Injury alarms: How critical setbacks could shift Texans' outlook against Titans

TEXANS NEWS

Texans CJ Stroud, Will Anderson
With Blake Cashman likely out, Houston can't afford to lose Will Anderson. Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Texans had their worst performance of the season on Sunday against the New York Jets, losing 30-6. And while the loss is certainly disappointing, the injury outlook for this week's game appears to be an even bigger area of concern.

The big story from the game was CJ Stroud leaving early due to a concussion. Davis Mills and Case Keenum will be next in line at QB if Stroud is out. And while we wait to see how he progresses through the concussion protocol this week, we have updates on some other injuries from Sunday.

Aaron Wilson is reporting that Blake Cashman and Tavierre Thomas are both dealing with hamstring injuries and aren't expected to play this week, per sources. Thomas has made most of his impact in recent weeks on special teams, so Houston should be able to fade his absence on defense. But Cashman is another story.

Losing Cashman for any extended period of time will be a big blow to Houston. Cashman has been an integral piece to the Texans defense, with 51 solo tackles and 2 sacks on the season.

Losing a linebacker with Derrick Henry next on the schedule doesn't bode well for Houston.

Will Anderson left Sunday's game with an ankle injury, so he'll be someone to keep an eye on this week at practice. He has 5 sacks on the season and has been a critical addition, that has allowed the Texans to fix their run defense this season. Hopefully, he'll be ready to go come Sunday, because they need him badly.

On offense, the Texans could be without both Dalton Schultz and Nico Collins. Schultz is still working his way back from a hamstring injury, and Collins left Sunday's game early with calf discomfort.

On the bright side, Aaron Wilson is reporting that kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn is set to return this week after missing 5 games with a quad injury.

If this game comes down to a field goal, we'll feel a lot better with Fairbairn back in the fold.


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The Astros beat the Brewers, 9-1. Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images.

Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.

Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.

The Astros led 3-1 before Peña broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.

Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros’ March 27 season opener. He threw a season-high 101 pitches.

Milwaukee’s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase’s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s double.

The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.

Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him in 2022.

Key moment

The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Peña hit a bouncer to third.

The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase’s tag.

Key stat

Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.

Up next

The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.

The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.

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