As the Texans head into the biggest game of the season this weekend without three of their most impactful players, the fact they weren’t broadsided with the news is a positive.
Neither of the three starters were expected to be ready for the Browns game, as Stroud has yet to complete concussion protocol, Anderson was in a walking boot last week and Blake Cashman is still dealing with a hamstring injury. While there are different levels of severity with hamstring injuries, the average time missed in the NFL for such an ailment is 13 days, which puts Cashman in familiar territory.
However, the Texans are likely returning two vital pieces ahead of Sunday’s game in both receiver Nico Collins and safety Jimmie Ward.
Collins, officially listed as questionable for Sunday, missed last weeks 19-16 overtime victory against the Titans after sustaining a calf injury during the first offensive series against the Jets the week prior. He’s practiced all week and said Thursday that he’d be ready to play on Sunday and be explosive.
“Oh yea, definitely,” Collins said. “Got to, that’s the only way you can play especially against this defense. It’s gonna be a man game, it’s a good defense in the league, got to be explosive, ain’t no other way around it.”
Collins is leading the Texans in every major receiving category, has been one of the most explosive receivers in the league this season and should provide a big boost for Texans quarterback Case Keenum this weekend.
While Keenum was not officially announced the starter by the team this week, all signs, what little there have been, point to him making a second consecutive start this Sunday.
The Texans are returning a major piece on defense this week with veteran safety Jimmie Ward. He advanced through concussion protocol seemingly fairly quickly after taking hard contact on the first defensive series against the Titans which forced him to miss the rest of the game.
Ward has been vital to the success in the secondary this season. Knowing the scheme like the back of his hand after having run it in San Francisco for two years with Ryans as defensive coordinator, has translated well to Houston.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (hip) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (Achilles) are listed as questionable for Sunday. Both have been limited participants in practice all week.