2 min read • January 12, 2024
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Houston’s main health issues come on the defensive line, where all four starters are listed as questionable. Rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. should play through his high ankle sprain once again, but has struggled to be effective in recent weeks while battling the injury.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is questionable with a shoulder issue he has played through late in the season and defensive end Jonathan Greenard is also questionable with a lingering ankle injury. DT Maliek Collins played through a hip injury in W18 against the Colts and should play again in the Wild Card round.
Greenard’s backup Jerry Hughes has been ruled out with an ankle injury and strong safety Jimmie Ward is on IR with a quad injury, leaving new addition Kareem Jackson to fill in.
Those injuries result in a defensive SIC score of 79.1 and a run defense score of 78.3.
On offense, the Texans have two wide receivers questionable for Saturday’s game. Veteran Robert Woods is questionable with a hip injury that caused him to miss W18, while Noah Brown is questionable with a back injury that also caused him to miss W18.
One of the two will likely have to play at less than 100% health with the receiving game already reeling from the loss of rookie standout Tank Dell.
Despite starting five different quarterbacks this season, the Browns captured the top Wild Card spot and face the #4 seed Houston Texans. Veteran AFC North gunslinger Joe Flacco has proven the best at coping with the injuries to book-end tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin. Despite starting all five games without a healthy starting tackle Flacco has averaged 323.3 passing yards per game with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. During his five-game stretch, Flacco was sacked just 8 times, tied with Lamar Jackson for the fewest during that time period.
Despite missing Weeks 17 and 18, No. 1 wide receiver Amari Cooper practiced fully on Thursday and will play in the Wild Card round.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, the secondary suffered a key injury during the practice week. On Thursday, No. 1 corner Denzel Ward emerged from practice with a minor knee injury and he is listed as questionable for Saturday’s contest.
To round out the secondary, starting free safety Juan Thornhill is listed as questionable but is likely to play through the calf injury that has lingered for a majority of the season. Starting strong safety Grant Delpit has been ruled out with the groin injury that landed him on injured reserve in early December.
The only other absence of note is to middle linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who was placed on IR late in the season after undergoing knee surgery.
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