TEXANS NEWS
Injury alarms: How critical setbacks could shift Texans' outlook against Titans
Dec 12, 2023, 4:22 pm
With Blake Cashman likely out, Houston can't afford to lose Will Anderson. Composite Getty Image.
Examining Houston Texans keys to victory over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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.
Sources: #Texans’ Blake Cashman, Tavierre Thomas to miss at least a week or two with strained hamstrings, Nico Collins' status still being determined, as C.J. Stroud remains in #NFL concussion protocol @KPRC2 https://t.co/WLvt7thK2g
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 12, 2023
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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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.