Houston Texans vs Steelers: 2017 Week 16: Injury Report Analysis

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 22: Joe Haden
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 22: Joe Haden /
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We’re just biding time until the Houston Texans season ends with them possessing a 4-10 record but here’s some injuries to keep your eye on.

The Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers will be taking the field today, here’s a few injuries that you need to know about.

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

G Jeff Allen, Concussion

OLB/DE Jadeveon Clowney, Knee/Neck

T Julie’n Davenport, Shoulder

S Kurtis Drummond, Ankle

WR DeAndre Hopkins, Toe

DE Joel Heath, Knee

ILB Jelani Jenkins, Concussion

T Kendall Lamm, Concussion

OLB LaTroy Lewis, Shoulder

C/G Greg Mancz, Knee

WR Braxton Miller, Concussion

ILB Brian Peters, Illness

G Xavier Su’a-Filo, Groin

DE Carlos Watkins, Knee

QB T.J. Yates, Knee

Allen, Lamm and Lewis are OUT.  Clowney, Davenport, Drummond, Hopkins, Heath, Jenkins,  Mancz, Miller, Peters, Su’a-Filo, Watkins and Yates are PROBABLE.

Houston Texans’ Tidbits:

Jeff Allen:  The offensive lineman that had been starting at left tackle sustained a concussion — his 2nd one of the season — against the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Sunday.  Because he’s in protocol, it’s expected that he miss this week as he didn’t practice at all.

His results at left tackle have been mixed with him doing well in pass-protection but no so much with the run where our running backs fail to get the holes needed to be successful.  He also has racked up a ton of penalties because he’s still learning the position and determining if the pressure is coming to his side.  Julie’n Davenport will start in his place Monday and it will be a preview of sorts to see how our 4th rounder from this year’s draft fits in the system.

And here’s the injury report for the Pittsburgh Steelers:

WR Antonio Brown, Calf

G Ramon Foster, Concussion

CB Joe Haden, Fibula

LB James Harrison, Illness

LB Tyler Matakevich, Shoulder

TE Vance McDonald, Shoulder

CB Coty Sensabaugh, Shoulder

Brown is OUT. Foster and Sensabaugh are QUESTIONABLE.  Haden, Harrison, Matakevich, McDonald are PROBABLE.

Pittsburgh Steelers Tidbits:

Antonio Brown Brown went down in last week’s thriller against the New England Patriots while running in the end zone for a touchdown catch.  He has a partially-torn calf and has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season.  The Steelers are hoping that he can return for the playoffs but that still has yet to be determined.  He was on pace to finish the season with close to 2,000 yards receiving which would arguably be one of the best in pro history.  JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant are the go-to guys for now and the team has seemed to be floating along just fine with those two.

Coty Sensabaugh:  Sensabaugh practiced most of the week but was held out Friday and back at practice earlier today.  He’s been dealing with a shoulder injury but it hasn’t kept him out of games.  His coverage has suffered as a result with him receiving a 48.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.  With Joe Haden back healthy again, it’s possible t

hat the Steelers will rest him this week.  I don’t think they’ll need him against the Texans, who are dealing with their injury woes of their own.

Ruben Foster:  The starting left guard likely suffered a concussion this past Sunday as he reported that he was having symptoms Monday.  He was extremely limited in participation this past week and is now in concussion protocol.  Although he’s listed as QUESTIONABLE, I wouldn’t expect him to play this Monday against the Texans.  Teams have to handle these situations with the utmost of delicacy and that’s why likely we won’t see him.  He hasn’t been great in coverage this year — as he usually has been — he has a 47.5 overall grade from PFF but is a valuable commodity to their offensive line.  B.J. Finney will more than likely see some time at guard because of the injury regardless.

Next: Three plausible theories behind the Texans '17 injury bug

The Houston Texans are back to close out the home schedule against the Steelers at NRG Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CST.

The game will be televised on NBC and broadcast on 610 SportsRadio AM/100.3 FM (KILT) & ESPN Deportes 1180 (KGOL) in Spanish.

Go Houston Texans.