(SportsRadio 610) - Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is questionable to play in Sunday's home-opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Stroud's appearance on the injury report was the most surprising development Friday, listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.
Stroud was observed Friday morning just working hand-offs with the running backs while Davis Mills and Case Keenum were throwing to receivers, which isn’t a part of the daily routine.
Right tackle Laremy Tunsil appeared on the injury report this week with a knee injury and despite participating in practice Thursday morning, albeit limited, one of the highest paid tackles in the league was back on the sidelines Friday.
While Tunsil’s injury isn’t believed to be serious with long term repercussions, his status is uncertain heading into Sunday. That is of utmost concern for an already pieced together offensive line that appears to be deteriorating instead of improving.
If Tunsil can’t play Sunday, current left guard Josh Jones could be an option to slide over, opening up an opportunity for Michael Deiter to play his natural position of left guard, which he played following Kenyon Green’s injury in the preseason.
Projected starting OL without Laremy Tunsil:
LT: Josh Jones
LG: Michael Deiter
C: Jarrett Patterson
RG: Shaq Mason
RT: George Fant
Rookie center Juice Scruggs is not eligible to return from IR until week five along with right tackle Tytus Howard.
Texans safeties Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre were again absent from workouts Friday morning. Both have missed practice all week and have been ruled out against Indy.
Ward has been dealing with a hip injury, while Pitre suffered a bruised lung in Sunday's week one loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
M.J. Stewart filled in admirably for Pitre on Sunday, playing in 35 defensive snaps, finishing with five tackles and recovered a fumble.
The Texans enter Sunday's home opener as 1-point favorites against the Colts, something that hasn’t happened since week 12 of the 2021 season, when they were home favorites against the New York Jets.
The Texans lost that game 21-14.
It has been 24 consecutive games since the Texans were favored to win a football game, the longest active streak in the NFL.