The Houston Texans return home for Sunday Night Football in what could be a potential Super Bowl preview vs. the Detroit Lions. While the Texans will have multiple defenders back, one player could be out for another week.
Second-year defensive end Will Anderson Jr. did not practice throughout the week after suffering an ankle injury in Week 9’s loss against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Does that mean he’s out against the NFC favorites?
Here’s an update on the Texans’ star pass-rusher heading into their third primetime game.
Will Anderson Jr. injury update
Anderson, who won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, left during the first quarter of Week 9’s loss after linebacker Neville Hewitt landed on his ankle. He was helped off the field by medical staff and was in and out of the medical blue tent.
While Anderson tried to return to the game, he was limited, playing four total snaps before halftime. After the break, the Texans listed him as questionable, but he did not return to help Houston mount a comeback.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Anderson was in good spirits, but the team would be carefully monitoring him throughout the week.
“He’s doing well,” Ryans said at Wednesday’s press conference. “We’ll see where he ends up.
After missing Friday’s walkthrough, Anderson was ruled out for Sunday night.
No Nico Collins.
No Will Anderson.Tall task against one of the NFC’s best teams.
Not insurmountable though.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) November 11, 2024
How long will Will Anderson be out?
It’s a week-to-week injury. If Anderson returns to practice next week, he’ll have an extra day to recover before the Texans travel to Arlington to take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11 at AT&T Stadium.
If he’s not, Houston could hold him out until Week 12 or 13 when it needs a win over AFC South foes Tennessee and Indianapolis, respectively.
Will Anderson Jr. stats
The former No. 3 overall pick was on a tear entering his sophomore season. Anderson was recently named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month the morning before his injury on Halloween after totaling five sacks and an NFL-leading seven tackles for loss in October.
Houston’s pass rush had led the NFL in pressures (128) before the Jets game. The Texans were held to just six pressures when Anderson wasn’t on the field last week.
The only pair of defenders in the top 10 of pressures this season:
7. Danielle Hunter – 39
…
10. Will Anderson Jr – 37 pic.twitter.com/wrp7OHmEna— PFF HOU Texans (@PFF_Texans) November 9, 2024
Texans DE depth chart
With Anderson out, here’s the rest of the defensive ends on the active roster:
- Danielle Hunter
- Derek Barnett
- Denico Autry
- Dylan Horton
Kickoff from NRG Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.