Houston Texans: Dylan Cole placed on 3 week practice window

Houston Texans have announced that they have activated the 21-day window for Dylan Cole to practice.

The Houston Texans have a lot to be thankful for Thanksgiving tomorrow, inside linebacker Dylan Cole has the opportunity to return to the active roster after being placed on the Injured Reserve list when they lost their home season opener against the New York Giants in Week 3. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported the transaction via his Twitter account:

Cole missed the majority of the season to this point rehabbing after he underwent surgery for his injured wrist. According to NFL rules, Cole is eligible to return when the Texans face the Cleveland Browns in Week 13, Cole is required to be on the IR for a minimum of eight games before he is able to be back on the football field.

The Texans were in dire need of depth at inside linebacker after having to use multiple linebackers by a committee to fulfill the role Cole and Zach Cunningham have on the team. The Texans were using Brian Peters, Brennan Scarlett, and Josh Keyes while Cole and Cunningham were hurt. To their credit, those players did their job in either dropping back in coverage or stopping the run, but Cunningham and Cole are better suited to take the majority of the snaps when healthy.

Having Cole when he returns to form will be a welcome sight to a defense that ranks sixth in the league in points allowed with 20.5 points through 10 games. Cole’s ability to stop the run and ability to cover tight ends and running backs in the passing game will give defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel more options to disguise his defenses. Cole’s biggest issue to this point has been his health, but whenever he is healthy he has shown his ability to contribute on defense and special teams.