Your Houston Texans were hit with several pieces of unfortunate news this week. With the deck already stacked against them in the AFC South, the road ahead is getting rougher.
The division leading Indianapolis Colts traded with the New York Jets to land all-pro cornerback Sauce Gardener. For a team already sitting at 7-2, facing the 3-5 Atlanta Falcons Sunday morning, the Colts should have a solid grasp on 8 wins by the time Houston takes the field.
Unfortunately, what’s happening outside the Texans
organization isn’t even the half of it. The punches landing inside the team are the real potential knock-outs.
- Safety Jalen Pitre has been a DNP this week due to concussion and is not expected to play
- Rookie DB Jaylen Smith placed on season ending IR
- Offensive lineman Tytus Howard has been a DNP this week, also due to concussion, and is not expected to play
- Quarterback C.J. Stroud is officially out versus the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars
And, possibly, worst of all:
- Nick Caley is still the offensive coordinator and play caller.
It’s almost like we’re getting punk’d and/or it’s April Fool’s Day in November.
“Why would Caley not call plays?”
The more apt question is “Why WOULD he call plays?”
Let’s turn to exhibit A:
I love Coach Ryans, but this seems like either a glaring blindspot or a complete failure to comprehend what’s happening on the offensive side of the ball. People throw around jokes about Madden Football all too often, but honestly, anyone in the Top 25 Madden list could play call circles around Caley while sitting at a Rudy’s picnic table outside of Jersey Village stuffing their face, while binging a Hard Knocks on another screen.
To make matters even worse, the All-Field Goal Offense took a blow when Houston’s only legit scoring threat, kicker Kaimi Fairbairn was ruled out. Thankfully, there always seems to be more decent kickers than kicker jobs, so Matthew Wright, seen kicking at practice this week, was pressed into service.
Is it just me or does anyone else keep expecting Ryans to pull his mask off, Ala Scooby Doo and reveal he’s actually Jack Easterby and the real Coach ‘Meco is tied up in the broom closet?
Jacksonville Jaguars Week 10 Stats
- QB TREVOR LAWRENCE passed for 220 yards & recorded 5th-career game with 2 rush TDs in Week 9. Has TD pass in 2 of past 3 starts on road. Aims for 3rd in row with pass TD at Hou.
- RB TRAVIS ETIENNE has 50+ scrimmage yards in each of his 8 games in 2025 & aims for his 11th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Is 1 of 5 in NFL to have active streak of 50+ scrimmage yard in 10+ consecutive games. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in all 7 games vs. Hou, including 56 scrimmage yards & rush TD in last game.
- RB BHAYSHUL TUTEN had 2nd-career rush TD & 3rd overall in Week 9. Had 42 rush yards & TD in last game vs. Hou.
- WR BRIAN THOMAS JR has 50+ rec. yards in each of 3 games vs. Hou, including 86 rec. yards & TD in only career game at Hou. Has 50+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7 on road.
- WR JAKOBI MEYERS acquired by Jax. prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline. Aims for 5th in row with 4+ catches. Has 4+ catches in 9 of past 10 on road.
- WR PARKER WASHINGTON had career-high 8 catches for 90 yards in Week 9, his 7th-career game with 50+ rec. yards.
- LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN had 11 tackles, TFL & PD in Week 9. Aims for his 4th in row with PD. Aims for his 9th in row on road with 7+ tackles. Has TFL & PD in 2 of past 3.
- LB DEVIN LLOYD aims for his 3rd in row on road with INT. Has 5+ tackles in 7 of his past 8 on road.
- DE JOSH HINES-ALLEN had 1.5 sacks in Week 9, his 6th-career game of at least 1.5 sacks on road. Has 5 TFL in his past 5 & 7 TFL in his past 7 on road. Has sack in 3 of past 4 games at Hou.
- CB GREG NEWSOME had 2 PD in Week 9. Has PD in 3-career games vs Hou., incl. two at Hou.
Speaking of kickers, for those who missed it, Jaguars kicker Cam Little didn’t (miss it, that is). The Glitter Kicker nailed an NFL record 68-yarder against the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.
For the Texans, the defense is playing lights out football. And the Jags don’t exactly have a top tier offense, so this will likely come down to kicking. With Fairbairn out, Stroud out and Caley calling plays, Wright might get a chance to beat the newly minted record.
Houston Texans Week 10 Stats
- QB DAVIS MILLS completed 17 of 30 atts. (56.7 pct.) for 137 yards in Week 9.
- RB NICK CHUBB has 182 rushing yards & TD in 2-career games vs. Jax. Since 2018, ranks 3rd with 80.6 rushing yards per game at home.
- RB WOODY MARKS has 110+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3 games at home. Is 1 of 4 rookies (Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins & Cam Skattebo) with 2 games of 110+ scrimmage yards & only one to do so with both games at home.
- WR NICO COLLINS has 50+ rec. yards in 9 of his past 10 at home & aims for his 5th in row at home with 50+ rec. yards. Aims for 5th straight game with 7 catches & 100+ rec. yards vs. JAX. Had 8 catches for 104 yards & TD in last matchup (9/21/25).
- TE DALTON SCHULTZ led team with 77 rec. yards in Week 9. Aims for 3rd in row with 5 rec. vs. HOU.
- LB AZEEZ AL-SHAIR co-led team with 9 tackles in Week 9, incl. TFL. Has 5+ tackles in 4 of past 5 games vs. Jax.
- DE WILL ANDERSON had 6th sack of season last week. Has TFL in 7 of 8 games in 2025. Had 4 tackles & sack in last meeting.
- CB KAMARI LASSITER co-led team with 9 tackles & had 2 PD in Week 9. Has PD in 5 consecutive games, the longest streak in NFL this season. Has a TFL in 2 of 3-career games vs. Hou.
- CB DEREK STINGLEY had 4 tackles & 2 PD last week. Has PD in 7 of 8 games this season, incl. PD in all 4 home games. Has PD in all five games vs. Hou, incl. 2+ PD in 4 of 5 games
Texans supporter Danny Sarrubo seems to have summarized this week for a lot of us in his response to the news about Jaylin Smith hitting IR:
Despite all the doom and gloom, the Jaguars do have a way of hosing themselves when they face Houston. Maybe the Texans manage to benefit from the Jaguars losing this game. Or, maybe they keep tanking until someone hits the reset button.
J.J. Watt is calling the game, which should inspire Will Anderson Jr. to get after it even more than normal. That’s something to cling to, even if the offense is unwatchable.
