With the Houston Texans on a short week, current injured players might be out again if not fully cleared.
That might not be the case for second-year linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, who suffered a concussion earlier this month but returned to practice last week.
He was a last-second inactive for Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts and could have played if the team was desperate.
Will Al-Shaair suit up on “Thursday Night Football” when the Texans take on the New York Jets? Here’s what happened and his current status entering Thursday morning.
Henry To’To’o injury update
To’oTo’o suffered a concussion during the fourth quarter of Week 6’s win over the New England Patriots. He didn’t practice before Week 7’s loss against the Green Bay Packers and was limited last week.
The former Alabama star practiced on Wednesday last week but then missed Thursday’s drills for further evaluation. To’o’To’o returned on Friday and was listed as questionable on the final injury report.
To’oTo’o was a full participant in drills this past week and cleared the protocol. He plans on playing Thursday night and is excited to return to the starting lineup after having to watch the Texans go 1-1 without him.
#Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o cleared from concussion, back for Jets game: ‘Excited, juiced up and ready to go’ @KPRC2 https://t.co/uTTcaz51KX
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 29, 2024
“I’m excited,” To’oTo’o said. That’s my biggest thing. I’m just so excited to be able to play the game. I love it and also to be out with the guys that you work so hard with every single day. I’m excited. I’m juiced up and ready to go.”
Fellow linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair did practice on Tuesday, but the Texans ruled him out once more. He will miss his third consecutive game as Houston looks to improve to 7-2 to close out the month of October.
Henry To’To’o stats
Through six games, To’oTo’o leads the Texans with 46 tackles. He’s also recorded two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup.
No more playing Henry To’oTo’o over Christian Harris. pic.twitter.com/RZl2705zPO
— Jacob (@Stroud4MVP) November 6, 2023
Texans LB depth chart
With Al-Shaair out, Texans must decide who will line up next to To’oTo’o as the team’s MIKE linebacker.
Here’s the rest of the linebackers on the active roster:
- Neville Hewitt
- Jake Hansen
- Devin White
- Jamal Hill
- Del’Shawn Phillips
Hewitt and Hansen rotated in last week and likely will do the same opposite To’oTo’o. Hewitt, best known as a special teams ace, has been the team’s top tackler over the previous two games. He finished with 15 total stops against the Patriots and Packers, respectively.
White, a former first-round pick in 2019, isn’t expected to start but could see prominent reps as the No. 3 option. Last week against the Colts, he recorded three tackles.
Last season with the Buccaneers, White had 83 tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions.
