Texans Expected To Have Two Key Defenders Against Browns On Saturday

While the Browns and Texans get their final days of preparation in ahead of their Wild Card Weekend Showdown, Houston received good news on two key defenders

The Browns and Texans have been two of the most injured teams in the NFL this season and now they'll go head-to-head to open up Super Wild Card Weekend.

Just three weeks removed from their regular season matchup on Christmas Eve, Houston is slated to look much different this time around, with young phenom QB, C.J. Stroud back in the fold. It also got good news in regards to two banged up defensive ends as both rookie Will Anderson Jr. and four-year veteran Jonathan Greenard are returned to practice on Thursday.

The two pass rushers are expected back for the Texans this weekend.

#Texans defensive end Jonathan Greenard 'good to go' for playoff game against #Browns @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/YvPhkLOabg

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 11, 2024

In the first meeting between these two teams, Anderson Jr. was ruled out prior to the game with an ankle injury. Greenard on the other hand started against the Browns back in Week 16 but left with an ankle injury of his own in the first quarter. He then missed each of Houston's final two games of the regular season.

Greenard leads the Texans in sacks with 12.5 on the year, which saw him finish tied for 10th in the league for sacks this season. Anderson Jr. has had a solid rookie campaign of his own with 7 sacks in 15 games. 

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Meanwhile, the Browns is on the verge of getting closer to full strength in their own right as safety Grant Delpit was designated for return of the IR this week. He was, however, ruled out for Saturday's game. Fellow secondary-mates, Mike Ford Jr., Juan Thornhill and Denzel Ward are all considered questionable. Ward was a late addition to the Browns injury report after suffering a knee injury during Thursday's practice.