The Houston Texans designated right tackle Tytus Howard for return from injured reserve Wednesday but placed starting left guard Kendrick Green on IR with a knee injury.
Howard missed the first four games on IR with a broken hand.
Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil also returned to practice Wednesday after missing the past three games with pain and swelling in his knee.
The Texans may shift Howard to guard in place of the injured Green while keeping George Fant at RT, according to KPRC2 Houston.
The Texans have 21 days to activate Howard to the 53-man roster. He broke his hand during training camp, an injury that required surgery to insert two metal pins.
Green tore his meniscus and is expected to undergo season-ending surgery. He injured his right knee in Sunday's 30-6 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers, which helped Houston improve to 2-2.
Fellow OL Josh Jones practiced Wednesday with a club on his hand after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament, per KPRC2. He missed last week's game and is expected to miss this Sunday's game at Atlanta.
The Texans acquired Green from the Steelers on Aug. 29 for a 2025 sixth-round pick after Houston's starting left guard, 2022 first-round pick Kenyon Green, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during the preseason.
Howard has started all 54 games he has played since the Texans selected him with the 23rd overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama State.
Howard, 27, signed a three-year, $56 million extension in July that reportedly included $36.5 million guaranteed.
In other moves Wednesday, the Texans also opened the practice window for punter Cameron Johnston and released interim P Ty Zentner.
The Texans also signed DE Derek Rivers to the active roster from the practice squad, restored S Brandon Hill to the practice squad and signed DT Taylor Stallworth to the practice squad.
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