The Houston Texans opened their second day of practice in Week 4 before facing the Tennessee Titans, and the bad news continued for cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. He remained sidelined with an oblique injury that has the Texans at least preparing an alternative plan.
That plan includes a Super Bowl champion.
Still, Stingley is an All-Pro and a Pro Bowl player, whom the Texans have already invested heavily in and rely on in their secondary. The Texans would miss him against the Titans.
Texans Preparing to Start Tremon Smith In Place of Injured Derek Stingley Jr.
GettyTremon Smith #11 of the Houston Texans looks on against the Minnesota Vikings.
Stingley picked up the injury in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, but he started the next two games, exiting early against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. The Houston Chronicle’s Sam Warren was the first to report that Stingley remained absent on Thursday.
No Derek Stingley Jr. yet, which is not a good sign for his availability this weekend,” Warren posted on X on September 25.
Right tackle Tytus Howard returned to practice, but fullback Jakob Johnson did not.
“#Texans prepping Tremon Smith to start against #Titans,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson posted on X on September 25.
Smith earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, even though he only played one game for the organization that season before they traded him to the Green Bay Packers. This is his second stint with the Texans, playing for Houston in 2021 and 2022.
Smith has started five of his 105 games played in an eight-year career.
Texans Get Encouraging Update About Nico Collins
GettyNico Collins #12 of the Houston Texans warms up before facing the Carolina Panthers.
While Stingley’s absence could prove costly, the Texans got a more positive update about his fellow 2024 Pro Bowler, wide receiver Nico Collins. Collins was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice.
He was on the field from the outset on Thursday, which Warren noted bodes well ahead of what should be a “compelling matchup” against Titans corner L’Jarius Sneed.
Collins was a Pro Bowler in 2024 after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.
However, the Texans’ star wideout may not be receiving the respect that he deserves. Sneed spoke with reporters ahead of their showdown against the Texans. When asked about Collins, though, Sneed – a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs – just said, “Who?”
That was enough fuel for Collins with game day still to come.
“I’m a dawg,” Collins told Wilson on September 24. “I’m just me. I don’t say much, I just play. You can talk all you want. I’m not hearing. Just line that s*** up.”
Texans QB C.J. Stroud in ‘Great Spot Mentally’
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams.
The encouraging news for Collins and the Texans, even if they will not have Stingley in Week 4, is that quarterback C.J. Stroud, who disagreed with the organization about ex-teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson, is in the right headspace, according to his head coach, DeMeco Ryans.
Ryans and Stroud meet 1-on-1 every week during the regular season.
“Meeting with C.J. this week, man, I feel like he’s in a really great spot mentally. Clear mind, understanding, ‘I got to play better,’ right? He understands that, and that’s the first step to making strides and getting better, is understanding and admitting, ‘Hey, I know I have to play better, so the team can be better. Let’s go,” Ryans told reporters on September 24.
“I’m excited to see him press forward, go play better. Excited to see everybody around him play better as well.”
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