The first two weeks of the regular season have not gone to plan for the Houston Texans on the scoreboard or the injury front. The Texans are without tight end Cade Stover and running back Joe Mixon due to various ailments, and the duo's absence has played a big role in the team's 0-2 record.
Additionally, the Texans have been without veteran wide receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios, who are projected to have sizable roles on the team. Bad times don't last forever, though, and on Tuesday, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters that the team expects to get Kirk and Berrios back this week, per Daily Texans' Cody Stoots.
Christian Kirk, Braxton Berrios on Verge of Making Texans’ Debut
Given how things have started for the Texans, they will take every bit of good news they can get right now.
Kirk and Berrios have both been sidelined by hamstring injuries. The Texans can desperately use Kirk, who is most effective out of the slot and can take some attention from Nico Collins, who has gotten off to a slow start (six receptions [14 targets] for 77 yards and a touchdown).
Without Kirk on the field, Houston has struggled to find a reliable WR2 option behind Collins. This was the case in Monday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as no one emerged and stepped up:
- Xavier Hutchinson — two receptions (three targets) for 29 yards
- Jayden Higgins — one reception (one target) for 28 yards
- Justin Watson — one reception (one target) for three yards.
It was the same scenario in Week 1, as Higgins led the team in receiving with a pedestrian two receptions (three targets) for 32 yards. Kirk won’t fix the Texans’ offensive issues overnight, but he can give Stroud another option and can stretch the field.
Meanwhile, the Texans have been using rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel on punt returns for the injured Berrios. The rookie wideout had a huge punt return for 53 yards late in the fourth quarter against the Bucs, which set the Texans up with great field position.
Houston took the lead as veteran RB Nick Chubb scored a 25-yard rushing touchdown. It will be interesting to see what Berrios does on punt returns as Noel brings a spark to the return game, which could be beneficial for a struggling Texans’ offense.