Houston Texans have to address recent injuries to starters

The Houston Texans will have to make several adjustments to their lineup after losing starters on offense and defense.

The Houston Texans made a statement in their victory in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, but they lost important starters for the next several games. Cornerback Bradley Roby injured his hamstring in the second half against the Chiefs and is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the month of October according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Texans will need to make a move for a starting cornerback with the duration of Roby’s injury and Johnathan Joseph also dealing with a hamstring injury of his own. Roby’s injury comes at its worse time with the Texans’ secondary beginning to hit its stride, and Roby playing in a contract year for a possible payday in 2020 free agency.

The cornerback depth behind the starters is scarce with Lonnie Johnson, Xavier Crawford, Keion Crossen, and Phillip Gaines as the healthy players ready for Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. Given the scarcity of good players in the free-agent market, the Texans could be scouring the trade market for a possible player to insert in their cornerback rotation.

Texans will also have to make a move to reinforce their depth at the offensive line with Roderick Johnson expecting to move from the swing tackle to right tackle due to Tytus Howard’s knee injury. Everyone expected the worse when he was carted off the field against the Chiefs, but Wilson reported that Howard partially tore his medial collateral ligament in his knee.

The injury isn’t as severe as an ACL injury and it isn’t expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season. Texans could opt to promote from within and promote one of their offensive linemen or plan to work out several free agents with the opportunity to earn a roster spot.

Texans will need to make their moves soon as they compete for the top spot in the AFC South against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.