HEADLINE

Report: Texans to sit Watson, Hopkins vs. Titans

Field Level Media

December 29, 2019 at 8:14 am.

The Houston Texans are expected to rest quarterback Deshaun Watson, wide receiver DeAndre Hpokins and other starters in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Chronicle reported late Saturday.

Also expected to rest are left tackle Laremy Tunsil and cornerback Bradley Roby, per the report. Both are listed as questionable, as are Watson and Hopkins, after all four battled injury or illness this week.

Head coach Bill O’Brien said this week his team would play to win, but there isn’t much on the line. The Texans are locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC unless Kansas City loses at home to the Los Angeles Chargers. Houston, which cannot climb higher than No. 3, will know the result of the Chiefs’ game before its own contest kicks off in the later window.

The Titans, meanwhile, would clinch the AFC’s final wild-card spot with a victory in Houston. If they lose, they could only reach the playoffs if Pittsburgh loses at Baltimore and Indianapolis loses at Jacksonville.

Watson (back), Tunsil (ankle) and Roby (hamstring) were limited in practice this week, while Hopkins (illness) sat out two of three practice sessions. Wideout Will Fuller (groin) was already expected to be out with an issue that could cost him more than one week.

Backup AJ McCarron would start at quarterback if Watson does not play.

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