Two Key Texans Starters Ruled Out Ahead of Steelers Game

The Houston Texans will be without key starters on defense in starting nickel cornerback Tavierre Thomas and linebacker Denzel Perryman, who were both ruled out on Friday for their Sunday game against the Steelers. Perryman is dealing with hand and wrist injuries while Thomas recovers from hand surgery.

That will force the younger players down the depth chart to step up. In the nickel cornerback slot, Jalen Pitre returns at safety and could play some significant snaps in the slot, where he played mostly at Baylor. If they decide against that, Grayland Arnold will play another game in the slot, where he played 37 snaps against the Jaguars.

Meanwhile, Perryman being out means the Texans will be without their primary run-stopper. Blake Cashman, Christian Harris, and Henry To’oto’o will play with Perryman out. That means the youth movement continues, and Cashman is the green dot guy at the second level for them without Perryman’s veteran presence.

The team has already ruled out several players on the offensive line, including Laremy Tunsil and Josh Jones. Promising young cornerback Derek Stingley is out with a hamstring injury. While young, the Texans are a battered team this early into the season with a makeshift offensive line, and the secondary has already dealt with several injuries. The Steelers hope to exploit those weaknesses before moving to 3-1 before welcoming Baltimore to Acrisure Stadium.