The Houston Texans will have to get through Week 10 without Danielle Hunter, and that puts a much bigger spotlight on Jadeveon Clowney.
Hunter was listed as a limited participant in Thursday’s team practice with a hamstring injury, then downgraded to a DNP on Friday. That was enough for Houston to make the call and hold him out against the Cleveland Browns.
Losing Hunter is no small thing. He has been a central part of the Texans’ pass rush since arriving in 2024, and he’s been on the field for every game this season. Through eight games, Hunter has totaled 19 tackles, three TFLs, four sacks, and a forced fumble.
Availability has been one of the defining parts of his run in Houston, too. He has not missed a game for the Texans in either 2024 or 2025, putting together perfect 17-game attendance in both seasons. He was on pace to do it again before the hamstring issue popped up this week.
With Hunter out, the Texans need someone else on the edge to absorb the extra load, and Clowney is the obvious answer. He has spent this season as Houston’s third defensive end, working behind Anderson and Hunter as a rotational piece who brings pass-rush juice and depth.
That role has been productive. In the six games he’s been healthy, Clowney has posted 12 tackles, four TFLs, and 3.5 sacks while playing just 37% of Houston’s defensive snaps. That usage rate is the lowest of his career, but he’s still been effective when called upon.
Now the assignment changes. Without Hunter, Clowney should slide into a starting role next to Will Anderson, assuming Anderson is also healthy, and his snap count is expected to jump to around 70% of the defense’s reps. That would put him in the kind of workload Hunter usually handles.
For Houston, that means more than just filling a spot. Clowney will be asked to handle more of the down-to-down burden, help slow the Browns’ run game, and generate pressure on Deshaun Watson.
The Texans have plenty of talent on defense, but the edge depth looks thinner without Hunter. That’s why Clowney’s performance looms so large in Cleveland. If he delivers in the expanded role, Houston’s path to a second straight win gets a lot cleaner.
In Other News...
Texans Suddenly Have A Will Anderson Concern Before Browns Game
A week of preparation for the Browns got a little more complicated for Houston when Will Anderson Jr. showed up on the injury report as a limited participant because of an ankle issue. The second-year edge rusher has been central to what the Texans want to do defensively, so any limitation around him is worth watching closely as the team moves through the final days before kickoff.
Danielle Hunter was also limited with a hamstring injury, adding another layer to Houstons pass-rush concerns, while Marvin Harrison Jr. did not practice because of a hamstring issue. The Texans will release their final injury report and game designations on Friday, which should offer a clearer picture of who is trending toward playing and who may be headed into the weekend with a tougher outlook. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Offensive Line Suddenly Has A Browns Problem
The Texans may have to reshuffle again up front in Week 10, and this time the issue is at left guard. Rookie Keylan Rutledge is unlikely to play against the Browns after dealing with stinger symptoms from a recent practice injury, leaving Houston to adjust on the fly in a spot that has already asked plenty of a young offensive line.
If Rutledge is out, rookie Febechi Nwaiwu is expected to step into the starting role at left guard. It is another test for a unit trying to settle in, even as DeMeco Ryans has continued to point to Rutledges consistency through the ups and downs of his first NFL season. [Read more 🡒]
Texans See One Cleveland Challenge As A Real Opportunity
Windy weather in Cleveland is not necessarily a nuisance for the Texans. Special teams coordinator Frank Ross sounded almost eager about it this week, pointing to the kind of game where kicking becomes less about routine and more about feel, timing and quick adjustments. With the Browns undefeated at home, Houston is preparing for a tough setting anyway, and Ross framed the forecast as part of the challenge rather than something to fear.
The details matter in conditions like this, where even small changes in wind direction can alter how a kick is handled from snap to finish. Ross also emphasized the role of snapper Austin Brinkman in helping the unit manage the elements, a reminder that these games often come down to the hidden work on special teams. For the Texans, the weather is just another variable in a matchup that already carries plenty of difficulty. [Read more 🡒]