(SportsRadio 610) - The Texans will be without their most impactful defensive player on Saturday night when they take on the Indianapolis Colts in a do-or-die regular season finale.
Jonathan Greenard, who injured his ankle in the Texans' 36-22 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Eve and has not practiced since the injury, has officially been ruled out for Saturday's prime time game against the Colts.
Greenard leads the Texans with 12.5 sacks this season. He was on the field as a spectator during a team walk through on Wednesday, but has not made enough progress to give it a go in the team's biggest game of the season.
Rookie Will Anderson Jr., who played in just 12 snaps against the Tennessee Titans last weekend after missing the previous two games with a high ankle sprain, did practice in a limited capacity for the first time this week.
Anderson, who recorded two sacks and six pressures in the Texans' 26-3 week 17 victory over the Titans, worked on a side field during the team stretching portion of practice and looked quick and fast in some individual pass rush drills. He's officially listed as questionable against the Colts on Saturday.
He later joined the rest of the defensive line unit to get reps during the media viewing portion and looked good.
The Texans are tied for seventh in the NFL in teams sacks this season with 45 are fortunate to have Anderson healthy enough to contribute on Saturday. How much he plays this weekend remains to be seen, though he was load managed to a degree this past weekend, according to defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
"I mean, we didn't have a set number of plays, per se," Burke said. "Obviously, we wanted to limit him and kind of limit the spots we were putting him in to do that. I think it's a testament to his preparation, his toughness, everything he went through during the week to get to that spot."
The Texans have been more than pleased with the production they've gotten on the edge from both Jerry Hughes and Derek Barnett.
Barnett in limited time with the team since arriving off of waivers six weeks ago, has tallied 2.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and seven tackles for loss in five games played defensively. Hughes, playing in all 16 games this season and starting in one, has compiled three sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
On Thursday, the Texans also got both defensive tackles Maliek Collins (hip) and Sheldon Rankins (ankle) back on the practice field after both missed the previous two days of workouts with injuries.
Collins missed the Titans game and is officially listed as questionable heading into the regular season finale with the Colts, along with Rankins, both of whom practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday.
Rankins, who returned a fumble for a touchdown against the Titans, the first of his career, has six sacks and 10 quarterback hits on the season.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Texans seem to be trending in a slightly better direction, despite receiver Noah Brown officially being ruled out for Saturday's game.
Brown left the Titans game during the first half with a hip injury. Playing in just seven snaps, Brown caught one of his two targets in the game for eight yards. The fifth-year pro, who will miss his seventh game on the season, was not seen on the field all week long.
Brown has had a career season in the Texans new offense, catching 33 passes for a career-high 467 yards and two touchdowns.
The Texans have officially listed left tackle Laremy Tunsil, receiver Robert Woods and fullback Andrew Beck as questionable for Saturday's game in Indianapolis.
Tunsil, who was recently named to his fourth Pro Bowl in eight seasons, has battled through a knee injury all season long and progressed well after injuring his groin during the Texans' win over the Titans last weekend.
He was forced to leave the game last weekend in the first half and was replaced by George Fant.
This season, Tunsil has the third-best pass blocking grade among qualified tackles with an 84.4 mark, allowing the second-fewest hurries (12) in the league.
Robert Woods, who has battled through various injuries this season, did not practiced all week due to a hip injury he suffered during last weekend's Titans game. Woods missed back to back games in weeks eight and nine with a foot injury.
In 14 games this season, Woods has caught 40 passes for 426 yards and just one touchdown.
Fullback Andrew Beck, who has played in 14 games this season and started in 12, has seen his usage drop off recently.
Tight end Brevin Jordan lined up as a fullback for the Texans at times this past weekend against the Titans and blocked well in limited opportunities. Beck (calf) did practice in a limited capacity on Thursday.
