Man, talk about a gut punch right when a team can least afford it. The Houston Texans are already sitting at 0-3, staring down a “must-win” against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and now their Pro Bowl middle linebacker and team captain, Azeez Al-Shaair, is expected to miss the game with a groin injury. This isn’t just a bump in the road; it’s a huge blow to a squad that’s trying to claw its way out of an early-season hole.
Houston’s Defense Just Lost Its Anchor
Al-Shaair has been the absolute anchor of the Texans’ defense at the second level, a true emotional leader and the guy who commands a ton of communication on game day. Head coach DeMeco Ryans called him “week-to-week,” but after not practicing for a second straight afternoon, the reports are he’s out for Week 4’s matchup at Reliant Stadium. You just can’t overstate what that means for this defense. He’s a Pro Bowler who signed a three-year, $54 million extension through 2029 in the offseason, and he showed exactly why by totaling a team-leading 31 tackles already this season. Last year, the guy had 103 tackles and two interceptions. Even when he got hurt against the Colts on Sunday, he still toughed it out for 54 snaps, finishing with a team-leading 11 tackles. That’s clutch. He usually plays 100 percent of defensive snaps, so being at 76 percent last week after the injury shows just how much they rely on him. Defensive coordinator Matt Burke pretty much summed it up, saying “When you lose a guy like Azeez, who does command a lot of communication and takes a lot of that on game day,” it’s a tough spot. The hope is he’ll be back by Week 6 for their London trip against the Jaguars, but that’s still a few games away for a team that desperately needs a win now.
Who’s Stepping Up In A Messy Situation?
So, with Al-Shaair out, what’s the plan? Veteran linebacker Jake Hansen is expected to take over as the green-dot signal-caller. He’s already in the starting lineup, filling in for Henry To’oTo’o, who’s got a shoulder injury and will be out for several more weeks. That’s two key linebackers down for a critical game. Rookie Wade Woodaz, a fourth-round pick from Clemson, would be starting next to Hansen in Al-Shaair’s spot. Woodaz played 11 snaps last week filling in, and he allowed a touchdown pass to Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen. It’s a huge ask for a rookie, especially when you’re facing a “must-win” game against the Cowboys. The Texans do get some good news with offensive lineman Ed Ingram and Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins returning, but losing your defensive captain for a game this big? That’s a brutal trade-off.
This Sunday’s game on FOX at Noon is absolutely massive for Houston. They’re 0-3, and if they lose to the Cowboys, they’d become only the second team in league history to ever go from 0-4 to postseason-bound, a feat only achieved by the 1992 San Diego Chargers. The pressure is on, and doing it without Azeez Al-Shaair’s leadership and tackling ability is going to make it an even tougher climb.
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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