The excitement around C.J. Stroudâs continuing to practice for the Houston Texans this week was tempered on Thursday. While the Texans indeed got back to in preparation to face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13 with Stroud in two, they did not have Will Anderson Jr.
Anderson, a Pro Bowler and the Defensive Rookie of the year in 2023, popped up on the injury report, too, which is always a cause for concern during the middle of the week.
With one more session before the Texans face the Colts, Andersonâs status is getting noticed.
Texans List Will Anderson Jr. With New Injury
GettyWill Anderson Jr. #51 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Tennessee Titans.
The Texansâ second injury report of Week 13 drew attention, with Anderson listed as DNP due to a chest injury. The Houston Chronicleâs Sam Warren called it âsomething to monitorâ in a post on X after the news.
âA little discouraging to see Will Anderson Jr. (chest) not practicing on a Thursday,â The Houston Chronicleâs Jonathan M. Alexander posted on X.
Anderson missed two games in each of his first two seasons with the Texans due to injuries.
Anderson is second on the Texans (behind Danielle Hunter) and fourth in the NFL with 10.5 sacks this season. He is also second only to Hunter in snaps among the Texansâ defensive linemen, per Pro Football Reference.
The Texans enter their Week 13 AFC South showdown against the Colts ranked second in scoring and No. 1 overall, and Anderson has been integral to that success.
Staying on the field is also key for Anderson ahead of contract talks with the Texans.
âWill Anderson Jr. will be eligible for contract talks after completing his third #NFL season,â KPRC 2âs Aaron Wilson posted on X on November 26. âAnderson has earned an eventual blockbuster deal:
Uber-Talented Will Anderson Sold Texans With Character
GettyWill Anderson Jr. #51 of the Houston Texans reacts after a game against the Buffalo Bills.
The Texans traded up, acquiring the No. 3 overall pick of the 2023 draft from the Arizona Cardinals to select Anderson. Houston sent a package including two first-round picks and a second-rounder to Arizona in that deal.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke candidly about why the team felt so strongly about Anderson to make such a significant move.
âYou flip it over on the defensive side, knowing that we needed a foundational piece on that defensive side. And you look at Will Anderson and just his track record in college. Everybody you talk to at Alabama, everything they had to say about Will, the type of leader he was. You didnât even have to talk about the player. You can see how relentless he was on tape, how he finished. But just to hear the leader that he was, how he held other guys accountable, how he was the guy. Everybody talked about Alabama, he was the guy,â Ryans told reporters on November 24.
âI remember I wasnât even â look, I wasnât even thinking about Will at this time. But I remember when Will was a rookie at Alabama, my older brother, he called me. He was like, âHey, man. Whenever you get a chance, this guy from Alabama, you need to get him on your team.â It’s like, âAll right, âll check him out.â And then, who knew a full-circle moment [would] come when I had a chance to actually be in a position to draft him. Iâm like, âYeah, my brother was right. He was spot on. I needed to get number 31.â And Iâm happy heâs here with us.â
Anderson has proven a fitting complement to Stroud, the No. 2 pick in the class, for the Texans.
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