Reid among players who could be back for Bills game
Texans starting safety Justin Reid, linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn participated in Monday’s walk-through practice, which offered promising signs the injured players could return for the team’s Sunday game at Buffalo.
Reid was the defense’s most productive player before he twice exited Houston’s 31-21 loss at Cleveland with a knee injury, which sidelined the fourth-year NFL veteran during the Texans’ 24-9 loss against the Panthers on Thursday night. Grugier-Hill, who had a breakout game against the Browns, also exited the game with a knee injury and was sidelined against the Panthers.
Texans coach David Culley said he’ll know more about the status of the three players by Wednesday, which is the day Fairbairn’s time on injured reserve expires.
Fairbairn was placed on IR on Sept. 8 after he pulled a muscle during warmups before the preseason finale against the Buccaneers. The Texans subsequently signed Joey Slye, who pushed a 41-yard field goal wide left against the Browns and missed a point-after attempt against the Panthers.
Culley said he expects Fairbairn to play against the Bills.
“We’ll know more about it on Wednesday,” Culley said. “This was what we targeted for him getting back.”
Starting cornerback Terrance Mitchell remains in concussion protocol after missing the Panthers game. Tremon Smith started in Mitchell’s place against Carolina, which steadily broke through the Houston defense in the second half.
The Texans also activated reserve safety A.J. Moore, who practiced for the first time since he was placed on injured reserve Sept. 2. Moore, a fourth-year veteran, has missed practice since playing the Aug. 14 preseason opener against the Packers, in which he recorded a tackle.
Culley not surprised by Allen’s success
Culley was the quarterbacks coach for the Bills when the franchise selected quarterback Josh Allen with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Culley watched Allen develop in an up-and-down rookie season, a year in which the Wyoming product went 5-6 as a starter, missed four games with an elbow injury and threw 10 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
Culley said Allen now has “become one of the top quarterbacks in the league.” The Bills quarterback has led the franchise to consecutive playoff berths, and last year, Buffalo was one game away from its first Super Bowl appearance since 1993.
The 6-5, 237-pound Allen has the Bills at 2-1 this season, and when the Texans arrive in Buffalo on Sunday, they’ll have to defend a quarterback who’s in the middle of yet another Pro Bowl-worthy season.
Allen has completed 73 of 95 passes for 807 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception.
“When I had him as a rookie, he had everything that you wanted,” Culley said. “And I’m not surprised that he’s where he’s at right now. … I mean, he’s a heck of a player. Has all the things you want. There’s not a throw he can’t make. He’s very athletic. He’s a big kid, strong kid that can run. He’s the total package.”
Tight ends haven’t been very involved
Of the four tight ends on the Texans’ roster, only Jordan Akins and Pharaoh Brown have caught passes. Akins has five catches for 49 yards (9.8 average per catch) and no touchdowns. His longest reception was 17 yards. Brown has four catches for 67 yards (16.8). His longest reception is 29 yards.
Even though he has been injured, Brown has played in the last two games but hasn’t caught a pass. The Texans need him to be involved in the passing game again because he’s such a dangerous weapon.
Rookie quarterback Davis Mills needs balance on offense with a running game that produces better than in the last two defeats. He also needs balance in the passing game. Brandin Cooks, who’s off to a terrific start, is the go-to receiver with 23 catches for 322 yards (14-yard average) and one touchdown.
Applying pressure to QB is a priority
The Texans have six sacks in three games. Defensive end Whitney Mercilus has two. Grugier-Hill, Jacob Martin, Jonathan Greenard and Ross Blacklock have one each. The Texans are on a pace for 34 sacks, the same total as 2020.
Against Buffalo, defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s goal will be to get pressure on Allen with a four-man rush. He’ll dial up a blitz on occasion. Because of his size and being a strong runner, Allen is difficult to sack unless he stays in the pocket and holds the ball too long waiting for receivers to get open down the field.
Allen makes a lot of throws with pass rushers draped all over him. The key for the Texans is not just to get to Allen but to wrap him up and pull him down, producing strip sacks at best and incompletions at worst.