The Houston Texans will be without two of their most important defenders when they face the Cleveland Browns this Sunday, according to reports from Yahoo Sports.
Edge rusher Danielle Hunter and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair were officially ruled out in the team’s Friday injury report.
Hunter is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Al-Shaair is dealing with a groin issue, as detailed by the Houston Chronicle.
The absence of these key players comes as a significant blow to a defense that recently achieved a franchise-high eight sacks in a win over the Chargers.
Hunter, who led the team in sacks in 2025, has recorded four sacks so far this season.
Team depth will be tested as Jadeveon Clowney is expected to step into the starting lineup to replace Hunter.
Meanwhile, Henry To’oTo’o is projected to shift over to the middle linebacker position to cover for Al-Shaair.
The injury report also noted that starting guard Keylan Rutledge, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and tight end Brevin Jordan have been ruled out for the upcoming contest.
Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. remains questionable with an ankle injury, having missed practice on Friday.
On the offensive side of the ball, running back Woody Marks has returned to full participation and carries no injury designation.
However, David Montgomery remains questionable as he attempts to recover from a groin injury.
The Texans currently hold a 3-5 record and sit in 11th place in the AFC standings.
They are looking to close the gap on the Browns, who are currently 1.5 games ahead of them in the conference.
With the top seven teams in the conference advancing to the postseason, this matchup carries significant weight for Houston’s playoff aspirations.
The team is aiming to maintain the defensive consistency they displayed last week despite the current personnel challenges.
The coaching staff will look to players like Logan Hall to see increased playing time as they navigate these roster constraints against Cleveland.