Man, talk about a brutal start to the season! The Houston Texans’ linebacker depth just got absolutely gutted, and it’s only Week 1. Starter Henry To’oTo’o and backup Jake Hummel both went down with injuries in that tough 36-31 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills. To’oTo’o, hyped after a preseason contract extension, is now on injured reserve, out for a minimum of four long weeks. Hummel? He’s sidelined week-to-week with a groin injury. Just like that, their linebacker room is suddenly looking thin.
Who’s Stepping Up When the Going Gets Rough?
Coach DeMeco Ryans is trying to keep it cool, telling his guys to simply “go do your job, do it to the best of your ability.” That’s his message to everyone on defense, he said. “Be where you’re supposed to be, do what you’re supposed to do and we’ll be just fine.” When asked point-blank who’d line up next to Azeez Al-Shaair this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Ryans even joked, “me.” But the expectation is crystal clear: it’s the 28-year-old veteran, Jake Hansen. He was the one who immediately filled in for To’oTo’o after the injury against the Bills. Talk about getting thrown into the fire!
Hansen’s Grind Pays Off, With a Pro Bowler’s Backup
His teammate, Will Anderson Jr., sounds super confident, too. “I think Jake is going to step in and do a fantastic job for us,” Anderson said, giving a huge endorsement. “He’s played a lot of ball for us. He brings energy. He plays the right way. He knows our brand of ball. We’re all going to go out there and swarm with him and be behind him, and he’s going to get the job done.” Hansen is a fifth-year guy, signing as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He’s got four previous starts to his name. He says playing big reps is “always fun” and his years in the Texans’ system mean he’s banked a ton of experience. His personal standard? “My standard is to play like I’m the starter.” You gotta love that mindset! Plus, having Al-Shaair, a Pro Bowler and team captain from last year, right next to him is a game-changer. Ryans knows it, too. He said, “Anybody who steps into that role next to Aziz, they’re gonna have a guy they can lean on. He’s going to help the man next to him, and I don’t expect anything different.” That kind of veteran presence is invaluable.
The Depth Scramble and What’s Next
When the season kicked off, Houston had five linebackers on the active roster: To’oTo’o and Al-Shaair as starters, then Hansen, Hummel, and rookie Wade Woodaz as backups. Plus, E.J. Speed, who started nine games last season, is still on the physically unable to perform list. So, with To’oTo’o on IR, they’ve already had to call up Jamal Hill from the practice squad and sign veteran Kenneth Murray to the practice squad. Murray, a first-round pick in 2020 from Missouri City, has started an impressive 83 of 90 career NFL games. He brings serious experience, which is critical right now. Heading into Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, this Texans defense needs Hansen and every other guy to absolutely step up. These early-season injuries are a huge test, and how they respond now could set the tone for the next few weeks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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