The Houston Texans continue to be hit hard by injuries as training camp ramps up.
Jared Wayne, a little-known receiver entering his second NFL season, is currently sidelined with a strained hamstring. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC, the injury is expected to sideline Wayne for next week’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
While Wayne, 24, could return soon after that game, any absence whatsoever doesn’t bode well for a player on the roster bubble. An undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh, Wayne played three games last season, registering 40 snaps on offense and 24 on special teams.
The injury is not believed to be serious, according to Wilson.
Who is Jared Wayne?
After playing sparingly in the regular season, Wayne saw action in the AFC Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 6-foot-3 wideout was targeted twice but did not record a catch in 24 snaps on offense. The Chiefs won 23-14.
Wilson said that while Wayne has made some impressive plays during camp, he faces an uphill battle to make the Texans’ 53-man roster. Nico Collins is the clear No. 1 target, with Christian Kirk and rookie Jayden Higgins also expected to play key roles on offense. That leaves Wayne battling for a spot at the backend of the roster alongside the likes of Xavier Hutchinson and Braxton Berrios. A big performance by either player to open the preseason could spell trouble for Wayne.
Wayne was undrafted in 2023 out of Pittsburgh, where he had 146 catches for 2,308 yards and 13 touchdowns across four seasons (2019-2022). Wayne’s most productive season came as a senior, when he caught 60 passes for 1,063 yards and five scores. He was named Second Team All-ACC.
In 2023, the Ontario, Canada native was also taken in the second round (16th overall) of the CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts.
Texans Are Dealing With Numerous Injuries
Some higher-profile Texans players are also dealing with injuries.
Rookie defensive tackle Kyonte Hamilton, a seventh-round pick from Rutgers, fractured his ankle during Wednesday’s practice and was placed on injured reserve. To help fill his spot on the roster, the Texans signed Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi. The Nigerian product is part of the International Player Pathway (IPP) Program, which aims to increase opportunities for foreign-born players in the NFL.
Meanwhile, two-time Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon remains on the non-football injury list while dealing with an ankle injury.
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