Johnathan Joseph injury update: Texans cornerback will play against Chiefs

The Houston Texans ailing secondary got some good news that cornerback Johnathan Joseph will be able to play against the Kansas City Chiefs.

It’s been a long season for the Houston Texans pass defense as the secondary has struggled to adjust to major offseason losses and injuries, but they will at least get some help in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs when they welcome back Johnathan Joseph to the fold in preparation to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

Joseph has been sidelined by a hamstring injury that not only kept him out of the opening round of the playoffs against the Buffalo Bills but limited in practice as well.

So far this season, Joseph, who is now 35 years old, has played in 14 games and started 11 in a secondary that began the year trying to move on from offseason losses of Tyrann Mathieu, a safety who signed with the Chiefs, and Kareem Jackson, who left to play for the Denver Broncos. Bradley Roby was signed and Lonnie Johnson was drafted, but the Texans pass defense has suffered this year in the shift.

Football Outsiders has Houston’s pass defense ranked at No. 26 overall in their defensive rankings. (Interestingly enough, Houston is ranked in the exact same spot overall.)  Last year, the Texans pass defense was ranked No. 17 overall and No. 7 overall.

Joseph, a two-time Pro Bowler, has 51 total tackles, 13 passes defended, and 1 interception on the season for the Texans, his ninth season with Houston and 14th overall year in the NFL.