The Houston Texans have moved linebacker Jake Hummel to injured reserve because of a groin injury, taking him out of at least the next four games. The roster move comes before the Texans’ Week 3 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
Hummel has not practiced since the start of the team’s preparation following the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He missed six consecutive team practices because of the injury and was already listed as unavailable for at least one more game on the Texans’ Friday injury report.
Based on the minimum required absence, Hummel is expected to miss the Colts game, Houston’s Week 4 home meeting with the Dallas Cowboys, and road games against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars matchup is scheduled to be played in London.
The injury leaves four Texans linebackers either on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list. The group also includes veteran E.J. Speed, who sustained a serious quad injury during the offseason, K.C. Ossai, who began the season on injured reserve, and Henry To’oTo’o, who went on injured reserve after suffering a shoulder injury against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1.
Hummel has primarily contributed on special teams and has played 150 defensive snaps during his career. With Hummel unavailable, the active linebacker group for Week 3 consists of Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher. Hill recently joined the 53-man roster from the practice squad, while Woodaz and Fisher are first-year draft picks.
