Texans veteran wide receiver Danny Amendola is inactive Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
He was activated Saturday from injured reserve-designated for return after returning to practice this week.
Amendola underwent arthroscopic knee surgery for a torn meniscus and was previously placed on injured reserve. Amendola, 35, has caught 17 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown on 29 targets since signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract. He missed four games with a strained hamstring earlier this season. The former Texas Tech standout has 610 career receptions for 6,099 yards and 22 touchdowns in 162 career games and 72 starts, including stints with the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams.
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With Amendola out along with top wide receiver Brandin Cooks on the reserve-COVID-19 list, the Texans will lean on rookie Nico Collins along with receivers Chris Moore and Chris Conley along with tight ends Brevin Jordan and Jordan Akins.
The Texans also have starting cornerback Terrance Mitchell out one day after activating him from the reserve-COVID-19 list.
The Texans will rely on Desmond King, Tavierre Thomas and Tremon Smith with Mitchell out as well as Lonnie Johnson Jr. being on the COVID-19 list.
Running back David Johnson is out, as expected, due to a quadriceps injury that prevented him from practicing all week that he suffered during a road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Rex Burkhead will be the primary running back against the Chargers.
Starting linebacker and defensive captain Christian Kirksey, starting defensive end Jacob Martin, starting right guard Justin McCray and starting cornerback Mitchell were activated from the COVID-19 reserve list along with safety Terrence Brooks. The Texans could start McCray at one guard spot opposite Max Scharping with Lane Taylor still on the reserve-COVID-19 list.
Martin and Walker could start at defensive end with Jon Greenard on the COVID-19 list along with Maliek Collins, Roy Lopez, Jaleel Johnson and Jordan Jenkins.
Left tackle Tytus Howard and center Justin Britt are on the COVID-19 list
Jonathan Owens is preparing to start opposite Justin Reid at safety with Eric Murray on the COVID-19 list.
The Texans elevated several players from the practice squad, including kicker Dominik Eberle, who will fill in for regular kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn with Fairbairn on the COVID-19 reserve list.
They also elevated wide receiver Jalen Camp, defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour, offensive linemen Jake Eldrenkamp and Jordan Steckler, defensive back T.J. Green, defensive end Demone Harris, fullback Paul Quessenberry, running back Jaylen Samuels and linebackers Connor Strachan and Josh Watson.
Rookie offensive lineman Carson Green is inactive along with quarterback Deshaun Watson (non-injury reasons-personal matter).