The Houston Texans got back on the practice field to start Week 17, and in an encouraging sign, rookie running back Woody Marks was able to participate fully.
Marks missed the Texans’ Week 16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders due to an ankle injury.
However, the Texans still have several other pressing injury concerns with a critical matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on tap for Week 17. In a short week, the Texans are also facing a bit of a time crunch.
Texans Get Woody Marks Back on Practice Field
GettyWoody Marks #27 of the Houston Texans celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals.
Marks injured his ankle late in the Texans’ win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15, and pushed to play against the Raiders. The Texans opted to take a cautious approach, splitting duties between Nick Chubb and Jawhar Jordan.
He finished last week as a limited participant in practice after being a non-participant over the first two sessions. Marks was a full participant on Tuesday, per the first injury report of the week.
“I feel like nobody’s going to be 100%,” Marks told KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson after practice on December 23. End of the season. Like Coach said, we done been through the preseason. So, that’s already a year that you already played, and a half already [compared to college]. So, not on the field 100%, but close there.”
He was not the only encouraging development for the Texans, either.
Linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair returned to practice after sandwiching a limited session between two DNPs and ultimately missing the Texans’ win at home over the Raiders in Week 16.
The Texans also announced that they designated rookie undrafted free agent cornerback Ajani Carter to return from injured reserve and that he had returned to practice.
Carter has played in two games for the Texans this season, playing only on special teams.
Texans List 8 Players as Non-Participants
GettyDerek Stingley #24 of the Houston Texans warms up before facing the Tennessee Titans.
As encouraging as Marks’ progress is for the Texans, particularly for the final two games of the regular season and into the playoffs, Houston also had eight players miss practice.
Among the most concerning players are cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, defensive linemen Denico Autry and Sheldon Rankins, and offensive tackles Aireontae Ersery and Trent Brown.
Reserve defensive end Dylan Horton and long snapper Jake Hansen were also sidelined.
One potential concern: starting tight end Dalton Schultz was limited with a knee injury. Like the rest of the Texans on the injury report, Schultz has two more sessions to improve.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans Gets Honest About Injuries
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on against the Buffalo Bills.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is not one to divulge information regarding players’ health, but even he had to acknowledge his team’s precarious situation, particularly at offensive tackle.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Ryans told reporters on December 23. “Of course, we know everybody knows we’re banged up at tackle, and we’ll see. We’re on a short week here. We’ll see how that pans out for us.”
Ryans is unlikely to say anything beyond what the injury report does.
Time is the best thing that the Texans have on their side. But they face the Chargers on Saturday, not Sunday, giving Ryans’ crew one less day to prepare and, more importantly, heal.
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