Houston Texans wide receiver Noah Brown. Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Noah Brown‘s first Texans season involved multiple injuries. His latest will shut him down for the rest of the season. After Brown left Saturday’s wild-card game with a shoulder malady, the Texans placed him on IR.

Due to the timing here, Brown will miss the rest of the season. The longtime Cowboys wideout posted a career-high receiving total this season, doing so despite missing seven games due to injury. This is Brown’s second IR stint as a Texan; the team used one of its eight IR activations earlier this season. The Texans have used up their IR activations this season does not matter in this case, as all players who land on IR must miss at least four games.

Brown, 28, joins Tank Dell among Houston wideouts on IR. The Texans have continued to battle setbacks at this position, with Nico Collins also missing time. But Collins has emerged as C.J. Stroud‘s go-to target down the stretch. With Brown also out, Stroud will figure to lean on Collins in the team’s divisional-round matchup. Robert Woods and John Metchie join Collins as key wideouts left standing in Houston.

A six-year Cowboys target who signed a one-year deal to change Texas addresses back in March, Brown played quite well in a bigger role. He posted 567 receiving yards despite the seven absences, averaging 17.2 per catch and scoring two touchdowns. Brown, however, missed time because of back, groin and knee injuries this season. While that makes his 567-yard showing impressive, the former seventh-round pick did not display much durability in his first Texans campaign.

An auxiliary Cowboys pass catcher from 2017-22, Brown started seven games with the Texans. He posted back-to-back 150-plus-yard games in November, helping Stroud become the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite. Brown will again command interest in free agency soon, should the Texans not re-sign him before then.

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