The Texans saw the return of three players on Thursday.
Running back Nick Chubb (foot), defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (quad) and defensive end Denico Autry (knee) got limited work a day after sitting out practice.
Seven other players missed Wednesday’s practice, with defensive tackle Jalen Pitre (concussion), quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion), kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (right quad), linebacker Christian Harris (shin) right guard Ed Ingram (knee), right tackle Tytus Howard (concussion) and tight end Harrison Bryant (shoulder) still not practicing.
The Texans added running back Dameon Pierce (personal) to the practice report with limited work.
Wide receiver Braxton Berrios (chest) and tight end Dalton Schultz (knee/shoulder) had full participation a day after being limited.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud won’t play Sunday against the Jaguars after being diagnosed with a concussion against the Broncos.
Davis Mills will replace Stroud in the starting lineup.
But the Texans have even more injury concerns with nine other players out of practice on Wednesday.
Running back Nick Chubb (foot), right tackle Tytus Howard (concussion), defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (quadriceps), kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (right quadriceps), tight end Harrison Bryant (shoulder), defensive back Jalen Pitre (concussion), linebacker Christian Harris (shin), right guard Ed Ingram (knee) and defensive end Denico Autry (knee) also didn’t practice.
The Texans have already ruled out Fairbairn, and signed Matthew Wright to the practice squad to replace him.
Wide receiver Braxton Berrios (chest) and tight end Dalton Schultz (knee/shoulder) were limited.
The Jaguars welcomed Jakobi Meyers to the fold on Wednesday, but they were missing another wide receiver on the practice field.
Brian Thomas sat out the team’s first on-field work of Week 10 with an ankle injury. Thomas suffered the injury during last Sunday’s overtime win over the Raiders and his status will be one to watch ahead of the matchup with the Texans.
The Jags have Travis Hunter on injured reserve and Dyami Brown was limited due to a concussion, so Meyers’ arrival is well-timed for a receiving corps in need of healthy bodies.
Left guard Ezra Cleveland (knee, ankle), cornerback Jourdan Lewis (neck), and tight end Hunter Long (hip, knee) were also out of practice. Linebacker Dennis Gardeck (chest), defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (back), and linebacker Jack Kiser (quad) were listed as limited while linebacker Devin Lloyd (calf), tight end Quintin Morris (groin), and wide receiver Tim Patrick (groin) were full participants.
The Texans will not have their starting quarterback when they face the division-rival Jaguars on Sunday.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters in his Wednesday press conference that C.J. Stroud has been ruled out for Week 10 due to the concussion he sustained in the Week 9 loss to the Broncos.
Stroud did not participate in the day’s practice. Given that he’s already been ruled out, he may not get on the field all week.
With Stroud sidelined, Davis Mills is set to make his first start of the season. He was 17-of-30 passing for 137 yards in Sunday’s loss to Denver in relief of Stroud. That was Mills’ second appearance of the season. He previously completed 2-of-4 passes in mop-up duty during Houston’s 44-10 victory over Baltimore on Oct. 10.
Mills has not started a game since 2022 — the year before the club drafted Stroud. In his 40 career appearances with 26 starts, Mills has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 6,327 yards with 35 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.
Houston’s first full injury report of Week 10 will be released later on Wednesday.
Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has a lower-body injury, putting his availability for Sunday in question, Aaron Wilson of KPRC reports.
Free agent kicker Matthew Wright visited Houston on Tuesday and signed with the team’s practice squad, per Wilson.
Fairbairn kicked five field goals and missed a 51-yarder in Sunday’s 18-15 loss to the Broncos. He has made 22 of 25 field goals this season.
Wright has made 56-of-65 career field goals and 43-of-45 extra points. He has kicked for the Commanders, Titans, Chiefs, 49ers, Panthers, Steelers and Jaguars.
