Texans rookie wide receiver Tank Dell remains under the NFL concussion protocol and will not play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Dell is feeling significantly better and he is expected to return to play against the Carolina Panther following the Texans’ bye week, per league sources.
Veteran wide receiver Noah Brown has participated fully all week being designated for return from injured reserve after recovering from a groin injury.
A former Dallas Cowboys starter, Brown, 27, has three catches for 20 yards this season and 85 career receptions for 1,000 yards and three touchdowns.
Dell caught three passes for 57 yards against Atlanta. The Texans will primarily lean on Nico Collins, Woods, John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson and, potentially, Brown if he’s activated.
“Yeah, it’s tough,” Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “I wish Tank was out there, man. He’s definitely one of our best receivers. Great player, and me and him have a special, special future to come, but just like somebody goes down, next man up.
‘Somebody else has got to be ready and I feel like we answered the bell when it came to that on Sunday, and now we’ve got to do it again. I think maybe even Tank might play. I’m not sure what’s really going on, so you never know what could happen. He might be able to play, so whatever happens, I know whoever steps up, we’ll be ready.”
Texans Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil has practiced for two consecutive days after being held out Wednesday with a lingering knee injury. It’s a sign of how the Texans intend to manage Tunsil’s medical condition after he had a similar cycle of participation a week ago before returning to play against the Atlanta Falcons after missing the previous three games.
Tunsil and left offensive guard Tytus Howard played their first game together against Atlanta and are a potentially formidable blocking tandem after both excelled last year. Tunsil is signed to a three-year, $75 million extension, and Howard is playing under a three-year, $56 million deal as they make up a $131 million left side of the offensive line.
Tunsil was limited in practice Thursday.
Meanwhile, starting cornerback Shaq Griffin is back from a strained calf that sidelined him against the Falcons. Griffin said he’s full-go and he has participated fully. “I’m definitely ready,” Griffin said.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins returned to practice Thursday and participated fully after being rested Wednesday due to an abdomen muscular injury that prevented him from practicing twice last week. He started against the Falcons.
Wide receiver Robert Woods practiced Thursday on a limited basis after being held out Wednesday due to a rib injury suffered against the Falcons. Woods is expected to play Sunday. It’s possible he won’t have as big a role on special teams due to his injury.
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.
Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Texans corner Shaq Griffin: 'I'll definitely be ready'
Texans veteran cornerback Shaq Griffin looked fluid in drills Thursday, making a healthy return from a calf injury that sidelined him against the Atlanta Falcons.
Griffin is expected to return to the starting lineup Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. He was a full participant in practice after not practicing Wednesday.
“It felt good, I was definitely ready to get back there,” Griffin told KPRC 2. “So, it felt good. I’m hoping the teammates missed me as much as I missed being out there.
“I felt really good today. I had no problems, so that was good. Felt great, breaking great, moving good. I’ll definitely be ready for Sunday.”
As the replacement for injured cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who is on injured reserve and out six to eight weeks with a hamstring injury, Griffin has started twice and has 14 tackles and three passes defensed. He has played solidly, allowing 11 catches for 117 yards and no touchdowns on 18 targets for an opposing quarterback rating of 80.1
The Texans face a challenge Sunday against an experienced quarterback in Derek Carr, who has talented downfield targets that include wide receiver Chris Olave.
“Yeah, looking forward to the opportunity,” Griffin said. “I feel like they definitely will give us some chances. A lot of them will be 50-50, so you got to win your one on one battles. We are excited for it. We know it’s going to be a challenge.
Griffin, signed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract by the Texans this offseason after being cut by the Jaguars while still recovering from back surgery, was a 2019 Pro Bowl selection with the Seattle Seahawks who was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars in March after signing a three-year, $44.5 million contract in 2021, Griffin was signed to a deal that included $3 million guaranteed this offseason. Griffin has been targeted twice this season as a backup in the first two games of the season for the winless Texans, allowing one catch for 29 yards. Griffin has 329 career tackles and six interceptions.
When Griffin got hurt last season in training camp, he only lasted five games and five starts before he was placed on injured reserve. Griffin attempted to play through the injury, but it didn’t last. Ultimately, it took a long time to get healthy. One NFL general manager told KPRC 2 that he wouldn’t have signed Griffin to the contract the Texans did because of the back injury. Texans general manager Nick Caserio took a chance on Griffin as a relatively expensive insurance policy behind Stingley and Nelson. Now, the Texans are counting on him.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Griffin said of the injury. “I don’t dwell on that now. I went through that whole process of getting from the injury to where I am now. I have my moments where I think and I had to deal with the injury, but I’m also happy it did happen because it gave me that life back for football, the love. Everything that football brought to me and brought me back is why I’m here.”
Griffin is a 6-foot, 198-pound former Seahawks third-round draft pick from Central Florida whose brother, Shaquem, played with him in Seattle.
“Shaq has done a good job for us, obviously from when we brought him in,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “He’s a veteran corner, he’s played a lot of ball. He’s a physical corner. I would say he’s one of our better tacklers at the edge. He’s shown that in preseason games and as we’ve gone through the weeks here. I feel good about what he’s done and where his growth has been for us.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.