While theHouston Texans are getting back offensive lineman Ed Ingram and Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins for Sunday's must-win game against the Dallas Cowboys, a new name is expected to be out with kickoff underway.
For the second straight afternoon, Pro Bowl middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair did not practice and is now expected to miss Week 4's matchup at Reliant Stadium against Dallas due to a groin injury suffered in Sunday's road loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Al-Shaair would be"week-to-week" with the injury, but reports expect him back not later than Week 6's road trip to London for the matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Al-Shaair, Houston's team captain and the emotional leader, was in and out
of the game during the second and third quarters because of a groin issue. He was never ruled out and eventually finished the game, totaling a team-leading 11 tackles on 54 snaps.
Overall, Al-Shaair, 29, played in just 76 percent of defensive snaps. That's uncommon since he's one of five players who often will see 100 percent of the defensive snaps when called upon. It's why he's once again been the anchor of the Texans' defense at the second level, totaling a team-leading 31 tackles this season.
Azeez Al-Shaair (groin) not practicing
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 30, 2026
Ed Ingram returned to practice https://t.co/6kj94UpupN pic.twitter.com/gRns61lFxy
Last year, the Pro Bowler finished with 103 tackles and two interceptions. For his efforts, he was given a three-year, $54 million contract extension in the offseason, keeping him in Houston through 2029.
"When you lose a guy like Azeez, who does command a lot of communication and takes a lot of that on game day," Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said Thursday. "We've tried to be really urgent and the guys have responded to how we're doing that. I’m excited for those guys to get an opportunity to go show what they're about.”
#Texans DC Matt Burke onPro Bowl middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair sidelined with groin injury heading into #Cowboy game 'When you lose good players, it effects. We've had the next man mentality multiple times. Level of communication really good' Replacements are Jake Hansen,…
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 1, 2026
Entering Friday, Al-Shaair has not been officially ruled out. Should he miss Sunday, veteran linebacker Jake Hansen would take over as the green-dot signal-caller. Hansen is already in the starting lineup as a replacement for Henry To'oTo'o, who suffered a shoulder injury and won't return for several more weeks.
In terms of Al-Shaair's spot on the field, rookie Wade Woodaz, Houston's fourth-round draft pick from Clemson, would start next to Hansen. Last week, he played in 11 snaps as the replacement for Al-Shaair and allowed a touchdown pass to Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen.
With a loss, Houston would look to become the second team in league history to ever go from 0-4 to postseason-bound, joining the 1992 San Diego Chargers.
Kickoff on FOX is scheduled for Noon.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans Pro Bowl LB Azeez Al-Shaair trending toward missing Cowboys' game in Week 4
