The Houston Texans announced a couple of notes on the injury front on Monday morning as NFL teams prepared to advance into preparation for Week 15. But for Kansas City Chiefs fans, it was a sign that the Texans might be hoping for some reinforcements when the Chiefs get ready to host Houston in Week 16 that made us pay attention.
On Monday, the Texans announced that they were opening up the 21-day window within which they can bring back two rehabbing players from injured reserve: linebacker Christian Harris and offensive lineman Kenyon Green.
The Houston Texans are hoping to get some good news about linebacker Christian Harris.
The Chiefs host the Texans on Sunday, December 21 in an important AFC showdown that could clear the way for the Chiefs to claim the top seed in the conference or tighten the race with the Buffalo Bills for AFC supremacy. For the Texans, the game is also important to potentially lock up the AFC South as they hope to stave off any surprise late-season heroics from the Indianapolis Colts.
Of course both teams play another game before then. The Chiefs will visit the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 while the Texans will host the Dolphins. However, both teams will be favored in their respective contests before meeting up the following week.
In that game, while the Texans will gladly welcome back any player from injured reserve, Harris is the real prized addition to the lineup. Harris was an instant starter in the second level of the defense after drafting him out of Alabama in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Last season he had 101 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 16 games (12 starts).
In the postseason, Harris really turned it on last season in a dominant Wild Card win over the Browns. Harris had a pick-six from 36 yards out and added a sack as well in his first postseason contest.