The Houston Texans will host the Cleveland Browns in the first game of wild card weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at NRG Stadium, with NBC on the broadcast. The Texans are on the spread at home, and the game has an over/under line of points.
C.J. Stroud has been a revelation for the Texans during his rookie campaign. The No. 2 overall pick is averaging 310.8 passing yards per game at home this season. Stroud (concussion) was inactive in Week 16 when the Texans suffered a 36-22 loss to the Browns. He returned to lead Houston to two wins and the AFC South championship.
Joe Flacco has resurrected Cleveland’s offense since taking over at quarterback in Week 13. The Browns tried journeyman P.J. Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson after they lost Deshaun Watson (shoulder) for the season, then settled on the 38-year-old veteran. Amari Cooper posted a career-high 265 receiving yards on 11 receptions when the Browns beat the Texans in Week 16. Cooper is questionable for this game with a heel injury.
Houston Texans wild card round injury report
| Player | Pos Position | Injury | Status | Snaps/g Snaps Per Game | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.J. Stewart | S | Knee | Out | 26 | Stewart has been ruled out heading into Week 1 versus the Colts. |
| LaDarius Henderson | G | Foot | Out | 0 | Henderson underwent foot surgery and has been placed on the non-football injury list. He will miss at least four games. |
| Kurt Hinish | DT | Calf | Out | 19 | Hinish is dealing with a calf injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games. |
| Jaylon Thomas | OT | Undisclosed | Out | 0 | Thomas is battling an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. |
| Dylan Horton | DE | Personal | Out | 0 | Horton has been placed on the non-football illness list and is stepping away from the team for an indefinite amount of time due to personal/health related reasons. |
| Denico Autry | DE | Suspension | Out | 0 | Autry has been suspended for the first six games of the 2024-25 season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. |
| Dalton Keene | TE | Undisclosed | Out | 37.5 | Keene is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. |
| Christian Harris | LB | Calf | Out | 20 | Harris is dealing with a calf injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss at least four games. |
| Case Keenum | QB | Undisclosed | Out | 18.5 | Keenum has been placed on the injured reserve list and will miss the 2024-25 season. |
| Brandon Hill | S | Knee | Out | 21 | Hill is dealing with a right knee injury and has been placed on the injured reserve list. He will miss the 2024-25 season. |
Potential key missing players
Anderson Greenard (ankle)
Houston’s sack leader has missed the past two weeks with an ankle injury. All four of Houston’s starting defensive linemen were listed as questionable ahead of Saturday’s win-or-go-home matchup at the Colts, and Greenard was unable to go in that game. Defensive end Jerry Hughes (ankle) and defensive tackle Maliek Collins (hip) are also questionable for this wild card matchup.
Noah Brown (back)
Since Houston lost Tank Dell (leg) for the season, Brown has stepped into a starting role opposite Nico Collins. The sixth-year receiver caught three of seven targets for 37 yards with Case Keenum and Davis Mills playing quarterback in Week 16 against the Browns. He sat out the Week 18 matchup against the Colts with a back injury.
