Texans versus Cowboys Week 4: How to watch, injury news, top storylines, predictions

Here is your one-stop-shop for all things Houston Texans versus the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday afternoon from Reliant Stadium.

Whether it's broadcast information, injury reports or the latest key narratives surrounding either team, you'll find everything you need to know to best prepare for the upcoming matchup.

The live tracker will be updated with all the latest news and information that becomes available prior to the game's official kickoff time of 1:00 p.m. EST (12:00 p.m. CST).

Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys headquarters

How to watch Texans vs. Cowboys in week four
Texans vs. Cowboys injury updates in week four
Storylines to watch for the Texans in week four
Texans vs. Cowboys game prediction(s)

How to watch Texans vs. Cowboys in week four

Texans vs. Cowboys broadcast information (via the Texans' official team site)

TV broadcast: NFL Network and FOX

Houston-area broadcast: FOX-26

Out-of-Market: NFL+

What: Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys in Week four

When: Sunday, October 4 at 12:00 p.m. CT

Where: Reliant Stadium

Texans vs. Cowboys injury updates in week four

Ahead of their Texas-sized shwodown in week four, both the Texans and Cowboys have seen several notable players pop up on their respective injury reports.

Houston's injury report

Azeez Al-Shaair, linebacker: Groin (DNP all week)
Jadeveon Clowney, defensive end: Knee (LP - Wednesday-Thursday. DNP - Friday)
M.J. Stewart, safety: Knee (LP - Wednesday, FP - Thursday, DNP - Friday)
Logan Hall, defensive end: Knee (LP - Wednesday-Friday. FP - Thursday)
Trent Brown, offensive tackle: Illness/Knee/Wrist (DNP - Wednesday, LP - Thursday, FP - Friday)
Nico Collins, wide receiver: Hamstring (LP - Wednesday-Thursday. FP - Friday)
Jake Hansen, linebacker: Knee (LP - Wednesday-Thursday. FP - Friday)
Ed Ingram, guard: Groin (LP - Wednesday-Thursday, FP - Friday)

Houston Inactives

Azeez Al-Shaair, linebacker: Groin (OUT)
M.J. Stewart, safety: Knee (OUT)

Dallas' injury report

Cobie Durant, cornerback: Hamstring (DNP - Monday-Friday)
Malik Hooker, safety: Forearm (LP - Wednesday-Thursday. FP - Friday)
DeMarvion Overshown, linebacker: Hamstring (DNP - Monday-Friday)
Shavon Revel Jr., cornerback: Knee/ankle (DNP - Wednesday-Thursday. FP - Friday)

Dallas Inactives

Cobie Durant, cornerback: Hamstring (OUT)
DeMarvion Overshown, linebacker: Hamstring (OUT)

Storylines to watch for the Texans in week four

Week four could decide the season for the Houston Texans

For the second consecutive season, Houston is facing a "must-win" week four contest against an opponent. However, unlike last year, the Texans will actually be facing a team with legitimate playoff aspirations, with this year's challenge being the Dallas Cowboys and their seventh-best scoring offense (29.3 PPG). To Houston's advantage though, Dallas also enters week four with the league's eighth-worst scoring defense (27.3 PPG).

This has the makings of a "doomsday" scenario for Houston if they lose. At 0-4, the franchise would almost be forced to have to reconcile the fact this their 25th anniversary campaign is an abject failure. And as such, several high-profile changes might end up happening from that point onward (such as the potential removal of offensive coordinator Nick Caley, and perhaps even general manager Nick Caserio at season's end).

Where's the playmaking from cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter?

Through three weeks of NFL play, neither Derek Stingley Jr. nor Kamari Lassiter have had much of an impact from the cornerback position. Between a combined 218 coverage snaps, the two have combined for: (stats provided by NFL Next Gen Stats)

31 times targeted
19 receptions allowed
295 receiving yards allowed
2 touchdowns allowed
Zero interceptions
Allowing an average passer rating of 114.1
Allowing an average catch rate of 60.85%
Allowing a combined +14.9 coverage EPA

For a tandem that's supposed to be one of the most potent set of young cornerbacks in the league, these numbers are hard to look it. Their performances over the first month of the season is a farcry from the expected level of aerial domination that we all thought we be happening heading into 2026.

To be fair to them though, defensive coordinator Matt Burke (and defensive-head coach DeMeco Ryans by extension) are calling zone coverages at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL at 85.7%. That means that both Stingley and Lassiter are having to occupy preset areas of the field as opposed to traveling with singular wide receivers throughout the entirety of games. With that being the case, it essentially leaves Stingley and Lassiter having to react to windows being left open as a result of a lack of consistent pass rush (at times), as well as opposing offensive coordinators just spamming the middle of the field with short passes to move the chains.

Conversely, the Texans have ran man coverage a staggeringly low 11.5% of the time, which is good for 22nd in the NFL (11th-lowest rate). It's anyone's guess as to why Ryans and Burke have opted for such an imbalanced play call sheet on defense. However, skeptics of the teams' defensive tendencies have looked at players like safety Reed Blankenship--who's been exposed in coverage multiple times throughout the first three games--as a reason for why the defense has been crafted a certain way through three weeks.

Regardless, the secondary playmakers aren't making plays, and it's time for them to right the ship quickly. The season depends on it (coverage stats provided by Sharp Football Analysis).

Texans vs. Cowboys game prediction(s)

Final score prediction: Houston Texans defeated by Dallas Cowboys 24-17

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