HOUSTON – The Texans injury-riddled defense could soon get a boost from rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
Lassiter is making a relatively fast recovery from a scapula fracture, a rare football injury involving the back of the shoulder blade suffered during an offensive pass interference infraction against the Buffalo Bills.
Although Lassiter is not regarded as a lock to return this week against the Indianapolis Colts, league sources said there’s a small chance he does and emphasized that he’s making steady progress in his recovery and feeling much better with improved mobility and range of motion.
Lassiter avoided surgery and being placed on injured reserve and is expected to be back soon with continued rehabilitation.
Not having Lassiter has been a blow to a secondary that will lean heavily on Pro Bowl alternate corner Derek Stingley Jr. The Texans have been starting D’Angelo Ross the past two games with Lassiter out and he allowed a touchdown pass
A second-round draft pick from Georgia, Lassiter has recorded 15 tackles, two for losses, an interception of Chicago Bears rookie quarterback and top overall pick Caleb Williams and three passes defensed. He missed a tackle against Coleman and allowed a 49-yard touchdown pass.
Lassiter has a 58.0 pass coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus analytics, in 180 coverage snaps. Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 9 of 24 passes against Lassiter for 193 yards.
He was replaced by cornerback Ross in the starting lineup against the New England Patriots. Ross started his first career game and played well, allowing two receptions for eight yards on three targets and had three tackles. Against the Green Bay Packers, though, Ross allowed a touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks. For the season, he has allowed 10 catches on 10 targets for 117 yards and a 148.7 passer rating by opposing quarterbacks.
Texans veteran safety Jimmie Ward’s aggravated groin injury will prevent him from playing Sunday against the Packers, missing his second consecutive game and he is regarded as unlikely to play this week against the Indianapokis Colts, per sources.
Safeties Eric Murray and Calen Bullock will start against the Colts again. Bullock leads all rookies and the team with three interceptions.
Texans linebacker Christian Harris will remain on injured reserve and won’t be designated for return to start practicing this week, per league sources.
Harris aggravated a strained calf after returning to practice in training camp and was placed on injured reserve. While Harris is making steady progress, he isn’t ready yet to begin practicing. Calf injuries frequently take a long time to recover from.
Harris recorded a career-high 101 tackles last season and returned an interception for a touchdown in a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns. Harris is coming off his best NFL season. He became the seventh player in NFL history to record a pick-six for a touchdown and record a sack in the same playoff game since retired Texans defensive end J.J. Watt did so against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012.
Neville Hewitt and Jake Hansen started at linebacker against the Packers and both played well, especially Hewitt with a 45-yard interception return of a Jordan Love pass and a team-high nine tackles. Hansen had seven tackles.
Both are preparing to be called upon again as the status of starting linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o remaining iffy for this week. Al-Shaair is dealing with a knee injury he sustained against the Patriots. To’oTo’o has a concussion and is still in the NFL protocol. The Texans worked out linebackers Jabrill Cox and Michael Barrett this week, per sources, but they weren’t signed.
Wide receiver Robert Woods is making progress in his recovery from plantar fasciitis and is expected back soon, per sources. He has been in a walking boot.
Texans cornerback Jeff Okudah, signed to a one-year contract with a maximum value of $6 million and a base value of $4.75 million with $2.5 million guaranteed this offseason, is not being designated for return from injured reserve this week, per a source. A former Detroit Lions first-round draft pick, Okudah is making progress from a hip injury. He is nearly recovered from a two-month injury.
Texans wide receiver Nico Collins, on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and out at least two more games, is doing well in his recovery, per sources, and there is optimism that the original three to four week recovery diagnosis is tracking as it should.
