Week 4 is an injury-riddled week across the NFL and the Houston Texans are no exception.
While they will be getting back wide receiver Nico Collins, the Texans will be without one of their top defenders in Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Al-Shaair, who has served as Houston’s green dot since joining the team in 2024, is also their leading tackler so far this season with 31 total tackles, including 13 solo tackles. With him out, the Texans will have to rely on other players to step up and lead Houston to their first victory of the season against the Dallas Cowboys.
“Yeah, obviously when you lose good players, it affects, but we've been up here multiple times in terms of the next man up mentality and whoever those guys are, we have enough microphones
now. We can put pretty much one in everyone's helmet during practice. Everyone's kind of hearing it and going through that process,” defensive coordinator Matt Burke said.
“When you lose a guy like Azeez, who does command a lot of communication and takes a lot of that on game day. 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.”
Houston’s linebacker depth will really be put to the test with Al-Shaair out and Jake Hansen questionable, although rookie Wade Woodaz is back from his thumb injury.
Fellow rookie Aiden Fisher is also healthy, as is Jamal Hill, who has gotten minimal action on special teams this season.
The Texans will look to avoid their first 0-4 start since the 2020 season.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans DC Matt Burke reacts to LB Azeez Al-Shaair being out vs Cowboys
