The Houston Texans will be short-handed when they line up against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, with four players officially ruled out on the final injury report released after Friday’s practice.
The biggest name on that list is Nico Collins. Houston’s top wideout is done for Week 2 after a hamstring injury that first surfaced in Wednesday’s practice. Collins opened the week limited, then sat out the next two sessions, and now won’t have a chance to play until Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Texans are also missing right guard Ed Ingram, who picked up a groin injury in Thursday’s practice. According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, Ingram could miss one to two weeks while he recovers.
That pushes veteran Wyatt Teller into the starting lineup at right guard against Cincinnati. Teller joined Houston earlier this offseason after spending time with the Cleveland Browns, where he started more than 100 games and made two Pro Bowls.
Defensively, Houston will be without edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who is sidelined by a knee injury. His absence thins out the Texans’ pass-rush depth behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
Dominique Robinson and Sabastian Harsh are the main backups in that spot, and the two have combined for 3.5 sacks in their careers. A practice squad elevation could still be on the table before kickoff if Houston wants extra help up front.
The other Texan ruled out is linebacker Jake Hummel, who is dealing with a groin injury.
On Cincinnati’s side, the injury report is lighter. The Bengals did not list any players as out, but quarterback Joe Burrow is questionable with a back injury, and defensive tackle B.J. Hill is also questionable with an Achilles issue.
Burrow was limited earlier in the week while working through what he described as post-game soreness. He practiced in full on Friday, which gives the Bengals some reason for optimism heading into the matchup. Based on what he said during Wednesday’s media availability, Burrow appears intent on playing, though the questionable tag still leaves his status worth watching.
In Other News...
Texans Defense Suddenly Has A Clowney Concern Before Bengals Game
Jadeveon Clowneys status has become a small but meaningful concern for the Texans as they turn their attention to the Bengals. The veteran edge rusher was limited in practice because of a knee injury, a development worth watching for a defense that could use all the disruption it can get after its Week 1 issues.
Clowney was one of the brighter spots in the opener, even as Houstons defense struggled overall, so any setback with his availability changes the conversation around this matchup. The Texans will keep monitoring him leading up to the game, and whether he can suit up against Cincinnati is now one of the more important injury storylines on their side. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Have A C.J. Stroud Protection Problem Before Bengals Game
The Texans are heading into Week 2 with a little more uncertainty around the edges than they would like, and it starts with the availability of two important pieces on offense. Nico Collins has been dealing with a Grade 1 hamstring injury, while right guard Ed Ingram has missed multiple practices because of a groin issue, putting some pressure on Houstons protection plans before Sundays matchup with the Bengals.
Any time a receiver like Collins is limited, it changes how defenses can be handled, but the bigger concern in Houston is how these injuries ripple through the offensive line and the overall rhythm of the unit. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has also sat out several practices with a knee injury, adding another name to the list of Texans trying to get right in time for a game that already looks like it could demand a cleaner, sturdier performance up front. [Read more 🡒]
DeForest Buckners Return Could Change Everything For The Colts Defense
DeForest Buckners return to full participation in Colts training camp has given Indianapolis a much-needed boost, especially after he acknowledged he had seriously considered retirement while dealing with multiple injuries. For a defense that leans so heavily on his presence, getting Buckner back on the field changes the tone around the unit and gives head coach Shane Steichen a proven leader to build around as camp moves forward.
For Houston, it is also a reminder of how quickly the AFC South picture can shift when a rivals defensive centerpiece is healthy. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has already been in the position of defending C.J. Stroud after a rough outing, pointing more to defensive breakdowns than to the quarterbacks turnovers, and matchups with Indianapolis figure to carry plenty of weight if Buckner is back to anchoring that front the way the Colts expect. [Read more 🡒]