Tough blow
Akins left concussed after targeting hit.
Texans tight end Jordan Akins absorbed a crushing blow to the head from safety Harrison Smith on Sunday afternoon, suffering a concussion during the first half of a loss to the Vikings.
Smith was ejected from the game and penalized for leading with his helmet with his head down.
Akins managed to hold onto the football for a 26-yard reception, but that was the end of his day. Akins isn’t experiencing major symptoms and feels fine, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer argued with officials after his Pro Bowl safety was escorted into the locker room.
“Harrison is not a dirty player, he’s never been a dirty player,” Zimmer said. “I feel like he tried to get his shoulder in there. They want to give us a penalty, fine, but don’t eject guys. They told me the league office ejected him.
“This guy is one of the best players in the NFL and one of the best people in the NFL. He’s not a dirty player, so that’s kind of what irritated me.”
The league office disagreed with Zimmer’s assessment, backing up the call on the field from referee Brad Rogers.
“The ruling on the field was that of a foul on a defenseless player and also an ejection,” NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron told a pool reporter. “Any time the officials rule a disqualification on the field, we take a look at it in replay to make sure that it is there. After we looked at it, there was nothing clear and obvious for us to overturn the ruling on the field, therefore the ruling on the field stood.”
At the time of his concussion, Akins was leading the Texans with three catches for 46 yards on three targets. Without him in the lineup, tight end Darren Fells had two catches for 21 yards with third tight end Pharaoh Brown being used as a blocker.
“He’s a really good player,” Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien said of Akins. “He’s done a lot of great things for us. Fells was in there. At the end of the day, the next guy goes in. It’s just a different personnel grouping, really.”
Carter’s fumble leads to Vikings’ field goal
Ball security was a problem for Texans return specialist DeAndre Carter.
While attempting a spin move during a a punt return, Carter lost control of the football on a hit from Vikings running back Mike Boone.
The turnover led to a field goal and a 10-0 lead for the Vikings.
Carter fumbled during the Texans’ AFC divisional-round playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He now has eight career fumbles.
“I mean, it’s not good, but I’m sure he wishes he could have that play back,” Bill O’Brien said. “That was a pretty key moment in the game because I think obviously we had stopped them, and we were doing pretty well on offense. But we just turned it over.”
LB Mercilus records first two sacks of year
Texans veteran outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus recorded his first two sacks of the season as well as three quarter
back hits against the Vikings.
Mercilus would gladly trade the sacks for a victory as the Texans are off to an 0-4 start for the first time since the 2008 season.
“As anybody would feel after an 0-4 start, pissed, of course, frustrated,” Mercilus said. “There were a few plays out there we wish we could have got back, especially making it close there at the end, just give us a chance to probably go into overtime. It’s just frustration all around, but the thing is, we’ve just got to stick together and keep pushing forward.”
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins usually had plenty of time to operate. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown.
“Somebody has to get up into
the pocket,” Mercilus said. “Kirk Cousins, he’s going to sit back there, especially on those playactions. Up front, we’ve got to be able to get to the quarterback. Especially in those situations.”
Scharping benched at guard for Kelemete
The Texans halted their platoon system at left offensive guard, benching starter Max Scharping and replacing him with Senio Kelemete on Sunday.
A second-round draft pick last year from Northern Illinois, Scharping is off to a rough start in his second NFL season. Scharping has a 49.1 overall blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus.
During a loss to the Steelers a week ago, Scharping started and played 27 snaps while Kelemete played 20 snaps.
Duke Johnson back after spraining ankle
Texans veteran running back Duke Johnson returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sprained ankle.
Johnson is one of the Texans’ most versatile players. Johnson caught three passes for 21 yards on four targets and rushed for 24 yards on five carries, averaging 4.8 yards per run.
Meanwhile, rookie defensive tackle Ross Blacklock was active and had one tackle after being a healthy scratch against the Steelers one week after being ejected against Ravens for throwing a punch.