Whitney Mercilus is ready.
The outside linebacker missed the bulk of August because of a leg injury, but he's set to play on Sunday in New England against the Patriots.
Despite the time away, the 7-year veteran's not worried about whether he'll be able to fall back in with the rest of his defensive teammates.
"I've just been keeping my mind sharp in the meeting rooms, seeing what the guys are doing, just emulating that and then doing whatever I can on the field as I've been doing my rehab and all of that," Mercilus said Monday before practice. "I don't think I've dropped off."
A chest injury ended his season in Week 5 of 2017. He's one of many pieces coming back to a defense that will look to be a strength in 2018.
"We've had time together since The Greenbrier, since training camp," Mercilus said. "Now, it's time to really go. We know what the guys can do. We just have to be on the same page. The biggest thing is just communication."
Including the playoffs, Mercilus has been on the field seven times against the Patriots. He's dropped Tom Brady for a sack 4.5 times, including a strip-sack last year that Jadeveon Clowney recovered and returned for a 22-yard touchdown. Mercilus explained what must happen for the Texans to pick up a win, which would be the first in eight tries against New England for him, and only the second time in franchise history.
"We've just got to play sound football all the way through," Mercilus said. "Protect the ball on offense. Make plays on defense. Stop the run."
Mercilus and the Texans will practice Wednesday through Friday at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 5/7/2021)
TE, Jordan Akins, #88
TE, Antony Auclair
DL, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
DB, Cornell Armstrong, #30
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
OL, Justin Britt
DB, Terrence Brooks
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
OL, Cohl Cabral, #72
OL, Marcus Cannon
WR, Randall Cobb, #18
DL, Maliek Collins
WR, Nico Collins
WR, Chris Conley
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter, #82
WR, Keke Coutee, #16
DB, Keion Crossen, #35
LB, Zach Cunningham, #41
LB, Tae Davis
DL, Brandon Dunn, #92
LB, Duke Ejiofor, #53
WR, Alex Erickson
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
QB, Ryan Finley
OL, Hjalte Froholdt, #77
LB, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill
LB, Nate Hall, #48
DB, Vernon Hargreaves III, #26
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #27
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
RB, Buddy Howell, #38
RB, Mark Ingram
TE, Ryan Izzo
LB, Jordan Jenkins
RB, David Johnson, #31
DL, Jaleel Johnson
DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #32
P, Cameron Johnston
TE, Brevin Jordan
DB, Desmond King
LB, Christian Kirksey
DL, Shaq Lawson
RB, Phillip Lindsay
DL, Roy Lopez
LB, Jacob Martin, #54
OL, Justin McCray
LB, Whitney Mercilus, #59
QB, Davis Mills
DB, Terrance Mitchell
WR, Donte Moncrief
DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33
WR, Chris Moore
DB, Eric Murray, #23
LB, Hardy Nickerson
DL, Charles Omenihu, #94
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
TE, Paul Quessenberry
DB, John Reid, #34
DB, Justin Reid, #20
DL, Derek Rivers
WR, Andre Roberts
DB, Bradley Roby, #21
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith
OL, Jordan Steckler
OL, Lane Taylor
QB, Tyrod Taylor
DL, Vincent Taylor
LB, Joe Thomas
DB, Tavierre Thomas
OL, Cole Toner
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
LB, Garret Wallow
DL, MeMarcus Walker
TE, Kahale Warring, #81
QB, Deshaun Watson, #4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
