Pierce caught his lone target for one yard in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Jaguars in Week 13. He did not get a carry or return a kickoff.
Joe Mixon (47 snaps, 20 carries, six targets Sunday) owns the Texans' backfield, leaving nothing but crumbs for Pierce (seven snaps) and Dare Ogunbowale (nine). Pierce has just four carries and one target in his last five appearances.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Makes impact on special teams
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Pierce returned three kickoffs for 135 yards in Sunday's 32-27 loss to the Titans in Week 12. He did not play a snap on offense.
Pierce returned the game's opening kickoff 80 yards to the Titans' 19-yard line, setting up Houston's first score just 18 seconds into the game. He also had a 48-yard return that was negated due to a holding penalty. It was interesting that Pierce did not get on the field with the offense, a unit that produced just 40 rushing yards and a 2.4 YPC. Dare Ogunbowale got the 13 snaps when Joe Mixon was not on the field; however, fantasy managers should not infer that Ogunbowale would be the starter if Mixon were injured.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Minimal usage in return
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Pierce has one carry for two yards in Monday's 34-10 win over Dallas. He also returned one kickoff for five yards.
Pierce was given just four snaps on offense, as the Texans made it the Joe Mixon show in primetime. Mixon typically dominates the backfield, but his 81 percent share of the snaps was a season high. This was Pierce's first game back after missing the previous two due to a groin injury, so his workload could tick up as he puts the issue further behind him.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: All set for Monday
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Pierce (groin) does not carry an injury designation ahead of Monday's contest against the Cowboys.
This was to be expected after Pierce practiced fully Friday. The backup running back will be poised to retain his role behind one of the better backs in the NFL this year, Joe Mixon.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Upgrades to full participation
Rotowire
Pierce (groin) was a full participant in practice Friday.
Pierce's activity level Friday suggests he's finally over the groin injury that sidelined him for Houston's past two games. Barring a setback, he's likely to avoid an injury designation on Saturday's injury report, which would put him in line to reclaim the backup role behind Joe Mixon against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Misses Wednesday's practice
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Pierce (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pierce was also listed as a non-participant last week before being ruled out ahead of this past Thursday's loss to the Jets. With another absence from practice Wednesday, the running back's status for Sunday's game against the Lions remains cloudy. If Pierce remains sidelined this weekend, Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor would continue to see complementary snaps behind top back Joe Mixon.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Four snaps in win
Rotowire
Pierce had one carry for four yards in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Colts in Week 8. He also returned two kickoffs for 78 yards.
Pierce saw his playing time erode even further in the third game since both he and Joe Mixon returned from injuries. Pierce had just three carries for six yards and 11 combined snaps on offense the last two weeks. He can, however, make an impact in the return game. His 45-yard return of the opening kickoff set up the Texans near midfield for a drive that culminated in a field goal.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Decreased snap count in loss
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Pierce rushed twice for two yards and returned one kickoff for 42 yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to Green Bay.
Pierce dropped from 18 snaps last week to just seven Sunday. His higher usage in Week 6's win over New England was attributable to the blowout nature of the game, and that it was starter Joe Mixon's first game back after missing four games due to an ankle injury. Mixon was on the field for 42 snaps Sunday, limiting Pierce to a marginal role in the backfield along with Dare Ogunbowale (15 snaps, one carry, one target).
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: No Week 6 injury designation
Rotowire
Pierce (hamstring) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Pierce, who hasn't played since Week 1, is poised to return to action Sunday after logging full practices Thursday and Friday. In his looming return, Pierce's Week 6 fantasy upside hinges largely on the availability of Joe Mixon (ankle), who is listed as questionable but trending toward being available versus New England, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Full practice participant
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Pierce (hamstring) was a full practice participant Thursday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Pierce is ready to play for the first time since Week 1, while Joe Mixon (ankle) remains uncertain for Sunday's game against the Patriots after returning to practice as a limited participant Thursday. If Pierce plays and Mixon doesn't, it could mean Pierce stepping in ahead of Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale as the temporary leader of Houston's backfield.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Trending toward return
Rotowire
Pierce (hamstring) was spotted at practice Wednesday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Pierce, who hasn't played since Week 1, returned to practice last Friday, and his presence at Wednesday's session is a positive indicator with regard to his Week 6 status. While Joe Mixon (ankle) remained sidelined for the Texans' opening practice this week, head coach DeMeco Ryans told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston that he expects Pierce to be back in the fold for Sunday's game against the Patriots. Pierce thus could move into a key role in Houston's backfield this weekend if Mixon is unavailable.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Won't play Sunday
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Pierce (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Pierce practiced Friday for the first time since sustaining a strained hamstring ahead of Week 2 action and approached the contest listed as questionable. With both Pierce and Joe Mixon (ankle) still sidelined, look for Cam Akers to continue to lead Houston's backfield versus Buffalo, with Dare Ogunbowale a candidate to see change-of-pace work and J.J. Taylor and British Brooks available to provide the Texans with Week 5 backfield depth.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Likely to miss another week
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Pierce (hamstring) is listed as questionable but isn't expected to play in Sunday's game versus Buffalo, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Pierce hasn't played since Week 1, when he logged just nine offensive snaps and carried three times for 16 yards against Indianapolis. His return Sunday would be well-timed since Joe Mixon has been ruled out for a third straight week due to ankle injury, but Pierce doesn't look as though he'll be able to help buoy the Texans' running back corps. Cam Akers is likely to lead Houston's backfield again, with Dare Ogunbowale serving as his primary backup. Official word on Pierce's status will arrive when the Texans release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Not practicing yet
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Pierce (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pierce was present at practice and wearing a jersey, but he didn't have his helmet and didn't end up participating in drills. With Joe Mixon (ankle) also absent again Wednesday, the Texans had Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor taking backfield snaps, as was the case during Sunday's win over Jacksonville.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Pierce (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Pierce, who didn't practice this week, thus is slated to miss his third straight game. Meanwhile, top back Joe Mixon (ankle) returned to a limited practice Friday and is questionable for the contest. Pierce's next chance to see game action will arrive Sunday, Oct. 6 against the Bills.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Still not practicing
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Pierce (hamstring) wasn't present for the initial portion of Friday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
As a result, Pierce's status for Sunday's game against the Jaguars remains cloudy. On the plus side for the Texans, Joe Mixon (ankle) was on the field Friday, suggesting that he may be closer to a return to action than Pierce. Houston's upcoming injury report thus is slated to add further context with regard to the composition of the team's Week 4 backfield. In the absence of both Mixon and Pierce last weekend, Cam Akers drew the start at running back versus Minnesota.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Remains sidelined Thursday
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Pierce (hamstring) didn't participate in practice Thursday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
With both Pierce and Joe Mixon (ankle) poised to log back-to-back DNPs, what, if anything, they are able to do Friday will be telling with regard to their chances of facing the Vikings on Sunday. In the event that both are unavailable this weekend, Cam Akers would be in line to lead the Texans backfield versus Minnesota, according to Wilson.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Still not practicing
Rotowire
Pierce (hamstring) is not participating in Wednesday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pierce is dealing with a mild hamstring strain, per Wilson. The injury popped up during practice last Thursday, and after being limited in that session, Pierce has been a non-participant in the Texans' two practices since. With Joe Mixon (ankle) also not practicing and considered day-to-day, Pierce could see significant opportunity if he manages to get healthy in time for Sunday's road game against Minnesota.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Won't play Sunday
Rotowire
Pierce (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday night's game against the Bears.
After missing Friday's practice, Pierce was deemed questionable for the Texans' Week 2 contest. With the running back unavailable versus Chicago, Dare Ogunbowale, Cam Akers and British Brooks are available to handle backfield snaps that don't go to top back Joe Mixon.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Officially questionable for Week 2
Rotowire
Pierce (hamstring) did not practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Pierce missed Friday's practice after a hamstring issue restricted him to a limited session Thursday. His status may not be made official until roughly 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff, but after he handled just three carries Week 1 compared to Joe Mixon's 30, Pierce is unlikely to be considered in most fantasy lineups even if he's active. Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and Cam Akers could handle expanded reserve roles Sunday if Pierce is ruled out.
