(SportsRadio 610) - Dalton Schultz, who didn't practice at all this week, will miss his first game of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in last weekends 24-21 loss to the Jaguars.
The Texans will rely on third-year pro Brevin Jordan to fill the void at tight end, along with seven-year veteran Eric Saubert, who just joined the team from the Cowboys practice squad in late October.
Meanwhile, Texans receivers Tank Dell and Noah Brown are listed as questionable for Sunday's game, but both are expected to be available to play.
After not practicing on Wednesday due to a calf issue, Dell returned as a limited participant for both Thursday and Friday practices. The explosive rookie has 10 catches of more than 20 yards this season and has recorded at least one touchdown in four consecutive games.
As for Brown, he was a limited participant in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, and didn't workout on Friday, though he was present for the team's final tune-up.
Brown has missed the previous two games with a knee injury. He would give quarterback CJ Stroud another playmaker in the pass game and soften the blow of Schultz's absence.
Brown put together the two best games of his career in back-to-back wins over the Buccaneers and Bengals prior to his injury, combining for 325 yards on 13 catches and a touchdown for the Texans during weeks eight and nine.
Jimmie Ward's return in the secondary this weekend gives the Texans their full arsenal of starting defensive backs for the first time all season. His leadership and playmaking ability have been missed in recent weeks and is evidenced in the amount of explosives the defense has allowed during his recent three-game absence.
Opponents have recorded 23 plays that have gone for more than 15 yards since week 10, most of them in the air. In the last three games Ward played prior to his hamstring injury, the Texans allowed just 11 such plays.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is also listed as questionable with an elbow injury, but is expected to be available to play. Rankins was limited participant in practice Friday after having missed both Wednesday and Thursday's workouts.
The eight-year veteran's presence in the middle would be sorely missed against a Broncos run game that's coming off their best performance of the season, a 169-yard performance in their win over the Browns.
Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Samaje Perine both scored red zone touchdowns and the Broncos got explosive runs from two other ball carriers in the win.
Texans linebacker Jake Hansen is also listed as questionable for Sunday. The reserve has been inactive for the previous 3 weeks with a hamstring and hand injury.
