Friday Texans Cody Stoots Six-Pack

Texans turn corner with primetime win, but Fuller injury is a downer

Texans turn corner with primetime win, but Fuller injury is a downer
Will Fuller tore his ACL. Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

The Texans have a bonafide winning streak and they added their first blowout win of the season to their resume. We look at it with today's six-pack. 

1. This is perhaps the greatest catch that didn't count of all-time. DeAndre Hopkins makes it look easy too. He was stellar tonight with a slow start but got going, finishing with 82 yards and two catches. Hopkins had plenty to say about his catch that didn't count. "They took my catch away" was his first comment. He maintained he didn't push off and someone "owed him an apology." When asked if he was the game's best pass catcher he simply said "If y'all don't know who I am by now then don't ask me that question."

2. Deshaun Watson had his most efficient and successful game of the season. He tied his career high in touchdowns with five and did so with only 20 attempts. He had just four incompletions. He played magnificently and is clearly as healthy as he has been in weeks. He even showed his exceptional escapability on a few plays. He now has the second-most touchdown passes ever by a quarterback through his first 15 games with 34. That trails Kurt Warner who had 36. They have the same number of total touchdowns with 37 when you add rushing touchdowns. 

3. The offensive line was fantastic Thursday night. They allowed zero sacks and one quarterback hit, which was on the fourth play of the game. They paved the way for Lamar Miller's first consecutive 100-yard rushing games as a Texans player. Greg Mancz has been a breath of fresh air at right guard. He should be the starter there even when Zach Fulton gets healthy. Kendall Lamm said after the game they take pride in improving and making the plays they need to make. When asked about the effective rushing attack helping the play action game Lamm exclaimed "oh man, as you can see as you watch, you can see the linebackers come down, the safeties, it puts them in conflict. They see us pounding the rock and they have to respect it and as you can see we just pick them apart. It's just a beautiful thing."

4. Will Fuller tore his ACL. He is a dynamic element to this offense. This is a major blow to the Texans as no one posses a similar enough skillset to replicate the necessary respect Fuller commands from opposing defenses. Sammie Coates and Vyncint Smith will be the two competing for snaps opposite Hopkins. It doesn't seem likely the Texans would pursue a trade with their offense being so demanding and reportedly hard to learn, but, they have an extra asset with Seattle's second-round pick this year. 

5. The injuries piled up for the Texans on Thursday. Johnathan Joseph was lost early in the game and took a wait and see approach when asked about his injury. Zach Cunningham left the game and didn't return with a knee injury. His replacement, Peter Kalambayi, left with a concussion. Jadeveon Clowney got dinged up late but he said after the game he was fine and joked he forgot what he hurt. The ten-day break ahead of their contest at Denver followed by the bye week couldn't come at a better time. 

6. It is the first time the Texans have won five straight games since the 2012 season where they rattled off two win streaks of at least five games. The win streak didn't start in the most impressive way but it has turned into a nice showing with the Texans eliminating more and more mistakes. There are still a few shortcomings on this team but they are playing complete football the past two games which is a rarity for them. If they continue playing like Thursday there aren't many teams they can't hang with on their schedule. 

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Jake Meyers is the latest Astro to be rushed back from injury too soon. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

Houston center fielder Jake Meyers was removed from Wednesday night’s game against Cleveland during pregame warmups because of right calf tightness.

Meyers, who had missed the last two games with a right calf injury, jogged onto the field before the game but soon summoned the training staff, who joined him on the field to tend to him. He remained on the field on one knee as manager Joe Espada joined the group. After a couple minutes, Meyers got up and was helped off the field and to the tunnel in right field by a trainer.

Mauricio Dubón moved from shortstop to center field and Zack Short entered the game to replace Dubón at shortstop.

Meyers is batting .308 with three homers and 21 RBIs this season.

After the game, Meyers met with the media and spoke about the injury. Meyers declined to answer when asked if the latest injury feels worse than the one he sustained Sunday. Wow, that is not a good sign.

 

Lack of imaging strikes again!

The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported on Thursday that the Astros didn't do any imaging on Meyers after the initial injury. You can't make this stuff up. This is exactly the kind of thing that has the Astros return-to-play policy under constant scrutiny.

The All-Star break is right around the corner, why take the risk in playing Meyers after missing just two games with calf discomfort? The guy literally fell to the ground running out to his position before the game started. The people that make these risk vs. reward assessments clearly are making some serious mistakes.

The question remains: will the Astros finally do something about it?


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