Houston Texans injuries contribute to loss against Packers

The off-season hope and dream is a team won’t have to rely heavily on its depth chart until late in the season. If a roster can avoid the injury bug deep into the schedule, they can usually have post season success.

Unfortunately for the Houston Texans, the bug has been taking bites out of the roster apple early and often. Lead tailback Joe Mixon went down in the first week, by the time he returned, WR1 Nico Collins was out. Big play receiver Tank Dell was shot in the off-season and hasn’t seemed the same since, understandably.

It’s hard to win games without your star players.

Per the latest update on ESPN, the Texans are currently missing the services of:

Robert Woods

Jimmie Ward

Henry To’oTo’o

Kamari Lassiter

Azeez Al-Shaair

Nico Collins

Pretty easy to expect a team to have an uphill battle missing six starters. Thankfully, DeMeco Ryans still has this team winning more than losing and 5-2 isn’t a bad place to be, all things considered.

This Sunday they welcome the 4-3 Indianapolis Colts to town, in what could have serious AFC South division championship as well as playoff implications down the road. The Texans beat the Baby Horses in week 1, and a sweep would go a long way to divisional dominance. But, if the roster can’t get - and stay - healthy, the climb will get steeper and steeper.

Beyond the players missing due to injury are those among the walking wounded. Laremy Tunsil and Tank Dell at 100% are much better than either with nagging injuries.

The real looming specter, however, is the seemingly injured play of the mostly healthy offensive line. If they can’t get it together, and NOW, C.J. Stroud, Mixon and more will be the next to see their names on the injury report.

Fix the offensive line, follow the next-man-up mantra and get some players healthy and this team can run the table.

After the Baby Horses, H-Town faces the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, that other Texas team, the BESFs and Jacksonville Jaguars before hitting the bye week.

It’s easy to assume a win against all but the Lions, meaning the Texans might hit the week 14 bye at 10-3, sitting pretty with an extra week to get healthy.

But, the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are all waiting after the bye.

If Miami gets on track, that game could go either way. KC and a Derrick Henry-led Baltimore team could very well bring loses #4 and 5.

But, not to be repetitive: Fix the offensive line, follow the next-man-up mantra and get some players healthy and this team can run the table.

#InDeMecoWeTrust