Kurt

Hinish

Brown going may cut into the viability of OJ Howard as a barebones TE streamer this week -- Brown bounced back from a Thursday DNP with a full practice on Friday. Both will have some freed up targets by the absence of Brevin Jordan (ankle), who was ruled out on Friday. Also inactive for the Texans are DL Kurt Hinish (foot), OL Austin Deculus (ankle), DB Isaac Yiadom (thigh), LB Jake Hansen, and WR Tyler Johnson. No practice squad elevation for Jeff Driskel means the Texans will actually use backup QB Kyle Allen for the first time all season.

Hinish (6’2/302) became a full-time starter in 2019 and has 61 career games under his belt with the Irish - a school record. Hinish played mostly in two tackle sets throughout his career but received significant work at nose tackle in his final season. In 2021, as a team captain, he totaled 28 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and two sacks, and had 7.5 TFLs and two sacks in the 2020 season. With a face tarred in eye black and a nose for the ball carrier, Hinish forces his way into opposing backfields to wreak havoc. Snubbed by the Combine, Hinish put up 31 bench reps at Notre Dame’s Pro Day and displayed good agility to earn an overall relative athletic score of 8.83. Unlikely to wow as a pass rusher, Hinish never had more than 17 pressures in a season per PFF. He gives opposing blockers trouble, even on double teams, and uses his elite strength to impose his will. He may have a shot to make it as an early-down run stopper.