Skip to main content
Advertising

Defensive shakeups, aggression in Jacksonville, more | Dear Drew

Got a question about the Texans? Life in general? Drew Dougherty's your guy. He's been with the Texans since 2009 and is chock full of meaningful, as well as generally useless, information. Fire away by clicking HERE!

Bethany: Dear Drew, Who will take Kamu Grugier-Hill's place against the Jags?
DD: Grugier-Hill and Christian Kirksey, both of whom are starting linebackers, are on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. LB Kevin Pierre-Louis hamstring and wrist injuries and was limited in practice all week. He's listed as questionable for Sunday.

So expect to see quite a bit of Neville Hewitt, Garret Wallow and Eric Wilson if the three above aren't able to play. Connor Strachan is on the practice squad and could possibly get pulled up as well.

Adam: Dear Drew, Can we expect Lovie Smith to be extra aggressive against Trevor Lawrence?
DD: Perhaps. In addition to the question marks above at linebacker, DB Justin Reid won't play because he's in the concussion protocol. Fellow DBs Terrance Mitchell, Terrence Brooks and A.J. Moore are also on the COVID-19 list.

So Smith will go to Jacksonville without some key pieces in place. Perhaps that causes him to spin the proverbial wheel, but Jaguars Head Coach Darrell Bevell said earlier in the week James Robinson was the starting running back, and I'm pretty sure the Jags will try to run him early and often. As well as late and often.

Joe: Dear Drew, Can we expect another productive game for Davis Mills against a struggling Jags team?
DD: If he plays the way he did early against the Seahawks, yes. The Jaguars aren't very good at taking the ball away this season: they only have six takeaways on the year.

For his part, Mills explained what he has to do to play better throughout the game.

"Continue to protect the football," Mills said. "Make smart decisions, make quick decisions and also just find ways to get the ball in the end zone."

Getting field goals instead of touchdowns last weekend doomed Houston, and Mills will need sixes instead of threes at Jacksonville.

German Texan: Dear Drew, Will Laremy Tunsil be able to play this season? If so, what would happen with Tytus Howard?
DD: Head Coach David Culley said he was "hoping" Tunsil could still play this season, but that the Pro Bowl left tackle is still "day-to-day".

If we don't wind up seeing Tunsil again in 2021, it's pretty clear Howard will remain at left tackle these last four games. He's played pretty well there, after also getting starts at right tackle and left guard since entering the NFL in 2019.

Catch the Texans at NRG Stadium on December 26 when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Kickoff is set for noon CT. Click here for tickets.

Related Content

Advertising