Houston Texans Vs. Indy Colts: Week 5 Injury Report

As both the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts take the field, here’s a few injuries that you need to know about:

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For the Texans, here are the players that are listed on the injury report:

S Lonnie Ballentine, Knee

T Duane Brown, Hand

ILB Max Bullough, Shoulder

OLB Jadeveon Clowney, Shoulder/Knee

ILB Brian Cushing, Foot

S Quintin Demps, Hamstring

ILB Akeem Dent, Hamstring

RB Arian Foster, Groin

RB Jonathan Grimes, Hamstring

CB Johnathan Joseph, Hip

QB Ryan Mallett, Chest

OLB Whitney Mercilus, Thigh

T Derek Newton, Ankle

S Eddie Pleasant, Thigh

RB Chris Polk, Knee

WR Cecil Shorts III, Shoulder

G Xavier Su’a-Filo, Calf

WR Nate Washington, Hamstring

NT Vince Wilfork, Ankle

Demps, Dent, Grimes, Shorts and Washington have been ruled OUT. Ballentine, Mercilus and Polk are listed as questionable. Brown, Bullough, Clowney, Cushing, Foster, Joseph, Mallett, Newton, Pleasant, Su’a-Filo and Wilfork are good to go and are probable for Thursday.

Houston Texans’ Tidbits

Quintin Demps: Demps suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday’s meltdown against the Falcons. Because of the short week, rest is the best cure and the Texans have decided to side with that particular option. Let’s hope for the best because he’s one of the few bright spots on the secondary/special teams unit. Rookie Keith Mumphery will be elevated to a larger role as he will likely take over the kick/punt returning duties as Shorts will be out as well. Demps has not practiced at all this week and currently has 19 tackes, 0.5 sacks and one interception on the season.

Whitney Mercilus: Mercilus injured his thigh in hot pursuit of Matt Ryan against the Falcons. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite make it and he tumbled to the turf grimacing in pain. He did walk off the field on his own power but had a slight limp. Mercilus did practice this week albeit limited — if you want to call riding the exercise bikes practice — but it’s quite possible that he may play against the Colts. My best guess is that he won’t as he can rest up for Jacksonville in the next week and half. Kourtnei Brown is ready and open for business after being cut before the season and brought back in after a short spell with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown knows the system and I’m sure he’s feasting for an opportunity to redeem himself from a not-so-stellar end to his preseason campaign. Expect to Brown to get a lot of playing time if Mercilus is not a go.

Cecil Shorts: It was tough to see Shorts sustain his injury on the last play of the game resulting in a defensive touchdown by Falcons’ linebacker Nate Stupar. He got caught with his pants down on a bubble screen resulting him crushing to the ground by the force of the Falcons’ front line, falling awkwardly on his left shoulder causing it to dislocate. It’s tough to determine when Shorts would return but he has indicated that he’s working to return as soon as possible as he did not practice this week. Expect rookie Chandler Worthy to get a lot of time in his stead while he heals.

Nate Washington: Washington injured his hamstring in the first half against the Falcons causing him to limp off the field, grabbing the back of his leg. He didn’t practice this week and it’s tough to determine when he’ll return back to field. I’m hoping it’s a week or two as this team is seriously lacking depth at what was quite a deep position coming into the season as far as talent. The trio of Jaelen Strong — who’s expected to be activated — along with Mumphery and Worthy will do their utmost in filling the void. So keep your eyes out — a huge chunk of our passing, kick/returning game will be put on the shoulders of three rookies.

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And here’s the injury report for the Indianapolis Colts:

S Mike Adams, Neck

TE Dwayne Allen, Ankle

DT Henry Anderson, Foot

CB Vontae Davis, Foot

LB Jerrell Freeman, Groin

RB Frank Gore, Foot

QB Matt Hasselbeck, Illness

DE Kendall Langford, Back

QB Andrew Luck, Right Shoulder

CB Greg Toler, Neck

RB Tyler Varga, Concussion

LB Bjoern Werner, Hamstring

Freeman, Varga and Werner have been ruled OUT. Adams, Anderson, Davis, Hasselbeck and Luck are listed as questionable. Allen, Gore, Langford and Toler will be probable for Thursday.