The Houston Texans have prepared to face the Las Vegas Raiders while uncertain about the respective statuses of several players, including Pro Bowl cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and running backs Nick Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowler himself, and Woody Marks.
Friday’s practice session, the final of the week, offered invaluable clarity.
The Texans have found themselves right in the thick of the AFC playoff race, adding significance to their health over the final three games of the regular season.
Texans Leave Door Open for Derek Stingley Jr., Nick Chubb, Woody Marks & More
GettyNick Chubb #21 of the Houston Texans runs with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Texans’ final injury report listed 13 players, seven of whom will carry designations into Sunday’s tilt, including Chubb, Marks, a rookie second-round draft pick, and Stingley.
Chubb is the only one of that trio who practiced every day during the week.
Wide receiver Christian Kirk is also questionable after popping up on the report with an illness, while fellow wideout Justin Watson, defensive end Darrell Taylor, and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair drew the same designation for various reasons. Taylor and Watson are on IR.
Encouragingly for the Texans, corner Kamari Lassiter, D-linemen Denico Autry and Sheldon Rankins, and right tackle Trent Brown shed their designations.
The same is true of LB E.J. Speed and long snapper Jake Hansen.
The Texans are going for their seventh straight win and the ninth in their last nine outings, fueling a comeback from a 0-3 start. They have already had to shuffle multiple position groups this season, including their offensive line.
That Kirk was a late addition, and that Marks and Stingley were only able to log one day of practice, could prove to be an ominous sign for the Texans.
They are facing a Raiders team with little to play for aside from the role of foil.
Raiders Add Reinforcements Before Texans Game
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on during warm-ups before a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
All was quiet on the roster moves front for the Texans on Friday, with Saturday their typical day for adjustments. The Raiders, however, got an early start and brought in reinforcements.
“We have claimed DT Brodric Martin via waivers [from the Pittsburgh Steelers],” the Raiders announced in a post on X on December 19. “In a corresponding move, we have waived DE Jahfari Harvey.”
The Raiders are 2-12 on the season and are on an eight-game losing streak.
They rank 32nd against the run, which could provide the Texans with an opportunity to lean on their ground game–that also includes recently promoted tailback Jawhar Jordan–to shorten the game and get their 10th win of the season.
If they get it, the Texans will have won at least 10 games in three straight seasons for the first time in franchise history.
That is the entirety of head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud’s tenures.
Even in their potentially depleted state, the Texans enter this tilt as the overwhelmingly superior team, starting with their No. 1-ranked defense. That is both overall and in scoring on that side of the ball.
The Texans still must face the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts, who remain tough despite having to lure Philip Rivers out of retirement to replace the injured Daniel Jones.
Defeating the Raiders is the only thing Chubb, Stingley, and the Texans can control.
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