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Illness Hitting Three Offensive Linemen Leaves the Texans Uneasy About Protecting C.J. Stroud
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- Illness Hitting Three Offensive Linemen Leaves the Texans Uneasy About Protecting C.J. Stroud
The Houston Texans have spent four weeks trying to keep C.J. Stroud upright, and the week before a trip to Tennessee brought a new problem. Left tackle Aireontae Ersery, guard Ed Ingram and tackle Blake Fisher all missed Thursday's practice with illness .
None of the three appeared on Wednesday's report. Tackle Nate Thomas was limited Wednesday with an illness before practicing fully Thursday. Houston has allowed 12 sacks in four games, and the offensive line was already under scrutiny during a 0-4 start. Three of those losses came by a combined 11 points.
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How the illness hits the Texans' line
Ersery has played every offensive snap this season, according to PFF, and Ingram has split right guard with Wyatt Teller. Ingram's 24.0 pass-blocking grade is the lowest among Houston's regular linemen, also according to PFF. Stroud thinks the group has held up better than the record suggests. "I think our offense line is protecting well in the pass game," Stroud said this week . "I thought the pass protection has been really good on early downs." He has thrown for 1,141 yards with five touchdown passes and no interceptions.
There is a fallback. Tackle Braden Smith, whose 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, was a full participant Thursday. He would need to be activated from injured reserve to play. If Ersery cannot go, the tackle depth behind right tackle Trent Brown runs through Fisher and Thomas, two of the players who were sick this week.
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What the Titans can bring Sunday
Sep 20, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) stands during the National Anthem against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Tennessee is winless, too, but its front has the player Houston's staff has circled. "He's a premier player in this game and you have to account for him every single snap," offensive coordinator Nick Caley said of Jeffery Simmons . Simmons has two sacks and 12 quarterback pressures , according to PFF, and returned to limited practice Thursday after missing Wednesday with a back injury. The Titans have eight sacks as a team. Stroud also knows what Robert Saleh's defenses look like. "He's one of the best defensive coordinators/head coaches I've played against," Stroud said.
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Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Nissan Stadium. Friday's injury report will show whether Houston gets its linemen back or asks Stroud to face Simmons behind a reshuffled line.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Oct 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
