The Texans placed veteran safety Eric Murray on injured reserve due to damage to the meniscus in his knee, per league sources.
Murray injured his knee Sunday against the New Orleans Saints and a magnetic resonance imaging exam confirmed that initial diagnosis,
Murray got hurt during a 20-13 win at NRG Stadium, leaving the game after going to the blue medical tent adn then heading to the locker room for further examination.
Murray was able to gingerly jog off the field under his own power and is not on crutches.
Murray started against the Saints with regular safety Jimmie Ward lining up at nickel.
Murray also started two games earlier this season when Ward was sidelined with a hip injury.
Murray was retained this offseason under a restructured deal and can make up to $4 million this season.
Murray played every game last season and recorded 27 tackles. A former Kansas City Chiefs third-round draft pick from Minnesota who has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Murray has played in 106 career games with 44 starts. He has 311 career tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
The Texans signed reserve cornerback and special teams contributor D’Angelo Ross to their 53-man roster from the practice squad, per his agent, Joe Linta.
Ross is a former New England Patriots undrafted free agent from New Mexico who was released by the Texans after the preseason. He was on their practice squad last year and was
He played in three games with one start with the Patriots in 2021.
Ross has run the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds.
Ross has also played for the Miami Dolphins.
Reserve cornerback Alex Austin was signed to the practice squad after being released and clearing waivers.
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.
Photo: Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Texans get Tank Dell back for Panthers game
Texans rookie wide receiver Tank Dell is expected back from a concussion following an open week and is projected to return for a road game against the Carolina Panthers.
Dell was sidelined against the New Orleans Saints while under the NFL concussion protocol. His symptoms have subsided and he is feeling much better, per league sources, after getting hurt against the Atlanta Falcons while making a catch and landing on his head.
Dell has caught 19 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 28 targets. The third-round draft pick from the University of Houston is on pace for 79 catches, 918 yards and six touchdowns.
“Tank should be back and ready to go after the bye as well,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.
Texans rookie center Juice Scruggs is nearly back from a strained hamstring that prompted the team to place him on injured reserve. Scruggs’ leg has improved significantly. The Texans haven’t had to rush their second-round draft pick from Penn State back because rookie center Jarrett Patterson has played solidly in starting the first six games of the season.
“We’ll see where Juice is when we come back from the bye,” Ryans said. “He’s had a good week last week, so we’ll see if he continues to progress in the right direction.”
When starting center Scott Quessenberry was ruled out for the season on injured reserve with torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, Scruggs was supposed to replace him. Instead, Scruggs got hurt in the preseason against the Saints and was placed on injured reserve, too.
During his NFL preseason debut against the New England Patriots, in a dozen snaps, Scruggs acquitted himself well.
Scruggs didn’t look out of place at all. He looked strong and confident.
“There’s some good stuff to build on,” Texans offensive line coach Chris Strausser told KPRC 2 at the time. “Twelve plays is not a lot to evaluate, but there was enough stuff to see there. Definitely got some of the details stuff to clean up that you would probably expect from a rookie, but he’s showing his athleticism, which was exciting to see.”
Texans veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman, a former Pro Bowl selection with the Las Vegas Raiders, was inactive against the Saints. Perryman started the previous game at an unfamiliar position, Will linebacker, and didn’t have a great game. He is playing with a broken hand and is wearing a protective club. The club was the primary reason he didn’t play against the Saints along with Christian Harris being back from a concussion. The Texans’ top performing linebacker against the Saints was Blake Cashman, who recorded a career-high 15 tackles with two tackles for losses and two passes defensed.
“Denzel is a fighter,” Ryans said. “He wants to go out there, but with him with the club cast on and having Christian back at this time, I don’t think it would be beneficial to Denzel to put him out there with one hand.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.