The Houston Texans now have four linebackers on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list less than three games into the season after placing Jake Hummel on injured reserve before Week 3. Hummel has a groin injury sustained in the previous game against Cincinnati and missed six consecutive practices.
He will be unavailable for at least four games, including the Colts matchup, a Week 4 home game against the Dallas Cowboys, road games against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
E.J. Speed has a significant offseason quad injury that could keep him out for all of 2026. K.C. Ossai began the season on injured reserve, and Henry To’oTo’o moved there after a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter against Buffalo in Week 1. Hummel has mostly played special teams and has 150 defensive snaps in his career.
Houston’s five remaining linebackers on its 53-man roster are Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher. Hill recently moved up from the practice squad. Woodaz and Fisher, both first-year draft picks, could see more defensive and special-teams work.
The Texans could add or elevate a linebacker, with former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Kenneth Murray on the practice squad. He was unavailable for the Colts game because Houston had completed its elevations. SI.com published the report.
