Texans Star Tackle Ruled Out vs. Steelers

Houston Texans star offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil will not play in his team’s Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV in Houston.

Tunsil has missed the team’s last two games with a knee injury. He did not participate in either of the Texans’ first two practices this week.

Tunsil started the team’s opener against the Baltimore Ravens, along with George Fant, with Josh Jones shifting inside to guard, along with Shaq Mason and rookie Jarrett Patterson.

After losing Tunsil to injury, Jones moved back outside to tackle, with former Steelers guard Kendrick Green moving into the starting lineup at guard. Jones is also expected to miss the game against the Steelers with a hand injury.

The absence of both Tunsil and Jones will bring second-year former sixth-round draft pick Austin Deculus into the starting lineup for the first time in his career.

A 6-foot-6, 325-pound LSU grad, Deculus has played in just seven NHL games and a total of 39 snaps of offense in his two seasons with the Texans. The young Texans rookie’s first NFL assignment will be Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith.

Tunsil, meanwhile, is a three-time Pro Bowler and the most experienced member of the Houston offensive line that was already missing a half-dozen players to start the season. Kenyon Green, Charlie Heck, Tytus Howard, Scott Quessenberry, Juice Scruggs and Kilian Zierer are all either on the PUP list or the injured reserve.