News on Recoveries Emerges for the Houston Texans

As the Houston Texans prepare for a win-or-go-home Week 18 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts and a potential playoff run, new details on player recoveries have emerged—offering clarity on the availability of key contributors sidelined by injuries. Over the past week, the Texans’ medical staff has released updates on four critical players: offensive tackle Tytus Howard (knee sprain), cornerback Steven Nelson (hamstring strain), defensive end Jonathan Greenard (hamstring injury), and running back Dare Ogunbowale (ankle sprain). These recoveries aren’t just about individual players returning to the field; they’re about restoring depth, talent, and flexibility to a Texans team that has leaned on backups to stay in the playoff hunt. For a franchise aiming to end its four-year postseason drought, the timing of these returns could be the difference between a short playoff stay and a deep run. News on Recoveries Emerges for the Houston Texans breaks down each player’s recovery status, their expected role upon return, and how their presence will strengthen the Texans’ chances against the Colts and beyond.

The most anticipated recovery news surrounds Tytus Howard, the Texans’ starting right tackle who was placed on Injured Reserve (IR) in Week 15 with a Grade 2 knee sprain. Initially expected to miss 3-4 weeks, Howard has made faster-than-projected progress: he returned to practice on a limited basis this week, participating in individual drills and light team work. According to Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, Howard’s knee strength has returned to 90% of pre-injury levels, and he’s been cleared for non-contact activities—a key milestone in his recovery. While Howard is unlikely to start against the Colts, the Texans are considering activating him to the game-day roster as a backup, providing insurance for fill-in right tackle Charlie Heck. “Tytus has worked his tail off to get back,” Ryans said. “We’re not going to rush him, but having him available as a backup gives us peace of mind. He’s our starting right tackle, and his presence alone boosts our offensive line.” Howard’s recovery is critical for the Texans’ long-term success: he’s allowed just 3 sacks in 15 starts this season and has been a staple in both pass protection and the team’s zone-running scheme. If he can return to full strength for the playoffs, he’ll stabilize an offensive line that has been reshuffled due to injuries. News on Recoveries Emerges for the Houston Texans frames Howard’s progress as a positive sign for an offense that relies on a strong front to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud and open lanes for Dameon Pierce.

Equally encouraging is the recovery news for Steven Nelson, the Texans’ starting nickel cornerback who missed Week 16 with a hamstring strain. Nelson, who has 4 pass breakups and 1 interception in 14 starts this season, returned to full practice on Wednesday, participating in all team drills and covering top wide receivers in one-on-one sessions. Texans secondary coach D’Anton Lynn confirmed Nelson has no lingering tightness in his hamstring and is expected to start against the Colts. “Steven looked like himself out there—quick, physical, and locked in,” Lynn said. “He’s been our most consistent cornerback in the slot, and his return will help us slow down the Colts’ slot receivers, like Michael Pittman Jr.” Nelson’s recovery comes at a crucial time: the Colts rank 12th in the NFL in passing yards to the slot, and Pittman has recorded 42 catches for 510 yards from the slot this season. Without Nelson in Week 16, the Texans relied on rookie Derek Stingley Jr. to shift to the slot, leaving a gap in outside coverage. Nelson’s return will allow Stingley to move back to his natural outside cornerback position, strengthening the entire secondary. What’s more, Nelson’s experience—he’s played in 10 playoff games during his career—will be invaluable if the Texans reach the postseason, as he brings a calm, veteran presence to a young secondary. News on Recoveries Emerges for the Houston Texans explores how Nelson’s return will restore balance to a secondary that has been tested by injuries.

For the Houston Texans, the recovery news for Jonathan Greenard—the team’s starting defensive end who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since Week 14—offers a mixed bag. Greenard, who leads the Texans with 8 sacks and 15 quarterback pressures this season, returned to limited practice this week but experienced mild tightness in his hamstring during team drills. As a result, the Texans have listed him as questionable for the Colts game, with Ryans emphasizing that they’ll prioritize Greenard’s long-term health over a single regular-season game. “Jonathan is making progress, but we’re not going to risk a setback,” Ryans said. “If he’s not 100%, we’ll hold him out. We need him healthy for the playoffs, not just Week 18.” Greenard’s potential absence would be a blow to the Texans’ pass rush, but the team has depth at defensive end thanks to recent signing Mario Addison and rookie Will Anderson Jr. Addison has stepped up in Greenard’s absence, recording 2 sacks in three games, while Anderson has shown growth, with 1 sack and 3 pressures in his last two outings. For the Houston Texans, Greenard’s recovery timeline highlights the importance of depth—something the team lacked in recent seasons. Even if Greenard sits out against the Colts, the Texans have capable replacements to keep the pass rush productive. News on Recoveries Emerges for the Houston Texans notes that while Greenard’s return would be ideal, the Texans’ ability to adapt without him is a testament to their improved roster construction.

Another recovery update of note is for Dare Ogunbowale, the Texans’ backup running back and special teams ace who missed Week 16 with an ankle sprain. Ogunbowale, who has 128 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on offense and 8 special teams tackles this season, returned to full practice on Thursday and is expected to be active against the Colts. His recovery is important for the Texans’ special teams unit, which ranks 8th in the NFL in overall efficiency and relies on Ogunbowale as a key contributor on kickoff and punt coverage. “Dare is a Swiss Army knife for us—he can run the ball, catch passes, and make plays on special teams,” said Texans special teams coordinator Frank Ross. “His return will help us maintain the consistency we’ve built on special teams, which could be the difference in a close game.” Ogunbowale’s recovery also provides depth at running back: while starter Dameon Pierce and backup Devin Singletary have carried the load in recent weeks, Ogunbowale’s presence gives the Texans a third option, allowing them to rest Pierce and Singletary in the early stages of the Colts game if the score allows. For the Houston Texans, Ogunbowale’s return is a small but important piece of the puzzle—reinforcing the team’s depth and ensuring they have enough talent to handle the rigors of a potential playoff run. News on Recoveries Emerges for the Houston Texans emphasizes how Ogunbowale’s versatility and special teams impact make his recovery valuable beyond just the running back position.

Finally, the collective recovery news for the Texans reflects a proactive approach to player health—a shift from past seasons when the team often rushed injured players back, leading to setbacks. Under Ryans and new head athletic trainer Andre Tucker, the Texans have implemented a more conservative recovery plan, using data and medical expertise to guide return timelines. This approach has paid off: Howard and Nelson have made steady progress without complications, while Greenard’s cautious handling ensures he’ll be ready for the playoffs if the Texans qualify. “We’re focused on winning now, but we’re also focused on winning later,” Ryans said. “Taking care of our players’ health is the best way to build a sustainable winner. You can’t make a deep playoff run if your key players are injured because you rushed them back.” For the Houston Texans, this recovery strategy is part of a larger cultural shift—one that prioritizes long-term success over short-term gains. As they head into the Colts game, the Texans have more healthy players than they did three weeks ago, and their medical staff’s transparency about recoveries has helped fans and analysts alike gain clarity on the team’s strengths and weaknesses. News on Recoveries Emerges for the Houston Texans concludes by noting that while injuries are an inevitable part of the NFL, the Texans’ ability to manage recoveries effectively has positioned them as a legitimate playoff contender. If Howard, Nelson, and Greenard can all return to full strength in the coming weeks, the Texans’ defense and offense will be stronger than ever—giving them a chance to compete with the AFC’s top teams and end their playoff drought in style.