HOUSTON – Texans running back Dameon Pierce didn’t practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury and his status for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is still being determined, according to a league source.
Pierce has undergone a lot of treatment after getting hurt against the Carolina Panthers. It’s being contemplated whether missing a week would allow his ankle to return to full strength, per a league source.
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Devin Singletary is preparing to start if Pierce misses this game.
“We’ll see where Dameon is throughout the week,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We will see where he ends up.”
Texans veteran wide receiver Robert Woods is not slated to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday due to a foot injury that kept him out against the Carolina Panthers, according to league sources.
Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins returned to practice on a limited basis from a knee injury and is trending toward playing Sunday after being out for the loss to Carolina, per sources.
Former Miami Dolphins starting center Michael Deiter is the replacement for rookie center Jarrett Patterson, who was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Deiter, 27, is a former third-round draft pick from Wisconsin who has played in six of seven games this season, appearing in 19 total snaps for five percent of the offensive playing time. He played no offensive snaps last season after starting eight games in 2022 for the Dolphins. Deiter and the Texans face a huge challenge potentially if massive Buccaneers defensive tackle returns from a groin injury that sidelined him against last week.
Rookie center Juice Scruggs remains on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He is regarded as a week or two away from being ready, per league sources.
Tight end Brevin Jordan remains out with a foot injury as he deals with plantar fasciitis and he isn’t slated to play Sunday, per a league source.
Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil didn’t practice Wednesday as the team continues to rest and manage his knee injury. He is expected to play Sunday.
Texans cornerback Ka’dar Hollman didn’t practice due to an ankle injury.
The following players were limited: offensive tackle George Fant (foot, shoulder), left guard Tytus Howard (knee), safety Jimmie Ward (rest). The following players were full participation: linebacker Blake Cashman (wrist), offensive tackle Josh Jones (hand), linebacker Denzel Perryman (hand, wrist) and nickel Tavierre Thomas (hand).
Woods has caught 22 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown on 23 targets this season.
Woods was signed this offseason to a two-year, $15.25 million contract that includes $10 million in full guarantees and a maximum value of $17 million.
Woods was released by the Tennessee Titans during the offseason. He was previously with the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills.
A former Buffalo Bills second-round pick from USC, Woods caught 53 passes for 527 yards and two touchdowns last season for the Titans. He has 645 career catches for 7,831 yards and 38 touchdowns.
The Texans officially signed running back J.J. Taylor and center Lecitus Smith to the practice squad, releasing cornerback Isaac Austin and defensive end Derek Rivers from the practice squad.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com