Seven Texans players missed practice on Wednesday as the team kicked off preparations for their Sunday clash against the Giants. This isn’t just a few bumps and bruises; we’re talking about a significant chunk of their roster sidelined, and it’s definitely a red flag as they gear up for the weekend.
A Full Bench of Injured Starters
The list of players who didn’t hit the practice field is long and impactful. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is battling a knee issue, which is huge for their defensive core. Safety Reed Blankenship is dealing with a double whammy: a concussion and a hand injury. That’s a rough combo to come back from, especially for a safety. Upfront, both offensive tackle Trent Brown (wrist) and offensive tackle Blake Fisher (thumb) were out. Losing two starting tackles? That’s a massive blow to protecting their quarterback and opening run lanes.
And it doesn’t stop there. Running back David Montgomery is nursing a groin injury, while safety Jalen Pitre is out with a shoulder problem. Top it all off with tight end Dalton Schultz sidelined by a quad injury. That’s seven *key* guys, from offense to defense, all sitting out. You can’t just brush that off; it changes everything about their game plan against the Giants.
More Depth Concerns and a Glimmer of Hope
The bad news doesn’t end with those seven. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (knee), defensive end Logan Hall (knee), and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o (shoulder) were all limited in practice. That’s three more guys who aren’t at 100%, and their availability or effectiveness could be a real question mark. On top of that, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and wide receiver Nico Collins didn’t participate in team drills at all, but that was reportedly for load management. Still, seeing those names not fully engaged is a bit unsettling, even if it’s planned.
But hey, there’s one piece of genuinely good news in this injury-riddled report: wide receiver Tank Dell was a full participant in practice despite his knee injury. He’s actually expected to play on Sunday, marking his first game action since 2024. That’s a veteran presence returning to the field, and they’ll need every single healthy body they can get.
Looking ahead to Sunday, this Texans team is going to have to dig deep. With so many critical players either out or limited, their matchup against the Giants just became a monumental challenge. They’ll need everyone who *is* healthy to step up big time if they want to pull off a win with such a depleted roster.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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