First, it was Stefon Diggs. Now, it’s Tank Dell.
Who’s C.J. Stroud going to throw to for the rest of the Houston Texans’ season?
If Stroud and Houston can’t figure it out, starting with Wednesday’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens, then its postseason stay might be shorter than a lot of people thought back in September.
Already short-handed at wide receiver after Diggs tore his ACL in Week 8, the AFC South champs suffered a major loss in Saturday’s 27-19 defeat at Kansas City when Dell dislocated his knee and tore his ACL on a 30-yard touchdown catch.
Stroud’s remaining options behind No. 1 receiver Nico Collins (60 catches, 909 yards, six TDs) are John Metchie III (17 catches) and veteran Robert Woods (16). With Dell and Diggs’ combined 98 receptions on the shelf for the season’s remainder, the team’s second- and third-leading receivers are tight end Dalton Schultz (48) and running back Joe Mixon (33).
“It’s not easy to see your brother go down like that after just dealing with a (season-ending) injury last year,” Stroud said of Dell.
Houston (9-6) acted quickly to beef up its withering receiving corps by turning to the waiver wire and claiming Diontae Johnson, who’s caught 31 passes for 363 yards this year while playing for Carolina and Baltimore.
Johnson was acquired by the Ravens on Oct. 29 and then waived after refusing to enter a 24-19 loss to Philadelphia Dec. 1. Johnson caught only one pass in four games with the Ravens.
The Texans have other injury concerns, too. Safety Jimmie Ward is done for the year with a sprained foot and guard Shaq Mason (knee) is a week-to-week proposition. The quick turnaround from Saturday’s game could make it tougher for Mason to suit up and play. Defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi (ankle) and O-lineman Juice Scruggs (foot) did not practice Sunday and Monday.
While Houston tries to pick up the pieces, Baltimore (10-5) aims to gain the edge on Pittsburgh, also 10-5, in the AFC North race. It will hope for help from Kansas City, which plays the Steelers in the first game of Netflix’s Christmas Day doubleheader.
The Ravens tied Pittsburgh atop the division Saturday with a 34-17 win in Baltimore behind another balanced, explosive offensive performance. They rolled up 418 total yards with Lamar Jackson throwing for 207 yards and three touchdowns, while Derrick Henry added 162 yards on the ground.
Baltimore wrapped up a playoff spot on Saturday but would love to go into the postseason with a division title and at least one home game in its hip pocket. With Jackson playing at the peak of his game — he has a team-record 37 touchdown passes — the Ravens reason to believe they can make a long playoff run.
“Ever since I’ve been here with Lamar, it just feels like every year he can be the MVP,” fullback Patrick Ricard said. “That’s just kinda the player he is.”
The addition of Henry has helped Jackson become even more efficient and dangerous. Henry already has the second-best season of his career at 1,636 yards and could reach 2,000 for the second time with a great finish.
Missing practice Sunday and Monday for the Ravens were receivers Zay Flowers (shoulder) and Nelson Agholor (concussion), running back Justice Hill (concussion), guard Daniel Faalele (knee) and cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis (hamstring) and Tre’Davious White (shoulder). Center Tyler Linderbaum (back) improved from DNP on Sunday to limited on Monday.
The Ravens own a 10-2 record in the teams’ all-time series, which doesn’t include two playoff victories. Houston hasn’t beaten them since 2014.
–Field Level Media
