Houston’s linebacker group will change over the next four games after Jake Hummel was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury suffered in the previous game against Cincinnati. He missed six straight practices and must sit out at least four games.
That includes the Week 3 matchup with Indianapolis, a Week 4 home game against Dallas, followed by road contests against Tennessee and Jacksonville in London.
The move leaves Houston with four linebackers either on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list before the season reaches three games. E.J. Speed is dealing with a serious offseason quad injury that could sideline him for all of 2026.
K.C. Ossai opened the season on injured reserve, while Henry To’oTo’o was placed there after hurting his shoulder during the fourth quarter against Buffalo in Week 1.
A special-teams contributor, Hummel has played 150 defensive snaps in his career. The five linebackers currently on the Texans’ 53-man roster are Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher. Hill recently moved up from the practice squad.
Woodaz and Fisher, both first-year draft selections, may see more work, with Woodaz’s defensive and special-teams responsibilities potentially expanding after his July and August progress. Houston could sign or elevate another linebacker. Kenneth Murray, a former Dallas Cowboys linebacker, is on the practice squad but was unavailable for the Colts game because the team had already used its elevations.
