The Texans ruled out three players for Monday night’s game against the Buccaneers.
Center Jake Andrews will not play after missing practice all week with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 1. Jarrett Patterson is set to take over for him against Tampa.
The Texans will also be without wide receivers Braxton Berrios and Christian Kirk for the second straight game. Both wideouts are recovering from hamstring injuries and have not been participating in practice.
Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, second-round pick Jayden Higgins, third-round pick Jaylin Noel, and Justin Watson are the healthy wideouts on the 53-man roster.
Right tackle Luke Goedeke was back on the practice field for the Buccaneers on Saturday.
Goedeke did not practice at all on Thursday or Friday because of a foot injury. His return to the field to close out the team’s practice week was enough to leave the door open for him to play against Houston on Monday night.
Head coach Todd Bowles said at his press conference that Goedeke will be listed as questionable. Bowles also confirmed that they won’t have their left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who returned to practice this week but will miss another game as he recovers from knee surgery.
Graham Barton moved from center to left tackle last Sunday and will remain there. Charlie Heck would likely start in Goedeke’s place if he can’t go on Monday night.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin has been ruled out as well. Godwin joined Wirfs in a practice return, but needs more time to ramp up after last year’s season-ending ankle injury.
The Texans could have their starting right guard back for Monday night’s game against the Buccaneers.
Ed Ingram returned to a full practice Friday.
He popped up on the injury report Sept. 4 with an abdomen injury. He did not play Sunday and continued his limited participation in practice Thursday, his third consecutive practice without full participation.
If Ingram plays, the Texans will shift Tytus Howard back to right tackle from right guard and rookie Aireontae Ersery back to left tackle from right tackle.
Center Jake Andrews (high ankle) did not practice again and is not expected to play this week. He left Sunday’s game after 45 snaps, and Jarrett Patterson replaced him.
It does not look like the Texans will have starting wide receiver Christian Kirk and primary return specialist Braxton Berrios again this week. Both remained out of practice Friday with hamstring injuries.
Starting wide receiver Christian Kirk and primary return specialist Braxton Berrios remained out of practice Thursday. Both are rehabbing a hamstring injury, and Kirk and Berrios both missed the Texans’ season-opening loss to the Rams.
Rookie Jayden Higgins started in Kirk’s spot and played 27 snaps, and fellow rookie Jaylin Noel saw 17 snaps. Xavier Hutchinson played 43 of 63 snaps.
Center Jake Andrews (high ankle) also did not practice and is not expected to play this week. He left Sunday’s game after 45 snaps and Jarrett Patterson replaced him.
Offensive guard Ed Ingram (abdomen) popped up on the injury report Sept. 4. He did not play Sunday and continued his limited participation in practice Thursday, his third consecutive practice without full participation.
Backup right tackle Blake Fisher (ankle) participated fully.
The Buccaneers got left tackle Tristan Wirfs back at practice on Thursday, but they were missing the other bookend of their offensive line.
Right tackle Luke Goedeke did not take part in practice. Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters after practice that Goedeke played through a foot injury in last Sunday’s win over the Falcons and they will monitor his status over the next couple of days before making any call about Monday night’s game against the Texans.
The Bucs moved Graham Barton to left tackle in place of Wirfs in Week 1 and Charlie Heck took Goedeke’s reps on the right side during Thursday’s practice. With Wirfs likely out of game action a little longer, that could be the way things look against Houston.
Bowles also said that cornerback Benjamin Morrison is on track to play this week. The rookie did not play in Week 1 due to a quad injury.
