Houston executive vice president and general manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday that Smith (hamstring) could begin practicing "after another week or two," Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Smith was injured in Week 2 and placed on injured reserve. The rookie served as the third cornerback behind Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter, getting on the field for 21 defensive snaps, and was a core member on special teams. The earliest Smith can return is Oct. 26.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Danielle Hunter: Blanked in Week 5
Rotowire
Hunter didn't record any stats, while playing 20 defensive snaps in Sunday's 44-10 win over the Ravens.
Hunter went without a tackle for the second time this season, ultimately playing a season-low 20 snaps on defense in the blowout victory. With Houston idle Week 6, Hunter will look to get back on track against the Seahawks on Monday Night Football in Week 7.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Logs four tackles vs. Baltimore
Rotowire
Al-Shaair registered four tackles (two solo) and one pass defense during the Texans' 44-10 win over the Ravens on Sunday.
Al-Shaair played a season-low 38 defensive snaps Sunday, but the Texans had just 43 snaps on defense as the offense dominated time of possession in a Week 5 blowout win. The veteran linebacker has just seven tackles over the past two games and is up to 32 tackles (19 solo), three pass defenses and one forced fumble over the first five games of the regular season.
... See More... See Less
C.J. Gardner-Johnson: Finds work in Baltimore
Rotowire
The Ravens signed Gardner-Johnson to the practice squad Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Gardner-Johnson started each of the Texans' first three games this season and played 96 percent of the defensive snaps in that span, but the two sides split ways ahead of Week 4. In Baltimore, Gardner-Johnson will give the Ravens an experienced veteran in their injury-riddled secondary.
... See More... See Less
Marlon Davidson: Signs with Houston
Rotowire
Davidson (bicep/undisclosed) was signed to the Texans' practice squad Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Davidson had a tryout with the Houston on Monday, and he was ultimately added to the team's practice squad. The defensive tackle spent two weeks with the Texans in early August, but he was let go after reaching an injury settlement with the team Aug. 14. Davidson now appears to have moved past the injury he sustained, and he'll look to earn an elevation to the active roster down the road this season.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Christian Harris: Won't play against Baltimore
Rotowire
Harris (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Harris worked in a rotational role at outside linebacker and contributed on special teams through the first four games of the regular season, but the 2022 third-rounder will be a healthy scratch for Sunday's game in Baltimore. Jake Hansen and E.J. Speed should see a slight increase in defensive snaps in Harris' absence.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Denico Autry: Not ready to return
Rotowire
Autry (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Baltimore.
Autry opened the regular season on the reserve/PUP list due to lingering knee injury from the 2024 campaign. His practice window to return from the PUP list opened Wednesday, but he's not quite ready to make his 2025 debut after putting together an LP/LP/DNP practice log. Autry will have additional time to rest due to the Texans being on a bye for Week 6, which puts him in a better spot to make his regular-season debut in Week 7 against the Seahawks on Monday, Oct. 20.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylen Reed: Remaining on IR
Rotowire
Reed (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Reed was designated to return from IR on Wednesday and ended the week on a high note with a full practice Friday. However, the rookie sixth-rounder is not quite ready to make his NFL regular-season debut, and with the Texans on a bye Week 6, his next opportunity to do so will be Week 7 against the Seahawks on Monday, Oct. 20.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Folorunso Fatukasi: Won't play vs. Baltimore
Rotowire
Fatukasi (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Fatukasi was unable to practice all week due to a shoulder injury he likely picked up during the Texans' Week 4 win over the Titans, and he'll be in street clothes for Sunday's road contest. Tim Settle and Tommy Togiai should see an uptick in rotational snaps at defensive tackle in Fatukasi's absence.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Will Anderson: Fades injury report
Rotowire
Anderson (rest) was not listed on the Texans' injury report for Thursday's practice.
Anderson was held out of Wednesday's practice for rest purposes, but the 2023 first-rounder is on track to play against the Ravens on Sunday. The third-year pass rusher has opened the regular season with 14 tackles (10 solo), including 3.0 sacks, across four games.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Folorunso Fatukasi: Misses practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Fatukasi (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
It's a new injury for the veteran defensive lineman, who played a season-low 22 percent of the defensive snaps last Sunday against the Titans. Sheldon Rankins, Tim Settle, Mario Edwards and Tommy Togiai paced the Texans' defensive tackles in playing time last Sunday with Fatukasi banged up.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylen Reed: Returning from injury soon
Rotowire
Reed (ankle) was designated to return from the injured reserve list Wednesday.
Reed now has 21 days to be added to the Texans' active roster before reverting to IR. The rookie safety from Penn State has yet to appear in an NFL game after recording 98 total tackles, including seven tackles for loss, and three interceptions during his final collegiate season. Once healthy, he's expected to serve as one of the Texans' top reserve safeties.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Will Anderson: Held without sack in win
Rotowire
Anderson recorded two tackles (zero solo) in the Texans' win over the Titans on Sunday.
Anderson started the season with 1.0 sacks in three straight games, but his streak snapped against Tennessee, as the Titans were unable to sustain any offense, which limited Anderson to a season-low 38 defensive snaps. On the year, Anderson has recorded 14 tackles (10 solo), including 3.0 sacks and five TFLs, and six QB hits on 71 percent of the defensive snaps.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Kamari Lassiter: Picks up five tackles in win
Rotowire
Lassiter recorded five tackles (two solo) and two pass breakups in the Texans' win over the Titans on Sunday.
Lassiter has played all 260 defensive snaps for Houston this season and has produced 24 tackles (16 solo) and two pass breakups across four contests. While Derek Stingley typically chases No. 1 wide receivers, Lassiter sees mostly No. 2 outside receivers in coverage.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Jaylen Reed: Expected to come off IR
Rotowire
Reed (ankle) is expected to be activated from the injured reserve list this week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
This is the first week that Reed is eligible to return, after he opened the season on the IR with a designation to return. If the Texans eventually make it official, Reed's 21-day window will kick in. Once Reed is ready to return to the field, the 2025 sixth-round draft pick is expected to be a backup on defense and serve as a regular on special teams. Reed was initially hurt in training camp during a special teams portion of practice.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Derek Stingley: Uncertain for Week 4
Rotowire
Stingley (oblique) is questionable to play Sunday versus the Titans.
Stingley was able to return to practice Friday in a limited capacity after missing the first two sessions of the week with an oblique injury that he suffered in Week 3. If the cornerback can't go against Tennessee, Tremon Smith is a top candidate to start in his place.
... See More... See Less
Texans' M.J. Stewart: Moves up depth chart
Rotowire
Stewart is expected to take over as a starting safety after the Texans released C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Wednesday, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Gardner-Johnson's tenure in Houston lasted just three games before head coach DeMeco Ryans pushed the eject button. Ryans talked about having a "great pulse" of the locker room and "what's going on" as factors that influenced his decision. The 30-year-old Stewart is in his fourth season with the Texans and is familiar with the operation. He's played just five snaps in 2025 but has extensive experience as a backup in previous seasons, which makes Ryans believe he can handle the promotion.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Derek Stingley: Begins week with DNP
Rotowire
Stingley (oblique) didn't practice Wednesday.
Stingley suffered an oblique injury this past Sunday versus the Jaguars and was deemed day-to-day by coach DeMeco Ryans on Monday. Stingley's lack of practice Wednesday isn't a promising sign toward his availability for Sunday's matchup against Tennessee, but he'll have two more chances to get on the field this week before the Texans potentially tag him with a status heading into the weekend. If Stingley can't suit up Sunday, Tremon Smith could start in his place.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Zion Childress: Links up with Texans
Rotowire
The Texans signed Childress off the Cowboys' practice squad Wednesday, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Childress failed to make the Cowboys' initial 53-man roster in late August but has since been picked up by Houston. The Kentucky product will likely play a depth role in the Texans' secondary for the remainder of the season, especially after the team parted ways with veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Will Anderson: Collects another sack
Rotowire
Anderson registered four tackles (three solo), including 1.0 sacks, during the Texans' 17-10 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
Anderson got to Trevor Lawrence for a 13-yard sack late in the second quarter, which led to the Jaguars punting away the ball on the next play. Anderson has logged one sack in each of the first three games of the season and he'll look to make it four games in a row with a sack against the Titans in Week 4.
