HOUSTON – Texans rookie standout cornerback Kamari Lassiter returned to practice Saturday and is in the final stages of the NFL concussion protocol.
He is officially listed as questionable on the injury report.
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The Texans officially ruled out Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. for the second game in a row with a high-ankle sprain and also ruled out defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi with a foot injury and offensive tackle Blake Fisher with a concussion.
Star wide receiver Nico Collinsi participated fully all week and was removed from the injury report and is set to be full-go against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.
There are no injury designations for quarterback C.J. Stroud (right hand), offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee), cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (hip), running back Dameon Pierce (groin), defensive end Dylan Horton (shoulder), linebacker Jake Hansen (ankle) and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee).
To be cleared for the game, Lassiter, a second-round draft pick from Georgia, has to practice without a recurrence of symptoms and then pass a mandatory NFL baseline neurological exam. If he does that, the Texans have the option of having him start opposite Derek Stingley Jr. as the outside corners.
The Texans generally have not had players play one week after a concussion, and have frequently had them miss at least one or even two games as linebacker Henry To’oTo’o did earlier this season.
Lassiter caught some friendly fire on an inadvertent and crushing hit from teammate Jimmie Ward in the second half last Sunday night of a 26-23 loss to the Detroit Lions.
At practice Saturday, Ka’dar Hollman lined up opposite Stingley with the first-team defense.
#Texans rookie corner Kamari Lassiter @kamari_lassiter back at it as he enters final stages of clearance from #NFL concussion protocol @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/u00K55G8Vi
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 16, 2024
Lassiter went immediately to the blue medical tent for evaluation then headed inside to the locker room Sunday night.
Lassiter intercepted Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff twice before getting hurt.
Lassiter has started eight games this season for the 6-4 Texans, missing two games with a hairline fracture of his scapula.
He has three interceptions and eight passes defensed with 29 tackles, two for losses.
Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 16 of 38 passes for 247 yards for a 42.1 completion percentage with two touchdowns allowed.
The second-round draft pick has excelled in man-to-man coverage, applying sticky skills in mirroring receivers’ routes. Lassiter is ultra-competitive for the football, intercepting passes and disrupting others. And Lassiter, true to his form in the Southeastern Conference for an elite college defense, is a willing and hard-nosed tackler.
Lassiter is emblematic of what Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio want from their entire rookie class.
Selected 42nd overall and signed to a four-year, $9.014 million contract that includes a $3.376 million signing bonus, Lassiter has lived up to high expectations.
“It was really cool to see Kamari, the work that he’s putting in, really cool to see him reap the benefits of that,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the Chicago game. “Getting a pick is a matter of not just him, but it’s the rush, speeding up the quarterback and it’s Kamari having really good hands. That was a difficult catch to make as well. So, it was a really nice play by him.
“Man, credit to him. The kid has been consistent. I talk about it all the time. He’s been consistent where he needs to be every single play and he doesn’t press to make plays. Some guys get in the spot and they try to press to make a play, make a play and then you end up putting yourself in a bad position. He’s in the right position all the time and he benefitted from being able to make a pick.”
The plan for Anderson is to have him remain on the active roster. Recovery from injury suffered against the New York Jets is going well, per league sources, and the hope is to get him back out there in the next week or two with the priority being the stretch run of the season in December
The Texans’ top options opposite Stingley, if Lassiter is held out, are Hollman and Jeff Okudah. Okudah is trending toward being activated from injured reserve-designated for return after missing the first half of the season with quadriceps and hip injuries. Okudah participated fully.
Texans linebacker Christian Harris, on injured reserve after aggravating slow-healing calf injury during training camp, is making progress in his recovery. Return outlook, per sources, is trending toward after bye week.
RELATED: Texans placing wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve, to miss minimum of four games: Source
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com