Joe Mixon is energetic for the Texans’ divisional playoff recreation in opposition to the Chiefs on Saturday after the Professional Bowl working again had proven up on the damage report with an ankle downside and missed observe late within the week.
Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), proper guard Shaq Mason (knee), offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (ankle) and huge receiver Robert Woods (hip) are additionally energetic. Woods didn’t observe all week and had been listed as questionable.
The 28-year-old Mixon damage his ankle in Week 2 in opposition to the Bears and missed the subsequent three weeks, although he has performed in all of Houston’s video games since. His ankle did roll over in Week 15 in opposition to Miami, limiting him late within the recreation.
Mixon performed an enormous function in a 32-12 wild-card win over the Chargers final week, working for 106 yards and a landing to get the Texans inside a win of reaching the AFC Championship Sport for the primary time. It was the primary time a Texans working again eclipsed 100 yards speeding within the postseason since Arian Foster in 2012.
“Joe offers confidence. He brings it each week,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans stated this week. “The way in which he goes about his enterprise, what he has to say to the fellows all all through the week — he offers confidence.”
He additionally offers some versatility to a Houston offense that misplaced huge receivers Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs to season-ending accidents. Mixon had 36 catches for 309 yards and a landing this season, and his expertise and skill in serving to defend C.J. Stroud within the passing recreation is an enormous purpose why Houston has gained a playoff recreation in back-to-back seasons.
“He has been useful to all of us, making our alignment proper,” Stroud stated. “It is good to have that and never have an entire bunch on my plate on a regular basis. Even when our run recreation is not working, I do know he leans on me, so it is simply enjoying off each other, enjoying complementary soccer. However it is rather useful to have somebody like Joe.”
Houston made working again J.J. Taylor, linebacker Devin White, defensive finish Jerry Hughes, defensive sort out Kurt Hinish and offensive linemen Kendrick Inexperienced and Nick Broeker inactive in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.
As anticipated, the Chiefs have cornerback Jaylen Watson accessible for the primary time since breaking his ankle on Oct. 20 in a recreation in opposition to San Francisco. He was activated from injured reserve Friday after getting by way of every week of observe with none setbacks.
Watson earned a beginning job in coaching camp and had been enjoying the perfect of his profession when he obtained damage.
“He is labored tremendously laborious to get himself so far, to begin with, and we’ll simply see how that goes so far as the sport reps and all that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated this week. “He certain has labored laborious to get himself even so far proper right here.”
Ought to the Chiefs be apprehensive concerning the Texans within the divisional spherical?
The Chiefs made inactive security Deon Bush, cornerback Keith Taylor, defensive finish Joshua Uche, defensive finish Malik Herring and offensive linemen C.J. Hanson, Wanya Morris and Ethan Driskell.
Morris began 11 video games at left sort out for Kansas Metropolis this season, however he struggled mightily to guard Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs opted to slip All-Professional guard Joe Thuney to sort out, with Mike Caliendo changing him at guard down the stretch, they usually selected to go that route in opposition to Houston, with D.J. Humphries turning into the backup sort out.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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