The Texans' well-paid left tackle is set to miss close to a month of football.
Houston coach David Culley told reporters Wednesday that Laremy Tunsil will undergo surgery on his injured thumb, per the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain. The team hopes to welcome Tunsil back to action in four weeks, Culley said.
Tunsil injured the thumb during Sunday's loss to New England. Earlier this week, it appeared as if he was going to try to play through the injury, but Tunsil and the team apparently decided immediate surgery would be the best course.
Tunsil signed a three-year, $66 million extension with the Texans in April of 2020. He arrived in Houston via a trade with the Miami Dolphins in August of 2019.
Geron Christian replaced Tunsil on Sunday, playing 31 snaps and earning respectable marks from Pro Football Focus, which gave him a 69.7 overall grade for his performance, including a stellar 88.2 pass-blocking grade.
Christian has spent the majority of his career as a backup capable of replacing usual starters when necessary. Christian appeared in 16 games in 2019 with Washington and started in six games in 2020 before moving to Houston this offseason.
The one-win Texans face the division-rival Colts in Week 6 in a battle of 1-4 teams. Houston will hope Christian can provide rookie Davis Mills with adequate protection against a Colts team that is looking to start its climb out of an early season hole with a win over the Texans.
Culley added that injured QB Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) won't be available this week, but that he'll reclaim his starting job from Mills when he does return.
“When Tyrod comes back and he’s healthy, he’s our starting quarterback," Culley said.
Injuries/COVID-19
- Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald banged his knee in last Thursday's game against the Seahawks and has had some swelling, so he's day-to-day, but expected to play on Sunday against the Giants, a team spokesman told reporters. Donald did not practice on Monday.
- Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib did not practice Wednesday for what was listed as personal reasons.
- Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (hip) and safety Kareem Jackson (back) did not practice Wednesday.
- Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton (neck) will return to practice this week, the team announced. Hilton was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 2 and has not played this season. Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (right hip) did not practice on Wednesday, nor did linebacker Darius Leonard (ankle/shoulder), cornerback Xavier Rhodes (concussion), safety Andrew Sendejo (concussion) or cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (ankle). Defensive end Kwity Paye (hamstring) was limited.
- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral/hip) did not practice Wednesday. Defensive lineman Melvin Ingram and offensive lineman Trai Turner did not practice due to personal reasons. Wide receivers Chase Claypool (hamstring) and James Washington (groin) were limited as was linebacker Devin Bush (groin).
- Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said center Rodney Hudson (ribs) will not play this week versus the Browns. The Cards placed tight end Maxx Williams and linebacker Ezekiel Turner on IR. Quarterback Kyler Murray (right shoulder) showed up on the team's injury report as a limited participant. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (illness) did not practice.
- Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (ankle) and defensive end Dorance Armstrong (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, while running back Ezekiel Elliott (ribs), along with defensive end Randy Gregory (knee) were limited.
- New England Patriots running back Damien Harris (ribs) and guard Shaq Mason (abdomen) did not practice Wednesday. Kicker Nick Folk (left knee) was limited.
- The Washington Football Team placed cornerback Darryl Roberts on IR. Offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi (ankle), running back Antonio Gibson (shin), wide receiver Curtis Samuel (groin), guard Brandon Scherff (knee) and wide receiver Cam Sims (hamstring) did not practice. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (knee) was limited.
- The Baltimore Ravens activated linebacker Jaylon Ferguson off the reserve/COVID-19 list. Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and wide receiver Sammy Watkins (thigh) did not practice Wednesday.
- The Cincinnati Bengals designated defensive end Khalid Kareem to return from IR. Quarterback Joe Burrow (throat) was a full participant Wednesday, while running back Joe Mixon (ankle) was limited. Center Trey Hopkins (knee) did not participate.
- Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (calf), defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (elbow, knee), offensive lineman Jack Conklin (knee), defensive end Myles Garrett (knee, ankle), running back Kareem Hunt (wrist, knee), defensive lineman Takkarist McKinley (ankle, knee), tight end David Njoku (knee), linebacker Malcolm Smith (abdomen) and center JC Tretter (knee) will not practice. The team said wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who's been sidelined since Week 3 by a knee injury, will run Wednesday but is not ready to be designated to return from IR.
- Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said defensive end Chris Jones (wrist), linebacker Anthony Hitchens (knee), wide receiver Tyreek Hill (quad), cornerback Charvarius Ward (quad), guard Joe Thuney (hand) and tight end Blake Bell (back) will not practice today.
- The Chicago Bears placed linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu and offensive lineman Germain Ifedi on IR. Quarterback Justin Fields, who's nursing a knee injury, told reporters he'll "be good by Sunday." Wide receiver Allen Robinson (ankle), linebacker Khalil Mack (foot) and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (groin) did not practice Wednesday.
- Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (ankle) and tight end Robert Tonyan (knee) were limited in practice on Wednesday.
- Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker has been designated to return from injured reserve.
- Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule said running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) is "probably 50-50" to play Sunday versus the Vikings. He was limited in practice Wednesday, as was cornerback C.J. Henderson. Linebacker Shaq Thompson (foot) did not practice.
- Minnesota Vikings wide receivers Justin Jefferson (ankle) and Adam Thielen (foot) did not practice Wednesday and running back Dalvin Cook (ankle) was limited. Linebacker Anthony Barr (knee) also did not practice.
- Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (personal matter) has been ruled out of Thursday's game against the Buccaneers.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (ankle), tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion) won't play against Philadelphia. Center Ryan Jensen (hip), pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder/hand) and defensive lineman Patrick O'Connor (calf) are questionable to play.
- Los Angeles Chargers right tackle Bryan Bulaga had core muscle surgery Tuesday. His return from injured reserve is still to be determined. Wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) did not take part in the team's walkthrough Wednesday.
- New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones did not participate in the team's Wednesday walkthrough, but coach Joe Judge said he is "on track" in his recovery from a concussion. Running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) and receiver Kenny Golladay (knee) also did not practice and Judge said they are likely to miss this week's game. Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) remained sidelined. Rookie receiver Kadarius Toney was limited after suffering an ankle injury in Week 5.
- Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who's been sidelined since Week 2 with broken ribs, returned to practice Wednesday. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (hamstring), cornerback Byron Jones (Achilles) and tight end Adam Shaheen (knee) were limited. Cornerback Xavien Howard (shoulder/groin) and wide receiver DeVante Parker (shoulder/hamstring) did not practice.
- Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack (back) and receiver Marvin Jones (personal) did not practice. Defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (ankle) was limited.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (ribs), linebacker Lavonte David (ankle) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion) were ruled out of Thursday game against the Eagles. Edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder/hand) and center Ryan Jensen (hip) are questionable after fully participating in Wednesday's practice.
- The Houston Texans designated rookie wide receiver Nico Collins (shoulder) to return from injured reserve. Wide receiver Danny Amendola (thigh) and running back Rex Burkhead (hip) were limited in practice. Offensive lineman Justin Britt (knee) and tight end Pharaoh Brown (shoulder) did not practice.
- Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) and outside linebacker Trey Flowers did not practice Wednesday. Running backs D'Andre Swift (groin) and Jamaal Williams (hip) were limited.
- The Las Vegas Raiders designated quarterback Marcus Mariota (quadriceps) to return from IR.
- Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said running back Chris Carson (neck) will likely return to practice Thursday. Linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee) did not practice Wednesday, while DK Metcalf (foot) was limited. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (finger) was in attendance at practice, but listed as a DNP after undergoing surgery on Friday.
Roster signings
- The Indianapolis Colts are signing kicker Mike Badgley after a workout Wednesday, Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.
- The Green Bay Packers signed wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown to the active roster and cornerback Quinton Dunbar to the practice squad.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers signed cornerback Linden Stephens to the practice squad.
- The Tennessee Titans signed linebacker Avery Williamson to the active roster and linebacker Dylan Cole and defensive lineman Kyle Peko to the practice squad.
- The Arizona Cardinals signed safety James Wiggins to the active roster.
- The Washington Football Team signed cornerback Corn Elder.
- The Chicago Bears signed running back Ryan Nall and linebacker Sam Kamara to the active roster and linebacker Ledarius Mack, offensive lineman Dareuan Parker and linebacker Rashad Smith to the practice squad.
- The Seattle Seahawks signed quarterback Danny Etling to the practice squad.
- The Minnesota Vikings are signing veteran tight end Luke Stocker to their practice squad, per Rapoport.
- The New England Patriots signed former Steelers defensive back Sean Davis to their practice squad, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
- The Las Vegas Raiders signed offensive tackle Dan Skipper and defensive back Tony Brown to the practice squad.
Roster cuts
- The Seattle Seahawks waived cornerback Tre Flowers.
- The Las Vegas Raiders released quarterback Kyle Sloter and defensive back Robert Jackson.