Team news: Houston Texans

For Baltimore-Houston:
— Ravens WR Zay Flowers, questionable with a shoulder injury, is expected to play.
— Texans WR Diontae Johnson, just acquired via waivers, is planning to make his Houston debut in Week 18 vs. the Titans. Today is too quick.

Related Players: Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace

This is a nice Christmas Day matchup for Flowers, so keep him locked into WR2 range if he's ready by kickoff.

The Ravens won’t have to wait long to see Diontae Johnson again.

The NFL’s daily transaction report shows that the Texans have claimed the veteran wide receiver off of waivers. The Ravens cut Johnson last Friday after a brief stint with the team that ended in acrimony when Johnson refused to enter the team’s Week 13 game. The two teams will play each other on Wednesday.

The loss of Tank Dell leaves the Texans shorthanded at WR so the move makes some sense. It's hard to say just when, or even if, Johnson will take the field for the Texans. Even if Johnson plays in Week 17, he just can't be trusted as a fantasy option, especially since it's likely like the fantasy finals for your league. It seems the realistic hope for Johnson would be to get some snaps in before the end of the regular season, and then be a reliable option in the NFL playoffs. Given the news has been mostly negative about Johnson this season, that could be considered a longshot.

DeMeco Ryans says WR Tank Dell tore his ACL along with dislocating his knee.

No surprises here as it was a terrible injury to watch during the game. While he's obviously out for the season, the bigger question is what will his status be for 2025. It's a huge question mark at this point given the seriousness of the injury. Even if Dell is able to play next season, he may take a while to get back to 100%.

Texans WR Tank Dell suffered a dislocated kneecap during Saturday’s game against the Chiefs.

The injury occurred as Dell landed after catching his touchdown pass in the third quarter. Dell was carted off and eventually went to the hospital, where he will stay overnight. The extent of the injury or any other injury is still to be determined. Texans players were overcome with emotion following the injury to their teammate. Dell’s status for training camp and the start of the 2025 season is up in the air.

Texans WR Tank Dell was carted off the field Saturday after a bad knee injury.

Dell had just scored a touchdown but the way he landed caused the injury. NBC isn’t even showing certain angles because of how bad the injury looks to be. Dell’s leg was immobilized. Dell’s rookie season was ended prematurely due to a broken leg. Very unfortunate news for the young wide receiver.

The Ravens posted the following statement:

"We have mutually agreed with Diontae Johnson to excuse him from team activities this week."

Reports say this is not additional suspension time and the team and Johnson are working through the situation. It seems like a split may be coming sooner than later. Johnson was suspended for one game by the team for not entering the game in Week 13 against the Eagles.

'Joe came out fine, Joe will be fine,' Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on Joe Mixon.

Good news for owners. As the post said, Mixon got his ankle checked in Week 15 action, but was able to finish the game. It will be worth monitoring his practice week, but he seems like he should be good for Week 16, which is a Saturday game against the Chiefs.

Ravens EVP and GM Eric DeCosta announced that Diontae Johnson’s one-game suspension stemmed from the wide receiver refusing to enter Sunday’s game against the Eagles.

Related Players: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Devontez Walker

Yikes. If you haven't already, Johnson is completely free to be dropped to waiver wires for the remainder of the 2024 season.

Harbaugh said that Rashod Bateman has a sore knee and he's getting treatment.
"It's not a long-term thing."

Related players: Diontae Johnson, Nelson Agholor, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Justice Hill

There was no other timetable, according to the post. It's possible Bateman is good to go in Week 15, after the bye this week. If Bateman misses time, it's not likely another WR steps up as a fantasy factor at this point, especially with Andrews, Likely and Hill combining for 21 targets against the Eagles this past week.

After missing Houston’s past five games due to a hamstring injury, Texans WR Nico Collins is considered a full go for tonight’s game vs. the Cowboys.

Schefter added there are no playing time restrictions for Collins as he heads into the game. It's a great matchup against Cowboys too. It looks like he'll be safe to start in fantasy lineups for those who took the chance and waited for him this week.