Team news: Houston Texans | Page 2

Losing Christian Kirk means a bigger role for Parker Washington, a sixth-round pick in 2023. Last season, Washington didn't capitalize on the opportunity when he had to replace an injured Kirk as the Jaguars' primary slot receiver, but the team has no doubt he can now.

Washington was up and down last season when having a chance to get regular snaps. He had two TDs but also missed a route adjustment that led to Trevor Lawrence getting injured. Washington did have a great offseaosn, according to the story, and the team is confident Washington can step up with Kirk out for the season. Those needing help at WR may want to take a gamble on at least stashing Washington.

The Houston Texans offense was already shorthanded at wide receiver with Nico Collins on injured reserve, and now it seems like they'll be down another key outlet for C.J. Stroud. Wideout Stefon Diggs suffered a non-contact knee injury during Sunday's Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts and is not expected to play when the team travels to New York to play the Jets, according to NFL Media.

Related players: Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie, Dalton Schultz, Joe Mixon

This is a tight turnaround for Diggs as the Texans open up Week 9 on Thursday night, which makes a possible return to the field difficult, even if the injury isn't as serious as it looked on the field, the story said. The team did not practice Monday, but the initial injury report of the week -- albeit a projection -- notes that Diggs would've been a nonparticipant, the story went on to say. With no Collins and Diggs, Dell looks like he could be the top WR target against the Jets. Schultz and Mixon could also get more involved in the passing game.

Texans receiver Stefon Diggs had to exit Sunday’s win over the Colts with a non-contact right knee injury in the third quarter.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans did not have much of an update on the injury’s severity after the game and that was the same case on Monday.

“For Diggs, we’re still evaluating,” Ryans said in his press conference. “We’ll see where he is.”

Related players: Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie, Dalton Schultz

Diggs was able to walk off the field under his own power before going to get X-rays, the story said. The Texans are hurting at WR with Collins on IR. If Diggs has to miss time, Dell, Woods, Hutchinson and Metchie are next up on the depth chart. TE Schultz could see more targets and finished with a 4-52-0 line. Dell added 4-35-1 in the game and RB Joe Mixon had four catches from the RB position.

Jaguars WR Christian Kirk suffered a broken collarbone during Sunday’s game against the Packers.

Kirk is expected to miss the rest of the season as a result. Kirk had become the No. 2 wide receiver behind rookie Brian Thomas. He had two catches for 59 yards in the loss. Gabe Davis also left the game with a shoulder injury so Parker Washington saw more work while the Jags involved both of their top tight ends, Evan Engram and Brenton Strange — the two combined for eight catches for 95 yards. The Jaguars visit Philadelphia next week.

Andy Reid says WR JuJu Smith Schuster (hamstring) and DE Mike Danna (pectoral) won’t play Sunday vs Raiders. Deandre Hopkins likely will play.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Mecole Hardman, Justin Watson

We would put the odds quite high that Hopkins suits up, but it's fair to question how much he'll be involved right out of the gate. He's an interesting desperation play in Week 8, but with no byes, your team would really be banking on a high-risk, moderate-reward outcome. Worthy projects as a fringe WR2/3.

Sources: Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins is being traded to the Chiefs in exchange for a 5th rounder that can get to a fourth rounder. Deal is being finalized.

A key veteran who could be the final piece, Hopkins name has been hot in the trade market. Now, he lands with the champs.

Related Players: Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman, Juju Smith-Schuster, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd

Even with the un-serious looking Chiefs wide receiver room over the last few weeks, they have remained undefeated. Though Patrick Mahomes has been trending toward the worst statistical performance of his career, it's hard to see why the fans/team would care if they just glide to the Super Bowl again.

This is an obvious boost for Mahomes' fantasy aspirations and puts Hopkins back on the WR2 radar in good matchups. This is also a boost to Calvin Ridley, but his ceiling is still extremely capped with poor quarterback play in a terrible offensive environment.

Trade! The Texans are sending RB Cam Akers to the Vikings, sources say.

Related players: Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale

Houston gets a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick in exchange for Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick. Of course, it’s a reunion for Akers and Minnesota, which also traded for him last season, the story pointed out. The worry now is maybe Jones, who was injured (hip) before the Vikings bye week, isn't fully healthy just yet, despite being able to practice so far this week. However, the Vikings, who sit at 5-0 so far this season, may just want more RB depth behind Jones and Chandler. As for the Texans, Mixon and Pierce look to be healthy again, and with the emergence of Ogunbowale over the last couple of weeks, Akers became expendable.

Beautiful day for football .

RB Joe Mixon is practicing for the second consecutive day. Another positive step in the right direction for Sunday.

Related Players: Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale, Dameon Pierce

Mixon was on a tear before an ankle injury sidelined him in Week 2, and should he return fully healthy this week, it's hard to keep him out of RB1 territory. The rest of the backfield would turn into huge desperation plays in deep leagues.

Texans RB Joe Mixon is practicing today. He’s back.

Related Players: Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale, Dameon Pierce

This is nothing concrete yet —we'll know more after Friday's practice— but it's certainly a good sign. If he's a full go for Week 6 it makes the rest of the backfield an afterthought while Mixon would be a high-end RB2 (at least) once again.

The Texans have placed WR Nico Collins, the NFL's leading receiver on Injured Reserve. He's out four games.

Related Players: Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Dalton Schultz

Hutchinson came in and basically played Collins' role for the rest of Week 5, but he is obviously not going to demand the same type of target share. He can be added in deeper leagues, but we expect Diggs, Dell, and Schultz to take a majority of the extra usage.