PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

November 01, 2018 at 1:38 am.

PLAYER NOTES

–WR Keke Coutee will be evaluated as the week continues. Coutee is nursing a hamstring injury, the one he has been dealing with since training camp.

–ILB Peter Kalambayi has a chance to get back to the team this week. He suffered a concussion on a late hit by a Miami Dolphins lineman to his head after making a tackle. Kalambayi has been a bright spot for the Texans’ special teams unit.

–ILB Brian Peters is close to returning to the team after injuring his ankle in week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts.

–CB Shareece Wright is expected back this week after missing the past two games with a wrist injury. Wright has been a steady player for the defense and getting him back will help a depleted cornerback group.

–TE Ryan Griffin will make his return to the field after missing two games with an illness. He was sent home and away from the team before their game with Jacksonville and now he is expected back to help on offense.

–RB D’Onta Foreman is still on the mend and there are thoughts that the Texans will start the 21-day window for him to practice with the team after the bye week.

–WR Bruce Ellington was waived from injured reserve Wednesday (Oct. 31). He will have to pass through waivers due to the trade deadline passing. Ellington injured his hamstring in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve for the second season in a row.

–CB Aaron Colvin started practicing with the team on Wednesday which is the first time he has been on the field since injuring his ankle in an overtime win in week 4.

GAME PLAN: Texans tackles Kendall Lamm and Julien Davenport will have their work cut out for them this week against Broncos pass rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. The Texans have protected quarterback Deshaun Watson well the past two weeks and this will be their biggest test yet against game-changing players off the edge.

The addition of Demaryius Thomas will add a new wrinkle to the offense and there will be a slight adjustment for the team. Head coach Bill O’Brien will be tasked on getting Thomas ready and involved in the game plan because he will be needed to balance out the field.

The Texans are going to have to slow the seventh-best rushing attack in the NFL (133.1) led by Phillip Lindsay who has rushed for 531 yards (5.7 average) with three rushing touchdowns. Just like last week, the Texans have to make the quarterback beat them and now it is Case Keenum’s turn to handle the Texans defense.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Texans WR Demaryius Thomas vs Broncos CB Adam Jones. The Texans might have an advantage on Sunday with the return of Demaryius Thomas to Denver with something to prove. Thomas has been floundering this season with suspect quarterback play and now with Deshaun Watson pulling the trigger there might be some added focus for Thomas against his former team. It will be important for Thomas to take pressure off DeAndre Hopkins and coverages rolling his way.

–Texans NT D.J. Reader vs. Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay. The Broncos are running the football at a high level and Lindsay has been the beneficiary. It will be up to Reader to control the line of scrimmage and keep linemen off of the inside linebackers allowing them to make plays. Reader is entering a game that fits his style, being challenged in the run game.

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