(SportsRadio 610) - With the Kansas City Chiefs set to visit NRG this Sunday, the Texans could be without more key players heading into their week 15 matchup.
They had a skeleton crew at practice Wednesday morning.
Derek Stingley Jr. (hamstring), who has missed the last four games, was seen working on a side field with trainers, along with injured offensive lineman Justin McCray (hamstring), who missed the last game against Dallas.
Starting corner Steven Nelson (ankle) was also absent from workouts. The veteran corner was injured in the second quarter against the Cowboys and could miss Sunday's tilt against the Chiefs.
Kick returner Tremon Smith, who stepped in for Nelson and finished with two interceptions against Dak Prescott and the Cowboys, would have a much taller task Sunday against Mahomes.
Meanwhile, Brandin Cooks (calf) and Nico Collins (foot) were also held out of practice. Cooks has missed the last two games, while Collins missed Sunday against the Cowboys.
The Texans got a caree-high performance from veteran receiver Chris Moore Sunday. The seventh-year pro hauled in 10 catches on 11 targets for 124 yards. Moore, along with Phillip Dorsett and Amari Rodgers, would be pressed into a larger role once again with the Texans' top two receivers out.
Laremy Tunsil, their starting left tackle, was also missing in action Wednesday with cold and flu symptoms, which is not expected to affect his status for Sunday.
Dameon Pierce, who leads all rookie running backs with 939 rushing yards along with four touchdowns, suffered a high ankle sprain against the Cowboys that is expected to sideline him for at least a couple of weeks.
Pierce's carries will likely go to the duo of veteran running backs Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale.
There is also Royce Freeman and Gerrid Doaks, who are both on the team's practice squad and both got reps in practice Wednesday. One of them could be elevated to the game day roster with a good week of practice.
Texans head coach Lovie Smith is more than confident in the running back room stepping up and filling a major void.
"When a player can't go, the void is sealed by others," Smith said. "We look to all options. We're working through the game plan right now. We feel like we have a plan, so we'll go from there."
Burkhead has seen his snap count percentage plateau at around 20% per game since regular usage for the first month of the season. While Ogunbowale has been patiently awaiting his opportunity to carry the rock.
"Every game is an opportunity to get out there and show what you can do to give your team a chance to win," Ogunbowale said. "So that's just all this is, go out there and try to get a win on Sunday."
Ogunbowale has played in every game this season, serving mainly on special teams. But his opportunities have increased on offense the past three games, having been on the field for 50 total snaps during that stretch.
"There's a reason why they've dressed in every game when they've been healthy," Smith said. "So you start with those two options. It's safe to say those guys are going to be a part of what we do running game-wise, and we'll look for other options too."
Fully healthy, Sunday would be an incredible challenge, but as Lovie Smith so often says, it will be extra "tough duty" against the Chiefs with the Texans so banged up injury-wise.
There's no need to push anyone into action with only a month left in a season that was lost before it had even begun.
Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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