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Lands on injured reserve
Fri, Sep 11, 2026, 7:15 PM
The Texans placed McDonald (ankle) on injured reserve Friday.
Analysis: McDonald was limited in practice Wednesday and missed practice Thursday, suggesting he suffered the injury in practice this week. He'll now be required to miss at least the first four games of the season. Logan Hall, Mario Edwards and Jaden Crumedy will see the rotational snaps at defensive tackle behind Tommy Togiai and Sheldon Rankins. |
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Doesn't practice Thursday
Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 8:03 PM
McDonald (ankle) didn't participate in practice Thursday.
Analysis: McDonald was listed as a limited participant because of the ankle issue Wednesday and downgraded to DNP on Thursday. That's a concerning trend ahead of Sunday's season opener versus Buffalo. Friday's final injury report of the week should provide more clarity about McDonald's likelihood of suiting up against the Bills. |
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Practices on Wednesday
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 7:48 PM
Robinson (calf) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: Robinson injured his calf during the Texans' preseason contest with the Raiders in mid-August. The defensive end was released by the Texans on Aug. 30 but promptly re-signed with the team on a one-year, $4 million deal. The 28-year-old has recovered from the calf injury just in time for Sunday's home opener against the Bills. |
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Returns to practice Wednesday
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 7:44 PM
Hansen (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: Hansen was carted off the field at the start of training camp in late July with an ankle issue. The linebacker was listed as week-to-week as he managed the injury and has finally recovered just in time for the Texans' Week 1 showdown with the Bills. |
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Manages full practice Wednesday
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 7:19 PM
Woodaz (thumb) was a full participant at practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Woodaz broke his thumb during the Texans' preseason game at Las Vegas in August, but it doesn't look like that will keep him out in Week 1 versus the Bills. The rookie fourth-rounder projects to start his career in a rotational role at linebacker. |
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Should suit up vs. Bills
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 7:15 PM
Clowney (hip/ankle) was not listed on Houston's official injury report Wednesday.
Analysis: Clowney sustained a soft-tissue injury to his hip during the Texans' preseason game at Las Vegas, but it appears he'll be available for Week 1. The veteran figures to settle into a rotational role on the edge behind All-Pro Will Anderson and five-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter. |
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British Brooks British Brooks On track to play vs. Bills
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 7:10 PM
Brooks (hand) was not listed on Houston's official injury report Wednesday.
Analysis: Brooks broke his hand during a practice back in early August, but it doesn't look like it's holding him back anymore. He's not likely to see many snaps on offense in Week 1, barring an injury to David Montgomery or Woody Marks. |
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Brevin Jordan Brevin Jordan Avoids injury report Wednesday
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 7:06 PM
Jordan (knee) was not listed on Houston's official injury report Wednesday.
Analysis: Jordan dealt with a knee issue during training camp and the preseason, but he's on track to be available for Week 1 versus the Bills. How much playing time he'll actually see is another question, as the Texans have four other healthy tight ends on their current 53-man roster. |
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Jaylin Noel Jaylin Noel Fully healthy
Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 5:08 PM
Noel (hamstring) is not listed on the Week 1 injury report Wednesday.
Analysis: Noel dealt with hamstring and finger issues early on in camp but is ready to go for Sunday's season opener against Buffalo. The second-year wideout is competing with Xavier Hutchinson for snaps behind Nico Collins and trade pickup Kayshon Boutte. |
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Kayshon Boutte Kayshon Boutte Building rapport with Stroud
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 3:56 PM
Boutte said Wednesday that he's been developing chemistry with QB C.J. Stroud since his trade from the Patriots to the Texans on Aug. 24, Cole Thompson of USA Today reports.
Analysis: Boutte ended up being the odd man out last month in a New England receiving corps that added A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs in the offseason. Prior to their respective arrivals, Boutte was a regular in the Patriots' passing game the last two seasons, combining for a 76-1,140-9 line on 114 targets in 29 regular-season contests during that span. He joined Houston in the wake of Jayden Higgins' torn ACL, so Boutte will be in the mix for looks from Stroud behind Nico Collins and alongside Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel (hamstring) and Jared Wayne to begin the campaign. |
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Tank Dell Tank Dell Takes pay cut from Houston
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 10:55 AM
Dell (knee) agreed to take a pay cut from the Texans on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Dell was scheduled to collect $3.624 million, but he'll now make just over $1.7 million in 2026. Dell missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign after a catastrophic knee injury suffered toward the end of the previous season. He's now opening this season on injured reserve and won't be eligible to play until Week 5 at the earliest. |
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Woody Marks Woody Marks Expected to split backfield work
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 11:54 AM
Marks is expected to split backfield work pretty evenly with David Montgomery this season, Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: "The distribution ... might not be 50-50, but it will be close," Alexander wrote Aug. 23. "The Texans have utilized both nearly evenly throughout camp." Alexander expects a sort-of hot-hand approach out of the Houston backfield on a weekly basis. Marks played 10 snaps in the Texans' second preseason game and rushed four times for 37 yards and one touchdown. He also added a catch for six yards, working exclusively with the first-team offense while Montgomery was rested for that exhibition. Marks is being drafted nearly five rounds after Montgomery in fantasy. |
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Nico Collins Nico Collins Depth chart uncertain behind him
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 11:35 AM
Collins is the clear No. 1 wide receiver for the Texans heading into the regular season, but the pecking order at the position behind him is uncertain, as Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel (hamstring), Kayshon Boutte and Jared Wayne are vying for roles, while Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports that Tank Dell (knee) will begin the season on IR with a designation to return.
Analysis: Jayden Higgins had been set to start opposite Collins, but Higgins suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice, prompting the Texans to trade for Boutte from the Patriots. Dell has had the most success out of the options behind Collins, but the 2023 third-round pick hasn't suited up since the 2024 season and will miss at least the first four games of 2026. Collins has exceeded 1,000 regular-season receiving yards while scoring at least seven total touchdowns in each of the past three campaigns. |
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David Montgomery David Montgomery Tops RB depth chart over Marks and Brooks
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 11:12 AM
Montgomery is one of three running backs on Houston's 53-man roster, along with Woody Marks and British Brooks, Jared Koch of SI.com reports.
Analysis: Montgomery is ticketed for a prominent role after coming over from Detroit in an offseason trade, but it remains to be seen just how much Marks cuts into Montgomery's usage. The 230-pound Montgomery is much better-suited for running inside and short-yardage work than the 208-pound Marks, but Montgomery recorded only 76 receptions across the past three regular seasons in Detroit, so the shifty Marks could siphon away opportunities in passing situations. |
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C.J. Stroud C.J. Stroud Injuries and trade reshape WR room
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 11:01 AM
Stroud heads into the regular season with Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel (hamstring) and Kayshon Boutte as his top wide receivers, while Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports that Tank Dell (knee) will begin the season on IR with a designation to return.
Analysis: The Texans traded for Boutte from New England after Jayden Higgins tore his ACL, knocking the 2025 second-round pick out for the season. Boutte's 551 receiving yards for the Patriots in the 2025 regular season would have ranked second among Houston's wideouts behind Collins. Hutchinson had a career-high 428 receiving yards during the 2025 regular season, Noel has some intriguing upside as a 2025 third-round pick, and Houston is hoping to get Dell back eventually from the knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. Stroud is looking to bounce back after a 2025 campaign in which he threw for career lows in both passing yards (3,041) and touchdown passes (19) during the regular season before coughing up seven turnovers in two playoff games. |
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Dalton Schultz Dalton Schultz Held out of exhibition games
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 7:09 PM
Schultz did not play in any of the Texans' three preseason games.
Analysis: Schultz, wide receiver Nico Collins and running back David Montgomery were some of the offensive starters that did not participate in preseason games, with quarterback C.J. Stroud seeing minimal action against the Raiders on Aug. 20. Schultz is coming off a productive 2025 regular season, setting a career high with 82 catches, while his 777 yards were his most since the 2021 campaign with the Cowboys (808 yards). Jayden Higgins (knee) will miss the entire 2026 season, and with Tank Dell (knee) opening the season on injured reserve, Schultz and Collins figure to be the go-to targets for Stroud in the passing game. |
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Moved to IR
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 7:13 PM
The Texans Greg Auman of Fox SportsHagen (undisclosed) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Analysis: Hagen is an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State. The reserve offensive lineman is 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. The Texans clearly valued the rookie's training camp production, as the choice to keep the young player on the active roster will give him a chance to return to the 2026 season after at least four games on IR. |
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Placed on injured reserve
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 7:10 PM
The Texans Greg Auman of Fox SportsSmith (foot) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Analysis: The offensive tackle is set to miss 4-to-6 weeks with a torn plantar fascia tendon. Smith was carted off the field last Wednesday with the injury, making Trent Brown the Texans' starting right tackle for the Week 1 matchup with the Bills. Even if the 30-year-old could recover quicker than his timeline predicts, the tackle will need to miss at least four regular-season games on IR before becoming eligible to return to the team's active roster. |
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Brevin Jordan Brevin Jordan Back with Texans
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 6:36 PM
Jordan (knee) agreed to a deal with the Texans on Tuesday.
Analysis: Jordan was recently cut by the Texans, though he will be brought back and added to the 53-man roster. The 26-year-old was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, appearing in 36 regular-season games and amassing 53 receptions for 532 yards and five touchdowns. Jordan has battled knee issues over the last few years, limiting his availability, though general manager Nick Caserio, as relayed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, indicated he could return to practice next week. |
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Likely to be ready for Week 1
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 6:18 PM
Clowney (hip/ankle) is expected to be good to go for Week 1 versus Buffalo, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Clowney suffered a soft-tissue injury to his hip during the preseason meeting with the Raiders. He's also been battling an ankle issue. However, neither of the ailments is expected to keep him off the field for the opener against the Bills. The 33-year-old Clowney isn't as productive as he once was, though he ended the 2025 campaign with the Cowboys by totaling 41 tackles and 8.5 sacks across 13 regular-season games. |
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