Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Tallies nine tackles Sunday
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Al-Shaair recorded nine tackles (two solo) in a Week 7 overtime loss to the Giants on Sunday.
Al-Shaair battled a knee injury during Week 7 prep but seemed to be fine Sunday, as he played every one of Houston's defensive snaps. The veteran linebacker has been a consistent producer this season, logging at least seven stops in each of the six contests in which he's played. Al-Shaair posted 103 tackles over 16 regular-season games last year, and he's on pace to easily surpass that mark with 58 stops through six contests this season.
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Texans' Henry To'oTo'o: Racks up 10 stops in loss
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To'oTo'o notched 10 tackles (three solo), including 0.5 sacks, in Sunday's Week 7 overtime loss to the Giants.
To'oTo'o ranked second on Houston in tackles behind M.J. Stewart, with whom he combined for a sack in the fourth quarter. It was just the third appearance of the campaign for To'oTo'o, who missed Weeks 2-5 due to a knee injury. The 25-year-old seems to be past the issue, as he's logged over 90 percent of the Texans' defensive snaps since his return.
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Texans' M.J. Stewart: Steps up in Week 7 loss
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Stewart finished with 12 tackles (five solo), including 0.5 sacks, and a defensed pass in Sunday's overtime loss to the Giants.
Stewart paced Houston in tackles, and he contributed a half-sack of J.J. McCarthy in the fourth quarter. Stewart missed the first four weeks of the campaign due to a knee injury and was limited to work on special teams upon his return in Week 5, but he started and logged a 95 percent defensive snap share Sunday in the absence of Reed Blankenship (concussion/hand). The Texans are on bye in Week 8, so Blankenship will have extra time to recover ahead of Houston's Week 9 matchup against the Chargers.
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Texans' Reed Blankenship: Won't play Sunday
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Blankenship (concussion/hand) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Blankenship has been unable to progress through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol and will be sidelined for the Texans' Week 7 contest. M.J. Stewart will likely be called upon to start at strong safety in the former Eagle's absence.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Upgrades to limited practice
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Al-Shaair was a limited practice participant Thursday.
This is good news for Al-Shaair after he was a non-participant in practice Wednesday. The veteran linebacker may, however, need to log a full practice session Friday to avoid a designation entering the weekend. Al-Shaair has once again been a central component of the Texans' defense this season, logging double-digit tackles in three of his five contests so far.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: DNP with knee injury
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Al-Shaair (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.
Al-Shaair briefly exited the Texans' Week 6 win over the Jaguars in London, but the hiatus was to be evaluated for a concussion. There was no indication during the game, but the linebacker likely sustained the knee injury in the London victory. It remains to be seen if Wednesday's absence was partially vet rest or if the defensive signal caller is dealing with a more serious issue that could keep him out of the Week 7 game against the Giants.
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Texans' Jalen Pitre: Considered week-to-week
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Pitre (shoulder) did not participate at the Texans' practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pitre suffered a shoulder injury in Week 5 versus the Titans, and he was forced to miss the team's Week 6 victory over Jacksonville as a result. The 27-year-old is still considered week-to-week according to head coach DeMeco Ryans, and he seems unlikely to be available for Sunday's matchup with the Giants. Pitre will have two more chances to return to practice this week, but if he can't go in Week 7, Tremon Smith would likely operate in a more prominent role again in Houston's secondary.
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Texans' Calen Bullock: Logs first interception
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Bullock tallied five tackles (three solo) and an interception during Houston's win over the Jaguars on Sunday.
Bullock had a strong outing in the win, logging the Texans' lone interception of Trevor Lawrence. The 23-year-old has now logged 26 tackles (17 solo) and an interception across six games to start the season.
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Kyonte Hamilton: Back with Houston on practice squad
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The Texans signed Hamilton (undisclosed) to the practice squad Tuesday.
Hamilton reached an injury settlement with the Texans in early September to be removed from the team's IR, and it appears the 2025 seventh-rounder has fully recovered from his undisclosed health concern. He was sidelined for his entire rookie season after breaking his ankle during training camp.
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Jamal Hill: Let go by Houston
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Hill was waived by the Texans on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Hill has appeared in five regular-season games with Houston so far this year, registering four total tackles (two solo) while playing primarily with the special-teams unit. The linebacker will now be placed on waivers, and if he goes unclaimed, there's a strong chance he returns to the Texans as a member of the team's practice squad.
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Texans' Jake Hummel: Recovering from surgery
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Hummel is still recovering from abdominal-groin surgery, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Hummel was placed on injured reserve in late September, and his groin injury was severe enough for him to require a procedure. He's already missed the four-game minimum required while on IR, but it sounds like Hummel still has a lengthy rehab timeline ahead of him. The Texans should provide another health update for the Iowa State product following the Week 8 bye.
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Texans' Reed Blankenship: Ruled out with concussion
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Blankenship (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London.
Blankenship was deemed to have a concussion by one of the NFL's independent neurologists. The safety has now entered the league's five-step concussion protocol and will not participate in full-contact practices or games until he is cleared. M.J. Stewart will likely finish the game at strong safety alongside Calen Bullock.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Cleared to return vs. Jacksonville
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Al-Shaair has cleared concussion protocol and will be available for the second half of Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Al-Shaair was being evaluated by medical staff for a possible concussion in the second quarter. The veteran linebacker has passed all the benchmarks and will be back on the field for the second half of Sunday's contest in London.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Getting checked for concussion
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Al-Shaair is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Al-Shaair was shaken up during Bhayshul Tuten's 27-yard touchdown catch midway through the second quarter. If Al-Shaair ends up being ruled out for the rest of Sunday's contest, the Texans will turn to Jake Hansen and Henry To'oTo'o to step up in his absence.
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Texans' Henry To'oTo'o: Activated from injured reserve
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The Texans activated To'oTo'o (shoulder) from injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The linebacker was designated for return earlier in the week after missing the minimum four games required on injured reserve. To'oTo'o logged 51 defensive snaps in Week 1 against the Bills, recording two tackles (one solo) before suffering his injury. He remains listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
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Kenneth Murray: Cut loose by Houston
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The Texans cut Murray from the practice squad Thursday.
Murray was elevated to the Texans' active roster for Weeks 4 and 5, accumulating six tackles (one solo) in that span. The seventh-year pro could land with a team in search of linebacker depth.
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Texans' Jalen Pitre: Ruled out Sunday
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Pitre (shoulder) is ruled out for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.
Pitre suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday's game versus the Titans. While he won't be placed on injured reserve, he will at least miss the Week 6 meeting with the Jaguars in London.
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Texans' Henry To'oTo'o: Manages full practice Thursday
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To'oTo'o (shoulder) was a full participant at practice Thursday.
To'oTo'o has been on IR for the Texans' last four games after sustaining a shoulder injury back in Week 1 versus the Bills, but it now seems like he's close to being back to full strength. He still needs to be officially activated from Houston's injured reserve list before he'll be able to return to game action.
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Texans' Ja'Marcus Ingram: Returns to practice
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The Texans opened Ingram's (elbow) 21-day return window from injured reserve Wednesday.
Ingram was a limited participant in his return to practice. The Texans have until Nov. 4 to move the cornerback to the active roster, or else he will spend the remainder of the 2026 season on injured reserve.
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Texans' Jalen Pitre: Dealing with sprained AC joint
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Pitre will not need surgery and will not need to be placed on injured reserve as a result of the shoulder injury he suffered during Sunday's game at Tennessee, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pitre was wearing a sling after leaving Sunday's contest early, but it looks like he avoided a season-ending injury. Per Wilson, Pitre is considered week-to-week as the Texans gear up for a contest against the Jaguars in London in Week 6. It would be pretty surprising if he didn't at least sit out that game as he recovers, but he hasn't been officially ruled out yet.
