Houston

Texans

The 2021 UDFA was waived Monday to make room on the game day roster for the return of Omarion Hampton. Jones will be a rotational piece for the Texans after they lost Tim Settle for the remainder of the season. They waived Jalen Mills to create space for Jones.

Jordan was set to be a free agent next offseason, but will now remain under contract through the 2026 season. The fifth-year tight end missed all of this season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in training camp, and has appeared in just two games since 2024 after a torn ACL also ended his season last year.

Higgins continues to churn out meaningful production for a Texans team in dire need of secondary options behind alpha wide receiver Nico Collins. The towering rookie was kept out of the end zone but made two key grabs to keep the chains moving and could continue his ascension towards the end of the season. Up next is a plus matchup against the battered Cardinals in Week 15.

It was Nico Collins that took advantage of the Chiefs early as the Texans built a 10-0 lead before the half, with the talented wide receiver erupting for 121 first-half yards after Kansas City shutdown corner Trent McDuffie departed with injury. The team’s pass volume dried up after the break due to positive game script, with Schultz ending with a disappointing 22 yards on the evening. In fairness, he did have a touchdown taken off the board in the first half by an illegal formation penalty. Up next is a Cardinals opponent the Texans should be able to move the football against, although volume could once again be an issue for the veteran tight end.

Collins broke free early for a 46-yard gain up the seam against Trent McDuffie coverage, the latter of whom would be injured on the play and miss the remainder of the game. The talented veteran added catches of 53 yards, 18 yards, and four yards before the break but would be blanked in the second half with the team nursing a lead throughout. Collins now has consecutive games of 98 yards or more through the air with C.J. Stroud under center, something he had not done against all opponents other than the Jaguars this season. The Texans now prepare for one of the worst defenses in the league in the Cardinals in Week 15.

Marks served as a workhorse following the second quarter departure from veteran Nick Chubb, the latter of whom would not finish the game after only one touch. The budding rookie’s fantasy day could have been even bigger had he not been subbed out inside the five following a hard hit half way through the fourth quarter, resulting in a Dare Ogunbowale touchdown on his only touch of the game. Fantasy managers had already enjoyed lead back status for Marks the previous month of the season, but he could be set up for true workhorse status ahead of a Week 15 meeting with the Cardinals should Chubb be unable to go.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Texans found a way to down the Chiefs to improve to 8-5, now clinging to the final playoff spot in the AFC. Stroud did well to avoid mounting pressure in the first half as he made numerous key throws in high leverage situations to keep the Texans afloat, the most impressive of which was a 53-yard completion to alpha wide receiver Nico Collins in the second quarter which led to the only touchdown of the first half. He would then toss nine straight incompletions after the break, the most to that point in the season throughout the NFL - the most until that point because Patrick Mahomes would go 10 straight passes without a completion later in the game. The Houston defense took over from there, sealing the victory with a turnover on downs and interception on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter. Stroud and the Texans now await the reeling Cardinals in Week 15 as they fight for their playoff lives.

Chubb departed in the second quarter and did not return following the half, with the team ruling him out for the remainder of the game. It’ll be the Woody Marks show in the Houston backfield for the remainder of the game. Chubb managed just three yards on one carry prior to departing.

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter is active after coming into the weekend listed as questionable, leaving no real surprises for the Texans as they look to continue their torrid second half of the season. Winners of four straight, the Texans could all but end Kansas City’s streak of consecutive postseason appearances with an upset on the road.

Despite getting in just one practice this week, the Texans were reportedly optimistic about him playing. While he still needs to get the final go-ahead after testing things out this morning, it looks like Lassiter will suit up for a must-win bout with the Chiefs. Lassiter has 10 pass breakups and two interceptions this year.