Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Nine stops in loss to Denver
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Al-Shaair recorded nine tackles (four solo) in Sunday's loss to the Broncos.
Al-Shaiir's nine tackles were his second-most of the season, as he's started all eight games and played 98 percent of the Texans' defensive snaps. He's up to 51 tackles (26 solo), five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on the campaign.
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Texans' Jake Hansen: Agrees to contract extension
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Hansen agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Texans on Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Hansen will now be tied to the team through the 2026 campaign on a contract that carries a maximum value of $3 million. The 27-year-old has tallied 10 tackles (six solo) over eight games while playing sparingly on defense but serving as a key member of the Texans' special-teams units.
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Texans' Jalen Pitre: Nursing foot issue
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Pitre (foot) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Pitre was on the field for nearly all of Houston's defensive snaps during Sunday's game versus the 49ers, so it's not immediately apparent when he suffered the foot injury. In any case, he'll have two more opportunities to log a full practice before Houston releases its final practice report of the week Friday.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Modest production in win over 49ers
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Al-Shaair recorded four tackles (one solo) during Houston's win over San Francisco on Sunday.
Al-Shaair has now failed to rack up five or more tackles in three of seven regular-season appearances to begin the 2025 campaign, and he's still looking to pick up his first sack of the year. The veteran linebacker has, however, already logged five pass breakups, tying his total from last season. Al-Shaair could be busy attempting to stop the run Week 9 at home against the Broncos.
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Brandon Hill: Works out with Atlanta
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The Falcons hosted Hill (leg) for a workout Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Hill was waived by the Texans in March with a failed physical designation due to a right leg injury that he sustained during training camp in August of 2024. He appears to have fully recovered from the injury and is looking to catch on with a team in need of help at safety and on special teams. Hill last saw regular-season action in 2023 with the Texans, when he served mostly on special teams across two games.
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Texans' Dylan Horton: Suffers knee injury
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Horton suffered a knee injury during Sunday's 26-15 win over the 49ers.
The rotational defensive end recorded one solo tackle in the game before leaving in the second half. Horton played more than 20 defensive snaps just twice across the first six games of Houston's season.
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Texans' Jaylin Smith: Removed from injured reserve
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The Texans activated Smith (hamstring) from injured reserve Saturday.
Smith was designated to return to practice Wednesday, and he earned the questionable tag for Sunday's game against the 49ers after putting together an LP-FP-FP practice log. His activation off IR indicates that he's on track to play in Week 8, but his official status may not be known until the Texans announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. The rookie third-rounder posted four tackles (two solo) through the first two games of the regular season prior to his placement on IR due to a hamstring injury.
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Texans' Denico Autry: Questionable for Week 8
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Autry (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Autry logged a DNP on Friday after limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, putting his Week 8 status in question. Autry made his season debut last week against the Seahawks, logging just 10 defensive snaps.
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Texans' Derek Barnett: Good to go Week 8
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Barnett (ankle) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Following limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, Barnett logged a full practice Friday. Across six games this season, Barnett has recorded three tackles (one solo) on 29 percent of the defensive snaps.
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Texans' Jaylin Smith: Set to return to practice
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Smith (hamstring) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, per the NFL transaction log.
Sidelined since Week 3 with the hamstring injury, Smith was able to log a limited practice Wednesday. It's unclear if he'll be able to return for a Week 8 matchup against the 49ers, and he'll likely occupy primarily a special-teams role when healthy.
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Texans' Derek Barnett: Limited by ankle injury
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Barnett was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury.
Barnett logged 27 tackles (21 on defense, six on special teams) without recording a tackle during the Texans' 27-19 loss to the Seahawks on Monday. It appears he picked up an ankle injury in the process, and his practice participation over the next two days will shed light on his chances of playing against the 49ers on Sunday. The 2017 first-rounder has just three tackles (one solo) through six regular-season games.
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Texans' Denico Autry: Still working through knee issue
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Autry (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Autry was activated from the reserve/PUP list and cleared to make his 2025 debut against the Seahawks on Monday, when he logged two solo tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and a blocked field-goal attempt in a 27-19 loss. Autry is still working through the knee injury that caused him to miss the first five games of the regular season, but he'll have two more chances to increase his practice participation and avoid an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the 49ers.
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Texans' Calen Bullock: Nabs pick vs. Seahawks
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Bullock recorded four total tackles (three solo) and one interception in Monday night's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks.
The second-year safety was one of two Texans to nab a pick in Monday night's loss, intercepting a pass intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the second quarter. Bullock has established himself as one of the NFL's top ball hawks in his first two years in the league, recording 13 passes defended, including six interceptions, in just 23 regular-season contests. He's expected to continue starting alongside M.J. Stewart in the Texans' secondary ahead of a Week 8 contest against the 49ers.
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Texans' Derek Stingley: Picks off Darnold in Week 7
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Stingley tallied two total tackles (both solo) and one interception in Monday night's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks.
The 2022 first-round pick continues to prove why he's one of the league's top cornerbacks, picking off a pass intended for AJ Barner in the fourth quarter of Monday's loss. Stingley has now recorded 13 total tackles and five passes defended, including two interceptions, over the Texans' first six games this season. He's expected to continue causing problems for opposing quarterbacks in the Week 8 matchup against the 49ers.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Logs seven stops vs. Seahawks
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Speed tallied seven total tackles (six solo) during Monday night's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks.
Speed played a season-high 44 defensive snaps in Houston's Week 7 loss. The 30-year-old linebacker has now tallied 23 total tackles in his first six games as a Texan, contributing both defensively (116 snaps) and on special teams (93 snaps). He's expected to remain one of Houston's top linebackers in the Week 8 matchup against the 49ers.
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Texans' Denico Autry: Makes impact in 2025 debut
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Autry recorded two total tackles (both solo), including 1.0 sacks, and blocked a field-goal attempt in Monday night's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks.
The veteran defensive lineman played 17 total snaps (10 on defense, seven on special teams) and made an instant impact in his regular-season debut, sacking Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter. Autry also blocked a 53-yard field-goal try from Jason Myers late in the second quarter, helping the Texans pull within one score before half time. The 35-year-old is expected to remain a key reserve defensive lineman heading into Houston's Week 8 matchup against the 49ers.
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Texans' Derek Stingley: Logs interception in loss
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Stingley had two tackles, one pass defensed and one interception in Monday's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks in Week 7.
Stingley picked off Sam Darnold midway through the fourth quarter, setting up the Texans at midfield, but the ensuing drive was stymied at the goal line. It was Stingley's second interception of the season with both coming in the last three games.
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Texans' Will Anderson: Provides highlight in loss
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Anderson recorded five tackles, including one for a loss, 1.0 sacks, a quarterback hit, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in Monday's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks in Week 7.
Anderson strip-sacked Sam Darnold in Seattle's endzone and pounced on the loose ball for Houston's first touchdown. It was one of four turnovers forced by Houston's defense. The sack ended a two-game drought for Anderson, who has 4.0 sacks through six contests.
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Texans' Denico Autry: All set for season debut
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Autry (knee) is active for Monday night's contest in Seattle.
Autry will make his regular-season debut after missing the team's first five games of the year while on the reserve/PUP list with a knee injury. The 35-year-old will operate in a depth role on the defensive line behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter against the Seahawks in Week 7.
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Zion Childress: Dropped by Texans
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Childress was waived by the Texans on Monday.
With rookie safety Jaylen Reed (knee) being activated to the Texans' active roster Monday, Childress was cut by Houston in a corresponding move. The 23-year-old from Kentucky didn't play a single snap for the Texans after being signed to the active roster in late September.
