry, especially against a Dallas offense that will be paying close attention to every weak spot Houston has left in front of it. [Read more 🡒]
Andre Johnson Weighed In On Houstons 0-3 Mess
The Texans 0-3 start has already turned up the pressure in Houston, but Andre Johnson wasnt willing to put the blame on C.J. Stroud alone when he spoke at the teams Forever H-Town event. The former star receiver, now a trusted voice around the franchise, said Stroud has looked generally solid even as the results have gone sideways, and he framed the opening month as a broader team issue rather than a quarterback-only problem.
Houstons early struggles have been tied to a shaky offensive line, a running game that has not found much traction and the absence of top target Nico Collins because of injury. Johnsons read is a reminder that the Texans fix is going to have to be more comprehensive than one quick change at quarterback, and the longer the losing continues, the more every part of the offense will stay under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]