While Montgomery (groin) has made some progress, coach DeMeco Ryans noted Wednesday that the running back will remain out for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Montgomery missed Houston's last two games before the team's Week 8 bye, and now he won't return to the lineup any sooner than Nov. 15, when the Texans face the Browns on the road. With Montgomery still out, Woody Marks is poised to maintain his lead backfield role, an assignment that resulted in him logging a season-high 19 carried for 66 yards and one catch for 15 yards in a Week 7 overtime loss to the Giants.
Blankenship (concussion/hand) did not participate at the Texans' practice Wednesday.
Blankenship was forced to miss the team's last contest in Week 7 against the Giants while recovering from a concussion, and he may still remain in concussion protocol ahead of Week 9. The safety is also working his way back from a left hand injury that required surgery in late October. Blankenship will have two more chances to return to practice before Sunday's contest versus the Chargers.
Al-Shaair (groin) was a limited participant at the Texans' practice Wednesday.
Al-Shaair appears to be dealing with a groin injury coming out of Houston's bye week in Week 8. The linebacker's ability to practice in any capacity would suggest it's a minor issue, but he will have two more chances to practice in full and prove his health before Sunday's matchup with the Chargers.
Noel, who was placed on injured reserve earlier Wednesday, is expected to require surgery to address his toe injury and will miss the remainder of the season, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Noel was forced out of this past Sunday's 27-21 overtime loss to the Giants after going down with the toe injury with just under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The loss of Noel is a major blow to the Texans, as he had been serving as the team's top return man in addition to emerging as a big-play threat on offense. Through Houston's first seven games, Noel had recorded 19 receptions for a team-leading 331 yards and two touchdowns and added 26 yards on four carries.
Hummel isn't expected to resume practicing this week while he continues to recover from groin surgery, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Hummel was placed on injured reserve Sept. 26 due to the groin issue, which was significant enough to require a procedure. Though Hummel already missed the required four games while on IR, the Texans don't appear to be ready to open his 21-day practice window. Hummel could have a more realistic chance at practicing coming out of the Texans' Week 8 bye.
Smith (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve by the Texans on Tuesday.
Smith will be forced to miss at least four weeks of action after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. The cornerback has played only seven snaps on defense this season, so his absence will carry more of an impact on Houston's special-teams unit.
Brooks (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Friday.
Brooks will miss at least four games. However, the 26-year-old has seen action only on special teams during the 2026 campaign, so his extended absence won't impact the usual day-to-day operations for the Texans offense.
The Texans placed Edwards on injured reserve Wednesday.
Edwards suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's 19-17 loss to the Colts and will miss the rest of the 2026 season. The defensive tackle has been moved to injured reserve and will no longer take up a spot on the Texans' 53-man roster.
The Texans placed Hagen (undisclosed) on injured reserve Tuesday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Hagen is an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State. The reserve offensive lineman is 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. The Texans clearly valued the rookie's training camp production, as the choice to keep the young player on the active roster will give him a chance to return to the 2026 season after at least four games on IR.
Byrd (ankle) reverted to the Texans' injured-reserve list Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Byrd suffered an ankle injury during last Friday's preseason finale against the Panthers. The defensive end had virtually no chance of making the 53-man roster, so he was waived with an injury designation. The 26-year-old went unclaimed and now will spend the entirety of the 2026 regular season on IR unless he is waived with an injury settlement.
The Texans placed Gaye (knee) on injured reserve Sunday.
There's no designation to return attached to Gaye's placement on injured reserve, meaning the LSU product will be required to miss the entire 2026 season. He suffered a severe knee injury during the Texans' joint practice against the Panthers this past Wednesday. Gaye will shift his attention toward being fully healthy for the 2027 campaign.
Speed (quadriceps) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Texans on Sunday.
Speed suffered a torn quadriceps tendon while lifting weights in May, and he underwent surgery to repair the injury. The linebacker is expected to miss the entirety of the 2026 season, and in his absence, Jake Hansen (ankle) and Henry To'oTo'o are set to operate as the team's primary outside linebackers.
The Texans placed Horton (Achilles) on injured reserve Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Horton's season is officially over after he tore his ACL during Monday's practice. The 25-year-old will now shift his focus to getting healthy for the 2027 campaign.
The Texans placed Ossai (undisclosed) on injured reserve Saturday.
Ossai persisted through a separate issue to be activated off the active/PUP list for training camp in late July. The linebacker has unfortunately succumbed to yet another injury and could now miss the entirety of the 2026 regular season on the Texans' IR. Ossai will need to reach an injury settlement with the Texans if he wants to attempt a return to football with another team in 2026.
Pitre (shoulder) was a full participant in Houston's practice Wednesday.
Pitre is healthy again after missing the past two games due to an AC joint injury. The 2022 second-round pick should resume his role as the team's starting slot cornerback during Sunday's game versus the Chargers.
To'oTo'o notched 10 tackles (three solo), including 0.5 sacks, in Sunday's Week 7 overtime loss to the Giants.
To'oTo'o ranked second on Houston in tackles behind M.J. Stewart, with whom he combined for a sack in the fourth quarter. It was just the third appearance of the campaign for To'oTo'o, who missed Weeks 2 through 5 due to a knee injury. The 25-year-old seems to be past the issue, as he's logged more than 90 percent of the Texans' defensive snaps since his return.
Stewart finished with 12 tackles (five solo), including 0.5 sacks, and a defensed pass in Sunday's overtime loss to the Giants.
Stewart paced Houston in tackles, and he contributed a half-sack of J.J. McCarthy in the fourth quarter. Stewart missed the first four weeks of the campaign due to a knee injury and was limited to work on special teams upon his return in Week 5, but he started and logged a 95 percent defensive snap share Sunday in the absence of Reed Blankenship (concussion/hand). The Texans are on bye in Week 8, so Blankenship will have extra time to recover ahead of Houston's Week 9 matchup against the Chargers.
