Despite injuries, DeAndre Hopkins and Jadeveon Clowney will play.
Although two of the Texans’ best players didn’t practice this week, both are expected to play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has a toe injury, and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney has a knee injury and an illness. Both are listed as questionable.
“Yes, I do,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien when asked if he expects them to play in this AFC South road game.
Hopkins leads the NFL with 11 touchdown catches. Clowney has nine sacks and 20 tackles for losses.
Meanwhile, left offensive tackle Jeff Allen returned to practice Friday on a limited basis from a groin injury. He’s expected to start.
“It’s trending toward him being able to go, yes,” O’Brien said.
The Texans officially ruled out quarterback Tom Savage, offensive tackle Kendall Lamm, wide receiver Braxton Miller and linebacker Jelani Jenkins with concussions.
Tight end MyCole Pruitt (calf ) is questionable.
Difficult season for RB Miller
Accustomed to breakaway runs and eluding linebackers, Texans running back Lamar Miller has experienced a rough new reality this season.
A Pro Bowl alternate last year when he rushed 1,073 yards and five touchdowns, Miller has rushed for just 764 yards this season with three scores. His 3.6 average per run is the lowest of his career. His longest run is just 21 yards, the lowest of his career.
“It’s been tough,” Miller said. “I just try to keep getting better and try to improve. Hopefully, we finish strong the last few games.”
The Texans rank 13th in rushing offense, averaging 114.9 yards on the ground per game.
There haven’t been a lot of big holes generated by the offensive line. The Jaguars rank second in total defense.
“I would say we’re all disappointed in where our running game is right now,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “We’ve tried every scheme there is, and it just hasn’t been good enough lately. Relative to Lamar, he runs hard. He does what we ask him to do. Hopefully, we can make some yards in the running game against Jacksonville.”
Big plays missing for Johnson
It has been a difficult season for Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson.
He endured a Grade 2 sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee earlier this season and missed four games.
Since getting healthy again, Johnson has started twice and played in seven consecutive games. Johnson has been picked on occasionally and allowed some touchdown passes.
In his third NFL season, Johnson is remaining patient with himself and hoping that big plays are coming.
“For sure, it’s getting there,” said Johnson, who has 38 tackles, no interceptions and two passes defended as the replacement for cornerback A.J. Bouye after the latter signed a five-year, $67.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March. “It’s going to come. It’s just some situations where they haven’t gone my way. It’s going to be there.”
Fuller slowly works way back
Back from a painful set of cracked ribs that sidelined him for three games, Texans wide receiver Will Fuller returned to the starting lineup last Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Fuller got off to a fast start with consecutive catches for first downs, but finished with just three catches for 26 yards.
With another week of practice and more time to heal, the Texans are hoping to get Fuller more involved Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“That was a pretty serious injury he had against the Rams,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Not to get into the details of it, but that’s an injury that takes a while to come back from, and I think that he’s a tough guy. So, he’s back in there, he’s had a good couple days here. So, looking forward to having him back in.”
Heinicke slated for backup duties
For his rookie season, Texans quarterback Taylor Heinicke was on the Minnesota Vikings’ active roster.
A year later, Heinicke was on the active roster for half the season.
He was never active for a regular-season game, though.
Now, Heinicke will be on an active 46-man gameday roster as the Texans’ backup to T.J. Yates with starter Tom Savage out with a concussion.
The former New England Patriots practice squad member has been preparing in earnest all week for this opportunity.
“This is my first time,” said Heinicke, who credited Savage, Yates, quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan and offensive assistant Pat O’Hara for helping him get ready. “I feel real good, my first time suiting up for a regular-season game. God forbid, if T.J. was to go down, my first time playing in a regularseason game. Just the circumstances for this to happen are unfortunate, but I’m excited.”
McKinney fined for late hit on QB
Texans inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney was fined $18,231 for a hit on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garappolo.
McKinney was penalized for roughing the passer.
Meanwhile, 49ers tight end Garrett Celek was fined $18,231 for unnecessary roughness for his horse-collar tackle on Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson following an interception.