Texans confident C.J. Stroud will bounce back in an AFC South showdown with Colts
The Houston Texans aren’t concerned about COCTOBER 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 5-6 · 2ND IN AFC SOUTH
5-6 · 2ND IN AFC SOUTH
Next Game vs Lions · Today 6:00PM
IND +7.5 TOTAL 50.5
Josh Downs - Practices fully Thursday Downs (groin, toe) practiced fully Thursday.
Impact Downs and Michael Pittman (back) were deemed non-participants Wednesday, but both players practiced fully a day later, which sets the stage for the duo to be available alongside fellow WR Alec Pierce on Sunday against the Texans. In five games to date overall, Downs has compiled a 28/242/2 receiving line on 38 targets, though in QB Anthony Richardson's return to action in the Colts' Week 7 win over the Dolphins, the 2023 third-rounder caught just one of his three targets for three yards. An uptick in Downs' production this weekend is plausible, though it remains to be seen if he'll be able to match the pace he put up while Joe Flacco worked as the team's signal caller.
OCTOBER 24 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Pittman Jr. - Puts in full practice Pittman (back) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Impact Last week, Pittman sandwiched missed practices Wednesday and Friday around a full session Thursday before playing in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Dolphins and finishing with three catches on 63 yards on five targets. He may be following a similar path this week, as he sat out Wednesday's session before logging every rep Thursday. The Colts will wait and see what Pittman is able to do during Friday's practice before determining whether he'll avoid a designation or take a questionable tag into this Sunday's matchup with the Texans.
OCTOBER 24 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Taylor - Logs full practice Taylor (ankle) practiced fully Thursday.
Impact Taylor, who hasn't seen game action since suffering a right high-ankle sprain Week 4, returned to a limited practice Wednesday, with his full participation a day later presumably setting the stage for the Colts' top running back to be available for Sunday's game against the Texans. Assuming no issues with his increased participation level during Thursday's session, Taylor will be in a position to head into the weekend minus an injury designation.
OCTOBER 24 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Downs - Back at practice Downs (groin, toe) participated in practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Impact Both Downs and Michael Pittman (back) were deemed non-participants Wednesday, but both were back for Thursday's session, which bodes well for their availability for Sunday's game against the Texans. The Colts' upcoming injury report will reveal Downs' official participation level Thursday.
OCTOBER 24 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Pittman Jr. - Returns to practice Pittman (back) participated in practice Thursday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Impact Pittman was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's session, but his presence a day later suggests that the Colts may simply be managing the wideout's practice reps as he works through a back issue. The team's upcoming injury report will clarify Pittman's participation level in his return to practice Thursday.
OCTOBER 24 • ROTOWIRE
Texans vs. Colts Injury Report – Week 8, 2024
See who's in and who's out for the Week 8 matchup between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts on October 27, 2024.OCTOBER 23 • DATA SKRIVE
DeForest Buckner - Returns to practice field Bucker (ankle) was a limited participant during practice Wednesday.
Impact Buckner was designated to return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday, opening up his 21-day practice window. Whether or not he'll be able to suit up Sunday against the Texans remains in question and probably won't be known closer to kickoff. It is likely though that the Colts may want the Oregon product to log a full practice before sending him out on the field for game day.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
E.J. Speed - Back on field Speed (knee) was a full participant during practice Wednesday.
Impact Speed was unable to play in the Colts' Week 7 win over the Dolphins despite logging a full practice last Friday. After opening this week with another full practice, the Tarleton State product should be good to go Sunday against the Texans.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Taylor - Limited in return to practice Taylor (ankle) returned to a limited practice Wednesday.
Impact Given that Taylor hadn't practiced or played since suffering a right high-ankle sprain Week 4, his return to the field Wednesday, albeit in a limited capacity, suggests that he has a chance to return to action Sunday against the Texans. The running back now has two more chances upgrade to full participation before the Colts' Week 8 injury report is posted. If he remains limited or out this weekend, however, Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson would continue to see added work in the team's backfield.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Downs - Misses Wednesday's practice Downs (groin/toe) didn't practice Wednesday.
Impact Downs had missed the last two Wednesday sessions as he managed a toe issue, but in addition to that the wideout is now contending with a groin injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans. Downs' status is thus worth tracking closely in the coming days, with added context regarding his Week 8 status set to arrive no later than Thursday's injury report.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Pittman Jr. - Not practicing Wednesday Pittman (back) was present but not participating in Wednesday's practice, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Impact The same applies to fellow WR Josh Downs (toe), though Atkins points out that the duo also missed the last two Wednesday sessions for rest. Pittman has two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans, but with no reported setbacks in the Colts' Week 7 win over Miami, we'd expect him to continue to work through his back issue this weekend.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Downs - Another Wednesday DNP Downs (toe) isn't practicing Wednesday,
Impact Downs and Michael Pittman (back) have missed some practice time due to their respective injuries in recent weeks, and both of them watched practice from the sidelines Wednesday. In Week 7, Downs logged limited practices Thursday and Friday after a DNP on Wednesday, then proceeded to suit up for the Colts' 16-10 win over the Dolphins. While Downs' participation will be worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's trip to Houston, Anthony Richardson's inaccuracy under center seems to be a bigger threat than this toe injury to Downs' fantasy value.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Taylor - Returning to practice Head coach Shane Steichen noted that Taylor (ankle) will practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Impact Taylor hasn't practiced or played since sustaining a right high ankle sprain in Week 4, so his looming return to the field Wednesday offers hope that the star running back could return to action Sunday against the Texans. The team's upcoming injury report will reveal Taylor's participation level in Wednesday's session, but if he's available this weekend, Taylor would be in line to reclaim the lead role in a Colts backfield that in his absence has been led by Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Taylor - Returning to practice Head coach Shane Steichen said that Taylor (ankle) will practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Impact Taylor hasn't practiced or played since sustaining a right high-ankle sprain Week 4, so his looming return to the field Wednesday offers hope that the star running back could return to action Sunday against the Texans. The team's upcoming injury report will reveal the extent of Taylor's participation in Wednesday's session, but if he's available this weekend, he would be in line to reclaim the lead role in a Colts backfield that has been led by Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson over the past three games.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
DeForest Buckner - Gets nod to practice again Indianapolis designated Buckner (ankle) for return to practice from its injured reserve list Wednesday.
Impact Coach Shane Steichen recently communicated optimism regarding Buckner's chances of returning to practice ahead of Week 8, and that confidence turned out to be well-placed. If he can participate fully in practice by Friday, there's a solid chance he'll suit up at Houston.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Cross - Secures nine tackles in win Cross recorded nine total tackles (five solo) in Sunday's 16-10 win over Miami.
Impact Cross finished tied for third on the team in tackles with fellow safety Julian Blackmon, reaching at nine tackles for the fourth time this season. Cross has now produced 69 total tackles (42 solo), an interception, a forced fumble and two passes defensed over seven games in 2024.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Julian Blackmon - Nine tackles in win Blackmon recorded nine total tackles (five solo) in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Dolphins.
Impact Blackmon finished with his highest tackle total since Week 1, finishing third on the team in stops behind Grant Stuard and Zaire Franklin. The safety has now compiled 41 total tackles (29 solo), including 0.5 sacks, while also adding an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed over six games in 2024.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
Zaire Franklin - Compiles 16 tackles in win Franklin recorded 16 total tackles (five solo) and a forced fumble in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Dolphins.
Impact Franklin was able to compile a season-high 16 stops while also stripping fullback Alec Ingold in the third quarter, which was recovered by teammate Taven Bryan. Through seven games in 2024, Franklin has now produced 76 total tackles (35 solo), two forced fumbles and a pass defensed.
OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE
QB Stock Market Week 8: How is Patrick Mahomes doing this? What is Brock Purdy doing?
Jared Goff is humming. Aaron Rodgers is spiraling. Russell Wilson is ... cooking? Here are Henry McKenna's latest QB rankings.OCTOBER 22
LeBron, Bronny James headline notable father-son duos in sports history
We've rounded up some of the most iconic father-son duos in sports history, headlined by the Lakers' LeBron and Bronny James.OCTOBER 22
Segun Olubi - Forces fumble in win Olubi had five total tackles and forced a fumble in Sunday's win over Miami.
Impact Olubi played his first snaps of the season on defense and was thrust into a significant role with E.J. Speed out with a knee injury and Jaylon Carlies leaving the game with an ankle injury. Olubi played on 21 of the defense's 69 snaps and could see a larger role next week against Houston.
OCTOBER 21 • ROTOWIRE
Tua Tagovailoa is not trying to be the savior for the struggling Dolphins when he returns
Tua Tagovailoa could only watch from the sideline as the Miami Dolphins struggled to get anything going on offense the past four gamesOCTOBER 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colts-Vikings game flexed to Sunday night on Nov. 3, bumping Jaguars-Eagles
The Indianapolis-Minnesota game in Week 9 has been moved to prime timeOCTOBER 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grant Stuard - Has 19 total tackles in win Stuard had 19 total tackles and a tackle for a loss in Sunday's win over Miami.
Impact Stuard was thrust into the starting lineup at weak-side linebacker with E.J. Speed out with a knee injury and played on 64 of the defense's 69 snaps. Stuard was stout against the run with four stops, according to Pro Football focus. He could be in line for more playing time next week against Houston if Speed remains sidelined.
OCTOBER 21 • ROTOWIRE
