Joe Mixon is lively for the Texans’ divisional playoff sport in opposition to the Chiefs on Saturday after the Professional Bowl operating again had proven up on the harm report with an ankle downside and missed observe late within the week.
Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), proper guard Shaq Mason (knee), offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (ankle) and large receiver Robert Woods (hip) are additionally lively. Woods didn’t observe all week and had been listed as questionable.
The 28-year-old Mixon harm his ankle in Week 2 in opposition to the Bears and missed the following three weeks, although he has performed in all of Houston’s video games since. His ankle did roll over in Week 15 in opposition to Miami, limiting him late within the sport.
Mixon performed an enormous position in a 32-12 wild-card win over the Chargers final week, operating for 106 yards and a landing to get the Texans inside a win of reaching the AFC Championship Recreation for the primary time. It was the primary time a Texans operating again eclipsed 100 yards speeding within the postseason since Arian Foster in 2012.
“Joe supplies confidence. He brings it each week,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned this week. “The best way he goes about his enterprise, what he has to say to the fellows all all through the week — he supplies confidence.”
He additionally supplies some versatility to a Houston offense that misplaced large receivers Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs to season-ending accidents. Mixon had 36 catches for 309 yards and a landing this season, and his expertise and skill in serving to shield C.J. Stroud within the passing sport is an enormous cause why Houston has received a playoff sport in back-to-back seasons.
“He has been useful to all of us, making our alignment proper,” Stroud mentioned. “It is good to have that and never have a complete bunch on my plate on a regular basis. Even when our run sport is not working, I do know he leans on me, so it is simply enjoying off each other, enjoying complementary soccer. However it is extremely useful to have somebody like Joe.”
Houston made operating again J.J. Taylor, linebacker Devin White, defensive finish Jerry Hughes, defensive sort out Kurt Hinish and offensive linemen Kendrick Inexperienced and Nick Broeker inactive in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.
As anticipated, the Chiefs have cornerback Jaylen Watson obtainable for the primary time since breaking his ankle on Oct. 20 in a sport in opposition to San Francisco. He was activated from injured reserve Friday after getting by per week of observe with none setbacks.
Watson earned a beginning job in coaching camp and had been enjoying one of the best of his profession when he received harm.
“He is labored tremendously arduous to get himself thus far, to begin with, and we’ll simply see how that goes so far as the sport reps and all that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned this week. “He certain has labored arduous to get himself even thus far proper right here.”
Ought to the Chiefs be apprehensive in regards to the Texans within the divisional spherical?
The Chiefs made inactive security Deon Bush, cornerback Keith Taylor, defensive finish Joshua Uche, defensive finish Malik Herring and offensive linemen C.J. Hanson, Wanya Morris and Ethan Driskell.
Morris began 11 video games at left sort out for Kansas Metropolis this season, however he struggled mightily to guard Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs opted to slip All-Professional guard Joe Thuney to sort out, with Mike Caliendo changing him at guard down the stretch, and so they selected to go that route in opposition to Houston, with D.J. Humphries turning into the backup sort out.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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