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Houston Must Overcome Three Key Absences Against Giants

Article by: B. Keith Crear III.

The Houston Texans finally have momentum, C.J. Stroud is playing some of his best football of the season and Tank Dell is on the doorstep of an emotional return. But Houston’s final injury report delivered a reminder Friday that Sunday’s matchup with the New York Giants will require more than offensive fireworks.

Safety Reed Blankenship, tackle Blake Fisher and safety Jalen Pitre have all been ruled out, while running back David Montgomery will also miss another game because of his groin injury. Dell, meanwhile, practiced fully Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but carries a questionable designation because of his knee. 

Houston is 2-4 after consecutive wins. New York arrives at 3-2-1 and leading the NFC East. 

This is exactly the type of game the Texans need to win if this season really is turning around.

Pitre and Blankenship Leave a Hole in the Secondary

The biggest concern is safety.

Pitre will miss his second consecutive game because of the shoulder injury that also kept him out of Houston’s 34-31 win over Jacksonville. Blankenship, meanwhile, did not practice all week while dealing with a concussion and hand injury. 

That puts even more responsibility on Houston’s remaining defensive backs.

The good news is that New York will be starting J.J. McCarthy. Coach John Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday that McCarthy will get the start Sunday. 

Houston should make his afternoon uncomfortable immediately.

Will Anderson Jr. already has 7.5 sacks this season. The entire Giants defense has eight. That comparison tells you just how disruptive Anderson has been through six games. 

With Houston missing two safeties, the pass rush becomes the secondary’s best friend.

Do not give McCarthy time to attack replacements downfield.

Dell Is the Wild Card Everybody Wants to See

Then we get to Tank Dell.

Sunday will mark 673 days since Dell last appeared in a Texans game. His last action came Dec. 21, 2024, in Kansas City, where he suffered the devastating knee injury that began this long road back. 

Head coach DeMeco Ryans said earlier this week that Dell will play against New York and praised the receiver’s explosiveness during recent practices. 

Friday’s injury report technically lists Dell as questionable, but three consecutive full practices are certainly encouraging. 

I still would not overload him.

Give Dell a package. Move him around. Let him catch something underneath and feel that first NFL hit again.

Houston does not need Dell to save the offense.

It needs him to add another problem for New York.

Stroud and Collins Remain the Engine

The Texans are finally starting to see their passing game come alive.

C.J. Stroud completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns against Jacksonville, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the fourth time in his career. 

There is also an interesting Nico Collins connection.

According to the Texans, Stroud has completed at least 68% of his passes in every game Collins has played this season. In the two games Collins missed, Stroud completed only 55% and 59%. 

That tells you exactly how important Collins remains even with Dell returning, Jaylin Noel emerging and Marvin Harrison Jr. joining the offense.

Houston does not need to redesign everything because Dell is back.

Keep feeding what is working.

New York Has Its Own Injury Problems

The Giants are not arriving healthy either.

Starting linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and defensive back Greg Newsome are out. Tight end Theo Johnson is doubtful, while defensive backs Paulson Adebo, Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin are among New York’s questionable players. 

That could create an opportunity for Stroud.

If New York enters Sunday without multiple defensive backs or with players operating below 100%, Houston should test that secondary early.

Collins.

Noel.

Harrison.

And potentially Dell.

Pick your problem.

Houston Has Some History to Rewrite

The Giants lead this series 5-1.

Houston’s only victory came during the franchise’s inaugural 2002 season, a 16-14 win at Reliant Stadium. The Texans have lost five straight meetings since. 

Sunday would be a pretty good time to change that.

The game kicks off Sunday, Oct. 25, at noon Central at Reliant Stadium, with national coverage on NFL Network and local coverage on FOX-26. 

My Two Pennies

This is one of those games where Houston cannot spend the first quarter admiring its own comeback story.

Yes, winning two straight feels good.

Yes, Dell returning should create one of the loudest moments Reliant Stadium has experienced this season.

But Houston is still 2-4.

The Texans need to attack McCarthy before he gets comfortable, protect their depleted secondary with pressure and allow Stroud to distribute the football among a receiving corps that suddenly looks ridiculously deep.

Most importantly, finish the job.

Beat New York and Houston enters the bye at 3-4 with three straight victories.

An 0-4 season would suddenly become a 3-4 season.

And instead of spending the bye wondering how everything went wrong, Texans fans could spend it wondering just how far this comeback might go.