Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Questionable to return Saturday
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Al-Shaair (knee) is questionable to return to Saturday's AFC divisional-round matchup against Kansas City.
Al-Shaair dealt with a knee issue during the week and logged a DNP/LP/LP practice progression. He twice visited the medical tent during the first quarter of Saturday's matchup against the Chiefs and has been deemed questionable to return to the contest. Neville Hewitt has entered at linebacker in Al-Shaair's stead.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Officially active Saturday
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Al-Shaair (knee) is active for Saturday's AFC divisional-round matchup against Kansas City.
As expected, Al-Shaair will suit up for the battle against the defending Super Bowl champions despite dealing with a knee injury. The issue caused the veteran linebacker to miss practice Tuesday, but he was able to participate in a limited fashion both Wednesday and Thursday. Al-Shaair played all but one defensive snap last Saturday against the Chargers in the wild-card round and posted six tackles.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Expected to play
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Al-Shaair (knee) is expected to play Saturday against the Chiefs, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Al-Shaair is officially listed as questionable, but Wilson's report cites sources that indicate both the linebacker and running back Joe Mixon (ankle) are "good to go" for Saturday's divisional-round playoff game. Al-Shaair played 98 percent of the defensive snaps in last week's win over the Chargers, checking out of the game for one play after sustaining the knee injury. He finished with six tackles and two quarterback hits.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Questionable to face Kansas City
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Al-Shaair (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's AFC divisional-round game against the Chiefs.
Al-Shaair had a DNP/LP/LP practice log this week due to a knee injury he picked up during the Texans' wild-card win against the Chargers. Given the stakes of Saturday's game, Al-Shaair likely leans more towards the probable side of playing, though his official status will be known approximately 90 minutes before the 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff when Houston announces its list of inactive players.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Limited in Wednesday's practice
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Al-Shaair (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Al-Shaair is managing a knee injury that he picked up during the Texans' AFC wild-card win over the Chargers this past Saturday. He was able to log a limited session Wednesday after being a DNP on Tuesday, but unless he suffers a setback, he is expected to play in the Texans' AFC divisional-round clash against the Chiefs on Saturday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Al-Shaair would likely avoid an injury designation altogether if he were to practice in full Thursday.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Managing knee injury
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Al-Shaair didn't practice Tuesday due to a knee injury.
Despite opening the week with an absence at practice, Al-Shaair is on track to play in Saturday's divisional-round matchup with the Chiefs, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Al-Shaair was forced out for one play in this past Saturday's 32-12 win over the Chargers in the wild-card round due to the knee injury, but he immediately checked back into the contest and finished with six tackles. Though the veteran linebacker is expected to play in the divisional round, he may need to upgrade to full participation in practice by Thursday to avoid taking an injury designation into the weekend.
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Texans' Denico Autry: Will suit up in wild-card round
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Autry (knee) is active for Saturday's wild-card matchup against the Chargers.
Autry missed Houston's regular-season finale due to a knee injury and began this week by sitting out practice. However, he upgraded to a limited session Wednesday before logging a full practice Friday and is good to go for the wild-card game against Los Angeles. When healthy this season, Autry has mostly served in a rotational role, coming off the bench in eight of his 10 contests.
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Texans' Christian Harris: Set to suit up Saturday
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Harris (ankle) is not among Houston's inactives for Saturday's wild-card contest versus the Chargers.
Harris has been dealing with an ankle injury for the past three weeks and didn't play in the regular-season finale versus Tennessee. However, he was able to log a pair of full practices to end this week, setting him up to return to action Saturday. With Harris active and likely to start, Neville Hewitt may see less snaps on defense against Los Angeles.
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Texans' Jake Hansen: Good to go for Saturday
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Hansen (ankle) doesn't carry an injury designation into Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Chargers, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Hansen was injured in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Titans and missed the remainder of the contest. He upgraded from DNP on Tuesday to limited Wednesday and then full Thursday, avoiding a designation altogether. Mainly a special-teams asset, Hansen played just 134 defensive snaps during the regular season.
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Texans' Jeff Okudah: Cleared to play Saturday
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Okudah (concussion) does not have an injury designation for Saturday's game against the Chargers, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Okudah ended the week with consecutive full practices, and he has done enough to clear the league's five-step concussion protocol. Barring any setbacks, the 2020 first-round pick should start opposite Derek Stingley at outside corner for Saturday's AFC wild-card clash.
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Texans' Christian Harris: Questionable vs. Bolts
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Harris (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card round game against the Chargers, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Harris was able to end the week with consecutive full practices, so it appears that he is trending toward playing Saturday after being sidelined for the Texans' Week 18 win over the Titans. Unless he suffers a setback, Harris should start at linebacker alongside Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o while Neville Hewitt, Jake Hansen and Devin White provide rotational depth.
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Texans' Denico Autry: Questionable for wild-card round
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Autry (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's AFC wild-card game against the Chargers, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Autry appears towards being on the probable side of playing as he was a full participant in Thursday's practice. Barring any setbacks, Autry and Derek Barnett should serve as the Texans' top rotational defensive ends Saturday behind starters Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
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Texans' Jeff Okudah: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Okudah (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Okudah's ability to upgrade his practice participation indicates that he is progressing through the league's five-step concussion protocol. He would have to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to play against the Chargers in Saturday's AFC wild-card game. Okudah spent the majority of the 2024 regular season on injured reserve due to a hip injury he suffered against the Colts in Week 1. The 2020 first-round pick appeared in six games, contributing on both defense and special teams and finishing with nine tackles (eight solo) and one pass defense.
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Texans' Denico Autry: Returns to practice Wednesday
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Autry (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Autry was held out of the Texans' regular-season finale against the Titans due to a lingering knee injury. He opened this week as a DNP on Tuesday, but his ability to practice Wednesday indicates that he is progressing in his recovery and should be able to play in Saturday's AFC wild-card game against the Chargers.
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Texans' Christian Harris: Past ankle issue
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Harris (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Harris was held out of the Texans' Week 18 win against the Titans due to a lingering ankle injury. His full participation in Wednesday's practice indicates that he should be at or near full health for Saturday's wild-card round game against the Chargers. Harris missed the first 13 games of the regular season due to a calf injury, and in the three games he did play he accrued 20 tackles (13 solo), including 1.0 sacks.
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Texans' Denico Autry: Sits out practice
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Autry (knee) did not practice Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Autry missed the regular-season finale against the Titans due to the injury, but he is expected to suit up for Saturday's playoff game against the Chargers. He's part of the rotation at defensive end and had 13 tackles, including 3.0 sacks, and three passes defensed over 10 games played during the regular season.
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Texans' Folorunso Fatukasi: Practices Tuesday
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Fatukasi (ankle) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Fatukasi missed the entire month of December with the ankle injury and played just six snaps since Week 10. The starting defensive tackle is expected to suit up for Saturday's playoff game against the Chargers. He brings a valuable run-stopping presence to the defense.
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Texans' Christian Harris: Limited participant in practice
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Harris (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Tuesday.
The outside linebacker missed Houston's season finale against Tennessee after logging a trio of limited practices last week, but that decision was likely a precaution with the Texans locked into the AFC's No. 4 seed. Harris' status will still be worth monitoring as the practice week continues ahead of Saturday's wild-card matchup with the Chargers. The 2022 third-round pick played between 68 and 97 percent of the defensive snaps in the three regular-season games he suited up for following a December return from a calf injury.
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Texans' Will Anderson: Full participant Tuesday
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Anderson was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
The pass rusher was a healthy scratch in Houston's regular-season finale against the Titans, though it was likely just a precaution with the Texans locked into the AFC's No. 4 seed. Anderson recorded 37 tackles (27 solo), including 11.0 sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 14 regular-season games this year. He should be a full go for Houston's wild-card matchup with the Chargers on Saturday.
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Texans' Jeff Okudah: Limited in practice Tuesday
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Okudah (concussion) was a limited participant in practice Tuesday.
The cornerback missed the Texans' regular season finale against the Titans due to the head injury, and before that game, he also began the week with a limited practice. Okudah's status Wednesday will therefore be worth monitoring ahead of Saturday's wild-card matchup with the Chargers. Myles Bryant and Kris Boyd should see more playing time if Okudah can't go by Saturday.
