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Texans hit with tough injury news leading up to pivotal Week 5 matchup against the Bills

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kole Noble | Last updated Oct 6, 2024 2:30 PM ET

The Houston Texans will be without another key starter heading into a critical Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

Minutes before kickoff, the Texans listed starting right tackle Tytus Howard on the inactives list for Week 5.

Howard did not practice on Friday and was limited on Thursday with a hamstring injury. He was officially listed as questionable going into the weekend but will not be able to go on Sunday.

With Howard inactive, the Texans will now have two offensive starters out going up against the Bills after ruling out running back Joe Mixon on Friday with an ankle injury. Backup running back Dameon Pierce will also be inactive with a hamstring injury.

Texans inactives:
DE Derek Barnett
OLB Jake Hansen
T Tytus Howard
RB Joe Mixon
RB Dameon Pierce
WR Steven Sims
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 6, 2024

After being expected to play, Howard will now miss his first game of the 2024 season. Rookie Blake Fisher will be the next man up at right tackle for the Texans. During the preseason Fisher allowed three pressures on 54 pass blocking snaps at left tackle.

Fisher filled in at left tackle in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars where he allowed two QB hits on 14 pass blocking snaps. The rookie will have a big test going up against the Bills pass rush that has the 6th-highest pass rush grade in the league.

Blake Fisher will most likely start at RT with Tytus Howard not practicing this week & I can’t lie i’m very nervous to see how he will hold on

Josh Allen is a beast but he was dominating Fisher & he will now most likely have Greg Rousseau this week pic.twitter.com/9Rs9n4Frja
— Jacob (@Stroud4MVP) October 4, 2024

Out of the backfield, the Texans will once again rely on Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale, who played solid together as a duo last week against the Jaguars.

"I thought they ran pretty well with what we were given. There were a couple of plays in there that I know if they could have back in some one-on-one opportunities in space they would like to capitalize on that a little more," offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said on Thursday. "But, in the critical moments, they made the big plays."

Another inactives that could heavily impact the Texans on Sunday is starting returner Steven Sims, defensive end Derek Barnett, and outside linebacker Jake Hansen.

As for the Bills, they will officially be without the following starters: CB Taron Johnson, S Taylor Rapp, WR Khalil Shakir, and DT Ed Oliver.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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