Texans’ Aireontae Ersery returns to practice after thumb surgery, questionable on injury report, Trent Brown ruled out

HOUSTON – Texans rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday after undergoing surgery Tuesday for a broken thumb, per a league source.

Metal hardware was inserted into Ersery’s thumb to aid the healing process. He is attempting to play Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers and would wear a protective club. He is officially questionable on the injury report.

If Ersery can’t go, he would be replaced by Blake Fisher.

The Texans ruled out Trent Brown due to knee and ankle injuries. Tytus Howard is preparing to play right tackle in his place. Jarrett Patterson would replace Howard and plug in at left guard.

The Texans ruled out linebacker Jamal Hill due to calf and wrist injuries.

Defensive end Darrell Taylor, cornerback Ajani Carter and wide receiver Justin Watson are all full participants and listed as questionable. They were designated for return, but haven’t been activated.

Fisher stepped in at left tackle for Ersery against Las Vegas and he is preparing to play Saturday against the Chargers. Fisher, a former second-round draft pick, played left tackle at Notre Dame and was an All-American selection. With the Texans this season, he has primarily operated as an extra tackle in their jumbo package with six offensive linemen.

There are no injury designations for the following players, who are all good to go for Saturday’s game against the Chargers in Los Angeles: All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.(oblique), starting running back Woody Marks (ankle), corner Kamari Lassiter (foot), Pro Bowl middle lineacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee, ankle), tight end Dalton Schultz, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (knee), defensive end Dylan Horton (hip), defensive end Denico Autry (knee) and long snapper Austin Brinkman.

“It feels good,” Fisher said of being back at left tackle. “It’s just going out there, being physical, getting to my spot, using the proper technique at all times. I’m really confident. Being able to get thrown in there, if that’s what it ends up being, I’m really confident and really comfortable with the techniques and stuff I’ve been taught.”

The versatility and experience of Howard paid off as he stepped in at right tackle The Texans managed to close out the Raiders with a 23-21 victory at NRG Stadium, their seventh win in a row as they improved to 10-5 overall and remain seventh in the AFC playoff standings.

“Everybody knows we’re banged up at tackle and we’ll see,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We’re on a short week here, we’ll see how that pans out for us.”

The Texans are regarded as likely to use that alignment again Saturday against the Chargers, if Ersery can’t go.

“I’ve been preparing for that moment every week,” said Howard, a former first-round draft pick who has started at every position across the offensive line except for center. “Even though I’ve been playing guard, I’m always taking tackle reps because I know at any given moment, I gotta go back out there and I gotta be ready. So, that’s something I’m prepared to do if I had to go back to tackle. So, I’m ready.

“We’ve got guys that’s gonna step in like Jarrett and play some good football. Blake came in and played well for us, too. You’ve always gotta be ready in this league. You never know what’s gonna happen. I’ve been preparing my whole career, my whole life for moments like that in the game to step up and help the team.”

Texans starting running back Woody Marks returned to practice Tuesday and participated fully after missing one game with a lingering ankle injury.

Marks was replaced against the Las Vegas Raiders by Jawhar Jordan and Nick Chubb. Now, the Texans’ backfield has more options with Marks’ return for a Saturday road game.

“It feels good, just to be back on the field and running around with the team,” Marks said. “Very tough, just had a talk with my mom and them, they know I don’t like missing games or practices.”

“I feel like nobody is going to be 100 percent at the end of the season. I’m not going to feel 100 percent, but close to there. They’re my brothers, but I want to be out there playing with them.”

Texans Pro Bowl linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair returned to practice on a limited basis Tuesday from knee and ankle injuries after missing the Raiders game. He practiced again Wednesday.

“I felt good,” Al-Shaair said after practice. “It was hard because that’s not just who I am. I fought through everything I’ve ever had in my life, but especially, playing the game of football.”

The Texans rushed for 83 yards on 26 carries, a 3.2 average. There wasn’t a lot of traction gained in the trenches compared to the Raiders’ offense, which got 128 rushing yards from standout rookie running back Ashton Jeanty.

“The main thing is we couldn’t run the football,” Ryans said. “We didn’t control the line of scrimmage how we needed to control the line of scrimmage. They got a lot of negative tackles for loss, knocked us back a few times and we didn’t run the ball well.

“On the flip side of that, they were able to run the ball effectively and that was the difference in the game. If we control the line of scrimmage better, we can sustain drives a little bit better to be in better control of the game.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com