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: Returns to practice, questionable
Rotowire
Pierce (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills after logging a limited practice Friday.
Pierce practiced Friday for the first time since sustaining a strained hamstring in the middle of Week 2 prep, thus giving him a chance to bolster the Texans' Week 5 backfield depth, with Joe Mixon (ankle) still out. If Pierce does suit up this weekend, it remains to be seen how much work he'd be in line to see, with Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston having noted earlier Friday that Cam Akers has been preparing to start for the third consecutive contest.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Misses another practice
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Pierce (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Fellow RB Joe Mixon (ankle) also wasn't practicing for a second consecutive day, which clouds the duo's status as Sunday's game against the Bills approaches. If neither of them are available this weekend, Cam Akers once again would be in line to lead Houston's backfield, with Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and practice squad member J.J. Taylor also in the mix versus Buffalo.
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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
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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
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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.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Not spotted at Friday's practice
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Pierce (hamstring) is not present at the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pierce popped up on the injury report Thursday as a limited practice participant, and it looks like he'll be downgraded to DNP on Friday. That bodes poorly for the backup running back's chances of suiting up Sunday night versus the Bears. Joe Mixon is firmly entrenched as Houston's starter, but Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and Cam Akers will all be options to pick up depth snaps if Pierce can't go.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Distant second on depth chart
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Pierce had three carries for 16 yards in Sunday's 29-27 win over the Colts in Week 1.
There was little uncertainty that Pierce would back up Joe Mixon, but the disparity in their workloads was a little jarring. Mixon was on the field for 59 snaps compared to Pierce's nine, which was actually fewer than Dare Ogunbowale (13). However, Pierce and Mixon were the only running backs to carry the ball. As long as Mixon stays healthy, there may not be a path to much fantasy value for Pierce.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Needs better blocking
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Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans said Thursday that the blocking in front of Pierce has contributed to his 1.1 yards-per-carry average during two preseason games, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston reports.
Pierce's adjustment to a new zone-based scheme was slow, perhaps non-existent, in 2023, but he's been comfortable during camp. Ryans reiterated the good work Pierce has done in practice, but the results in game action have not been there. The coach indicated the back needs to get more opportunities carrying the ball, but with Joe Mixon projected to start, giving Pierce volume carries will be difficult. Pierce may have a reduced role in the backfield, but the Texans feel he can contribute in the return game.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Starts Saturday
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Pierce started and gained five yards on four carries in Saturday's preseason game against the Giants. He also returned one kickoff for 18 yards.
Pierce got a second straight preseason start and played the first quarter with Joe Mixon not suiting up. Mixon, who opened camp with a quadriceps injury, returned to practice last week but was held out Saturday. The running back rotation following Pierce was Dare Ogunbowale, Cam Akers, J.J. Taylor and then Jawhar Jordan.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Gets start with Mixon sitting out
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Pierce rushed four times for four yards and wasn't targeted in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over the Steelers.
Pierce made his preseason debut Friday after sitting out the Hall of Fame Game last week. Offseason acquisition Joe Mixon continues to work his way back from a quadriceps injury, so Pierce shared the field with C.J. Stroud and the rest of Houston's starters on the first two drives Friday. If Mixon's unable to suit up for the Texans' third preseason game against the Giants on Aug. 17, Pierce would likely draw another start.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Not in line to face Chicago
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Pierce isn't slated to play in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Bears, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
With top back Joe Mixon still recovering from a minor quad injury, the Texans plan to play it safe with his top backup versus Chicago. As a result, Wilson suggests that Jawhar Jordan, Cam Akers, British Brooks and J.J. Taylor could see added backfield opportunities Thursday.
Pierce is expected to see a lot of action in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against Chicago, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston reports.
Joe Mixon (hamstring) will not play in the preseason opener, and was probably not going to play even if healthy. Pierce will get a chance to build off the good work he's shown in practice sessions. After struggling with Houston's zone-blocking scheme in 2023, the third-year back has received good reviews since the start of training camp.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Encouraging start to camp
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Pierce has shown improvement in the first days of training camp, John Harris of the Texans' official site reports.
Pierce struggled to produce last season in a new offensive scheme and eventually lost his starting job to Devin Singletary. The new outside zone scheme required reading the defense to dictate where the back goes, which was different from the power-gap scheme, where backs can predetermine where they want to go. During the first two days of camp, Pierce has shown improved patience and decision-making after getting the ball. With Singletary gone, the Texans added Joe Mixon, who is expected to be the lead back in 2024, but Pierce could make this a 1-2 punch in the backfield.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Lone back under contract
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Pierce finished the 2023 campaign with 145 carries for 416 yards and two touchdowns along with 13 receptions (17 targets) for 101 receiving yards over 14 regular-season games.
A promising rookie in 2022, Pierce lost the starting job to Devin Singletary and fell to third on the depth chart by the season's end. Including the two postseason games, Pierce had 19 carries for 34 yards over the Texans' final seven contests. He suffered a midseason ankle injury, but the main reason for his downfall was an inability to adjust to a running scheme installed under the new coaching regime. Pierce enters the offseason as the only running back under contract, but the Texans are expected to add competition. That could be re-signing Singletary or adding another high-profile back in free agency or the draft.
