Colts, Texans Injury Report: Surprising Starter in Question

The Indianapolis Colts embark on their first road journey of the season on Sunday as they travel to NRG Stadium to take on the AFC South division-rival Houston Texans.

The Colts are still in relatively good health as they have seen improvement from players on the injury report throughout the week and don't have anyone to rule out. Meanwhile, the Texans are severely banged up, both with players on the injury report and the Injured Reserve list. This now includes starting quarterback C.J. Stroud, who made an appearance on the report on Friday.

Here's the final report for the week.

COLTS

WEDNESDAY

• Did Not Participate — G Quenton Nelson (toe), TE Drew Ogletree (concussion), OT Braden Smith (knee/ankle)
• Full Participant — RB Zack Moss (forearm)

THURSDAY

• Did Not Participate — G Quenton Nelson (toe)
• Limited Participant — TE Drew Ogletree (concussion)
• Full Participant — RB Zack Moss (forearm), OT Braden Smith (knee/ankle)

FRIDAY

• Did Not Participate — P Rigoberto Sanchez (illness)
• Limited Participant — G Quenton Nelson (toe), 
• Full Participant — RB Zack Moss (forearm), TE Drew Ogletree (concussion), OT Braden Smith (knee/ankle)

QUESTIONABLE — G Quenton Nelson, TE Drew Ogletree

Nelson left last week's game briefly with the injury before returning and playing the remainder of the game. His missing much of the week and being listed as questionable was perhaps precautionary.

The Colts did get encouraging news elsewhere, with Moss stringing together another full practice and now being removed from the injury report. Both Ogletree and Smith also were full participants as Smith was also removed from the report.

The Colts placed rookie running back Evan Hull on Injured Reserve this week as well as placing center Jack Anderson on the Practice Squad Injured List.

TEXANS

WEDNESDAY

• Did Not Participate — LB Neville Hewitt (illness), S Jalen Pitre (chest), OT Laremy Tunsil (knee), S Jimmie Ward (hip)
• Limited Participant — S Grayland Arnold (hamstring), LB Blake Cashman (hamstring), OT George Fant (shoulder), WR John Metchie III (hamstring), LB Denzel Perryman (ankle/wrist), TE Dalton Schultz (thigh), WR Robert Woods (rest)
• Full Participant — RB Dare Ogunbowale (hamstring)

THURSDAY

• Did Not Participate — LB Neville Hewitt (illness), S Jalen Pitre (chest), S Jimmie Ward (hip)
• Limited Participant — LB Blake Cashman (hamstring), WR John Metchie III (hamstring), OT Laremy Tunsil (knee)
• Full Participant — S Grayland Arnold (hamstring), OT George Fant (shoulder), RB Dare Ogunbowale (hamstring), LB Denzel Perryman (ankle/wrist), TE Dalton Schultz (thigh), WR Robert Woods (rest)

FRIDAY

• Did Not Participate — S Jalen Pitre (chest), OT Laremy Tunsil (knee), S Jimmie Ward (hip)
• Limited Participant — LB Neville Hewitt (illness), QB C.J. Stroud (right shoulder)
• Full Participant — S Grayland Arnold (hamstring), LB Blake Cashman (hamstring), OT George Fant (shoulder), WR John Metchie III (hamstring), RB Dare Ogunbowale (hamstring), LB Denzel Perryman (ankle/wrist), TE Dalton Schultz (thigh), WR Robert Woods (rest)

OUT — S Jalen Pitre, S Jimmie Ward

QUESTIONABLE — OT Laremy Tunsil, LB Neville Hewitt, QB C.J. Stroud

The Texans' two starting safeties, Pitre and Ward, remained sidelined on Friday and have now been ruled out, which could spell trouble for their abilities to cover downfield on Sunday. Pitre in particular is a dynamic playmaker who would be missed in any scheme. He had a scary situation last week after leaving Houston's Week 1 contest and being admitted to the hospital with a bruised lung.

Stroud and Tunsil are other huge names on the list, as Tunsil is Houston's best offensive lineman for a group already dealing with a litany of issues, and Stroud is supposed to be making his second-career start at quarterback in the first edition of the Anthony Richardson vs. C.J. Stroud saga.

The Texans also placed wide receiver Noah Brown and defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway on IR this week, joining other important players such as offensive linemen Kenyon Green, Tytus Howard, Scott Quessenberry, and Juice Scruggs, all of whom already landed on IR.