The Houston Texans are heading into a pivotal matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on a short week. However, the Texans decided against adding the services of a Super Bowl champion playmaker, among others, in a last-minute roster update.
Houston and LA faced off in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs last season. This season, the two teams are jockeying for position before the postseason begins.
That reality is a driving factor in every move teams make this late in the season.
Texans Pass on Activating Justin Watson
GettyJustin Watson #84 of the Kansas City Chiefs catches a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Texans announced the âroster updateâ with a post on X on December 26, noting that wide receiver Justin Watson (calf) would not be activated off injured reserve this week.
Watson, 29, is in his first season with the Texans, signing in free agency after stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and, before that, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won three Super Bowls with those organizations.
The Buccaneers drafted Watson in the fifth round, with the 144th overall pick in 2018.
Watson has three receptions for 30 yards across his two games played for the Texans this season.
However, the Texansâ decision stands out more for the implications it has than Watsonâs continued absence from the field. The Texans designated Watson to return from IR on December 10.
They had 21 days from then to activate Watson from IR back to the 53-man roster.
If not, Watson will revert to the reserve list for the rest of the season. The Texans have until December 21 to make their decision, which could come shortly after the Chargers game.
At any rate, Watsonâs status will be one of many on the Texansâ roster to watch as the postseason draws near. The Texans are otherwise healthy at wide receiver with two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins and rookie second-round pick Jayden Higgins.
Texans Rule Out Pass Rusher
GettyDarrell Taylor #52 and E.J. Speed #45 of the Houston Texans celebrate a tackle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Unfortunately for the Texans, Watson was not the only player on the roster for whom they made a last-minute status update. They also announced that veteran defensive end Darrell Taylor would be left on IR this week as he rehabs a knee injury.
Taylor, a 28-year-old rotational pass rusher, has 3 total tackles in four games played for the Texans this season.
He was a second-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks. They drafted him 48th overall in 2020.
Taylor has also spent time with the Chicago Bears. He last played in Week 9, which was his return from a two-game absence. The Texansâ top pass rushers, Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., are both healthy.
As are Denico Autry, Derek Barnett, Dylan Horton, and Solomon Byrd. Still, the Texans need all the pass rushers they can round up against Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Texans have until January 7 to make their final decision on Taylorâs status.
Texans Shuffle Backend Amid Rookieâs Injury
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on against the Tennessee Titans.
The Texans telegraphed their final last-minute roster decision, signing defensive back KâVon Wallace from the practice squad in a flurry of moves that also saw them elevate defensive tackle Leki Fotu, offensive lineman Sidy Sow, and cut DB Ameer Speed.
Wallaceâs addition came as the Texans decided against activating rookie undrafted free agent cornerback Ajani Carter.
Carter is working his way back from a hamstring injury.
Like they are at defensive end and wide receiver, the Texans are healthy enough at the top of the CB depth chart, with Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter both shedding their injury designations for this contest.
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