Texans Injury Report: O-Line Shuffle Continues as Ersery Battles Back from Thumb Surgery
HOUSTON - With the playoffs looming and the Chargers up next, the Houston Texans are in the thick of a late-season grind - and the injury report reads like a depth chart in flux. Rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery is trying to make a quick turnaround after thumb surgery earlier this week, returning to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday. The team inserted metal hardware to stabilize the injury, and if he suits up Saturday, he’ll do so with a protective club.
Ersery is officially listed as questionable, and if he can’t go, the Texans will once again turn to Blake Fisher, who stepped in last week against the Raiders and held his own. The Notre Dame product - a former All-American and second-round pick - has mostly worked as an extra lineman in Houston’s jumbo sets this season, but he’s no stranger to the left tackle spot. He’s confident, comfortable, and ready if called upon.
“It feels good,” Fisher said. “It’s just going out there, being physical, getting to my spot, using the proper technique at all times. I’m really confident… I’ve been taught well.”
The Texans are already down veteran tackle Trent Brown, who’s been ruled out with knee and ankle injuries. That means Tytus Howard is expected to slide over to right tackle - a position he’s more than familiar with - while Jarrett Patterson fills in at left guard.
Howard’s versatility has been a major asset all season. A former first-round pick, he’s played every position on the offensive line except center. That kind of flexibility is gold in the NFL, especially in December when rosters are stretched thin.
“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.”
Howard isn’t just ready - he’s battle-tested. And with Patterson stepping in at guard and Fisher holding down the left side if needed, the Texans are leaning on depth and adaptability to keep the offensive line intact.
“We’ve got guys that’s gonna step in like Jarrett and play some good football,” Howard added. “Blake came in and played well for us, too.
You’ve always gotta be ready in this league. You never know what’s gonna happen.”
Head coach DeMeco Ryans acknowledged the challenge of managing the offensive line on a short week, but he’s not making excuses.
“Everybody knows we’re banged up at tackle and we’ll see,” Ryans said. “We’re on a short week here, we’ll see how that pans out for us.”
Defensive Reinforcements and Key Starters Trending Up
On the defensive side, the Texans ruled out linebacker Jamal Hill due to calf and wrist issues. But there’s better news elsewhere on the injury front.
Defensive end Darrell Taylor, cornerback Ajani Carter, and wide receiver Justin Watson were all full participants in practice and are listed as questionable. Each has been designated for return from injured reserve but has yet to be activated.
Meanwhile, a handful of key contributors are good to go for Saturday’s matchup in Los Angeles. That includes All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. (oblique), starting running back Woody Marks (ankle), corner Kamari Lassiter (foot), Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee, ankle), tight end Dalton Schultz, defensive linemen Sheldon Rankins (knee), Dylan Horton (hip), Denico Autry (knee), and long snapper Austin Brinkman.
That’s a significant boost for a Texans team that continues to fight for playoff positioning.
Woody Marks Back in the Fold
The return of Woody Marks is especially timely. After missing one game with an ankle injury, the Texans’ starting running back was back at practice Tuesday and went full speed. He’s expected to suit up Saturday, giving Houston a much-needed jolt in the backfield.
“It feels good, just to be back on the field and running around with the team,” Marks said. “Very tough, just had a talk with my mom and them, they know I don’t like missing games or practices.”
Marks is realistic about the wear and tear that comes with a long NFL season.
“I feel like nobody is going to be 100 percent at the end of the season. I’m not going to feel 100 percent, but close to there. They’re my brothers, but I want to be out there playing with them.”
Without Marks last week, the Texans leaned on Jawhar Jordan and Nick Chubb, but the run game never really got going. Houston rushed for just 83 yards on 26 carries - a 3.2-yard average - while the Raiders, led by rookie Ashton Jeanty, carved up the Texans’ front for 128 yards on the ground.
Ryans didn’t sugarcoat the performance.
“The main thing is we couldn’t run the football,” he said. “We didn’t control the line of scrimmage how we needed to control the line of scrimmage. They got a lot of negative tackles for loss, knocked us back a few times and we didn’t run the ball well.
“On the flip side of that, they were able to run the ball effectively and that was the difference in the game. If we control the line of scrimmage better, we can sustain drives a little bit better to be in better control of the game.”
Al-Shaair Back in Action
Azeez Al-Shaair, the heart of the Texans’ defense and a vocal leader in the locker room, returned to practice this week after missing the Raiders game with knee and ankle injuries. The Pro Bowl linebacker and team captain was limited, but trending in the right direction.
“I felt good,” Al-Shaair said. “It was hard because that’s not just who I am. I fought through everything I’ve ever had in my life, but especially, playing the game of football.”
His presence, both on the field and in the huddle, can’t be overstated. The Texans’ defense feeds off his energy and instincts, and his return could be pivotal against a Chargers offense that’s still dangerous despite their own struggles.
Playoff Push Continues
The Texans are riding a seven-game win streak and sit at 10-5, holding the seventh seed in the AFC playoff race. But with injuries stacking up and a short week ahead, every roster decision matters. Saturday’s road trip to Los Angeles won’t be easy, but if the Texans can hold the line - literally and figuratively - they’ll stay right in the thick of the postseason picture.
As Ryans said, it all starts up front. And with a patchwork line, a returning backfield, and a defense getting healthy at just the right time, Houston’s resilience is being put to the test - and so far, they’re answering the call.