With 15 games in the books, the NFL season has reached that gritty, unforgiving stretch where every team is dealing with bumps, bruises, and battered depth charts. And while no roster is immune to the wear and tear of a long season, the Houston Texans are feeling the weight of it all at a particularly inconvenient time.
Unlike some teams that are already coasting into January or playing out the string, the Texans are still very much in the thick of the playoff race. The math suggests they’re in good shape - 10 wins for a third straight year is no small feat - but nothing is locked in just yet.
In fact, there’s still a scenario where Houston could win double-digit games and still find themselves on the outside looking in come playoff time. That’s the razor-thin margin they’re working with.
And now, instead of getting a breather or a late-season bye, Houston is heading west for a tough road matchup against the 11-win Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. The Chargers are just as motivated, still chasing a division title of their own, and they’ll be looking to defend home turf with playoff implications on the line. For the Texans, this is a high-stakes showdown - and they might be walking into it with one arm tied behind their back.
Eight players missed Tuesday’s practice, and five of them are starters. That’s not just a dent in the rotation - that’s a chunk of the foundation.
Let’s start with the secondary, which has been a strength all season. Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter - two cornerstones of what’s arguably the best defensive backfield in the league - were both sidelined. That’s a major red flag heading into a game where Houston will likely need to slow down one of the league’s more aggressive passing attacks.
Up front, the situation may be even more dire. The Texans lost both of their starting offensive tackles in last week’s win over the Raiders, and now neither Aireontae Ersery nor Trent Brown practiced on Tuesday.
If they can’t go, Houston would be forced to shuffle the line again - likely sliding Tytus Howard out from guard to tackle and plugging rookie Blake Fisher into a starting role. That’s not ideal protection for a team trying to stay upright in a playoff push.
Sheldon Rankins, a key interior presence on the defensive line, also missed practice, as did Denico Autry, Dylan Horton, and Jake Hansen - all contributors in the front seven. That’s a lot of muscle and experience potentially missing against a Chargers team that can beat you in a variety of ways.
And the injury concerns don’t stop there. Running back Woody Marks, who’s been a steady presence in the backfield, is still dealing with an issue that kept him out of Week 16. Same goes for Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, another key piece who was absent against the Raiders and remains a question mark heading into the weekend.
The Texans have built their identity on resilience this season - winning tough games, overcoming adversity, and leaning on a defense that’s been among the league’s best. But with so many key players in doubt, this week will test that identity more than ever. The margin for error is gone, the stakes are high, and the Texans are walking into a playoff-caliber battle with a roster that’s far from full strength.
If they find a way to win in L.A., it won’t just be another tally in the win column - it’ll be a statement. One that says this team, even at less than 100%, is still dangerous, still determined, and still very much in the hunt.