The current AFC defensive player of the week was back at practice for the Texans on Wednesday.
Cornerback Derek Stingley sat out on Tuesday because of an oblique injury, but the team’s injury report shows that he was back to work in a limited capacity. Stingley has not missed any games this season.
Safety Kamari Lassiter (foot, knee) also returned for a limited practice. Lassiter has also started all 15 games for the Texans.
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (ankle, knee), defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (knee), and defensive end Dylan Horton (hip) were the team’s other limited participants. Linebacker Jake Hansen (chest), linebacker Jamal Hill (calf, wrist), right tackle Trent Brown (ankle, knee), left tackle Aireontae Ersery (thumb), and defensive lineman Denico Autry (knee) did not practice.
Running back Woody Marks (ankle), cornerback Ajani Carter (hamstring), long snapper Austin Brinkman (knee), defensive lineman Darrell Taylor (ankle), wide receiver Justin Watson (calf), and tight end Dalton Schultz (knee) were full participants. The Texans will issue injury designations for Saturday’s game against the Chargers on Thursday.
The Texans offense had a rough day against the Raiders in Week 16, but cornerback Derek Stingley and the defense helped them escape with a win.
Stingley opened the scoring with a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter of what would go in the books as a 23-21 Texans victory. Stingley also had two tackles and he forced a fumble by tight end Michael Mayer, but the ball wound up bouncing out of bounds.
Stingley was named the AFC defensive player of the week in recognition of his performance. It’s the third time that Stingley has received that award in the last three seasons.
The Texans will be trying to clinch a playoff spot by beating the Chargers on Saturday and Stingley will be front and center to that bid.
Last year, the Chargers lost to the Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs, 32-12. The two teams meet again on Saturday.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert keenly recalls his subpar showing in Houston.
“It was one of those things that you continue to think about,” Herbert said Tuesday, via Kris Rhim of ESPN.com.
For the game, Herbert completed 14 of 32 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. His passer rating was 40.9.
“No one felt worse than I did after that game,” Herbert said. “And I think it’s important to continue to move forward and realize that it’s what happened. It would be crazy of me to deny the truth of what happened and to live in this reality where if I tried to block it out, I don’t think that’s doing any good.”
Has Herbert improved from that Saturday in January?
“I sure hope so,” Herbert said. “Those are games that, as hard as they are to watch, you got to learn from them.”
He’ll get a chance to show what he’s learned on Saturday. The 10-5 Texans are still chasing a spot in the wild-card round. The 11-4 Chargers, who clinched on Monday night when the Colts lost, are trying to chase down the Broncos for the AFC West crown.
Appeals officer Jordy Nelson upheld the two-game suspension of Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman on Tuesday. Perryman will miss Saturday’s game against the Texans and the Week 18 game against the Broncos.
The league suspended him on Monday for repeated violations of player-safety rules.
Perryman was flagged for unnecessary roughness for delivering a forcible blow to the helmet of Cowboys receiver Ryan Flournoy while Flournoy was on the ground after making a catch during the second quarter of Sunday’s game. That action violated Rule 12, Section 2, Article 10(b), which prohibits “using any part of the helmet or facemask to butt or make forcible contact to an opponent’s head or neck area.”
In 10 games, Perryman made 47 tackles and three pass breakups.
He previously served a two-game suspension in 2023 while with the Texans for repeated violations of player-safety rules.
Perryman is eligible to return to the Chargers’ active roster on Monday, Jan. 5.
The NFL and NFLPA have three jointly appointed hearing officers, with Derrick Brooks and Ramon Foster the others.
The Chargers could play Saturday’s game without two key offensive lineman in a season of injuries to their offensive line.
Right guard Mekhi Becton (knee) and left tackle Jamaree Salyer (hamstring) did not practice on Tuesday.
However, right tackle Trey Pipkins (ankle) had a full practice and is trending toward a return. Pipkins injured his ankle in Week 14, sidelining him for the past two games. Trevor Penning replaced him.
Running back Kimani Vidal (neck) was among others not practicing.
The Chargers signed running back Jaret Patterson to the active roster and running Royce Freeman to the practice squad as insurance.
Wide receiver Derius Davis (ankle), safety RJ Mickens (shoulder) and defensive lineman Teair Tart (groin) were the other non-participants on Tuesday.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen and outside linebacker Khalil Mack had rest days.
Outside linebacker Bud Dupree (back) was limited.
Quarterback Justin Herbert (left hand) was a full participant.
