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Houston Texans

Running back Joe Mixon was added to the injury report on Thursday with an ankle injury that kept him from practicing on Friday, but it doesn’t look like the team will have to make plans for life without him against the Chiefs.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Mixon is expected to play in the divisional round game in Kansas City. The Texans called up running back J.J. Taylor from the practice squad on Friday and they also have Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale on the 53-man roster.

Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was also listed as questionable after being limited in practice with a knee injury. He is also expected to play on Saturday.

The only other player listed as questionable for the Texans is wide receiver Robert Woods, who has a hip injury that kept him out of practice all week. All of the players’ status for the matchup with the Chiefs will be known at 3 p.m. ET.


Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is in his 12th NFL season, but he has never played in a Super Bowl, or even a conference championship game. That can change today.

If Hopkins and the Chiefs beat his first team, the Texans, today, they’ll punch their ticket to the AFC Championship Game. And Hopkins will have moved past the divisional round of the playoffs for the first time.

Hopkins said it’s been a different vibe since he was traded to Kansas City this season, going to a place where winning the Super Bowl is the expectation.

“They’re coming off a championship -- two championships -- so it feels a lot different than anywhere I’ve been,’' Hopkins said, via ESPN. “Everything everybody does here, not just in this facility but outside the facility, is detailed, and that’s how you win championships. It means a lot. It takes your game to a different level. It takes your focus, your drive, knowing that you’re playing for something.’'

Hopkins said being in big games is what he wants most with the time he has left in his career.

“I haven’t played meaningful football in a couple years since we probably started [7-0] in Arizona [in 2021], so it takes a game to a different level,’' Hopkins said. “I’ve done a lot, all the accolades that I can accomplish as far as personal, so I think just playing meaningful football in January is what’s left on the list.’'

A Super Bowl ring would be a big piece for Hopkins to add to a Hall of Fame resume. He can get a step closer today.


Cornerback Jaylen Watson is officially back on the Chiefs’ active roster.

Word this week was that Watson would be activated from injured reserve in time to play against the Texans and the Chiefs announced the move on Friday afternoon. Watson had 32 tackles and six passes defensed in six games before injuring his ankle.

The Chiefs did not activate wide receiver Mecole Hardman, so he will remain on injured reserve and will hope the Chiefs win so he has a chance to get back on the field.

The Chiefs also elevated linebacker Swayze Bozeman and defensive back Deon Bush on a temporary basis. Both players will revert back to the practice squad after Saturday’s game.


Houston has elected to keep tight end Teagan Quitoriano on injured reserve for the divisional round.

Quitoriano has been downgraded to out and will not travel with the team to Kansas City.

Quitoriano is dealing with a calf injury. He was a full participant in practice all week before being listed as questionable.

The Texans did not downgrade running back Joe Mixon (ankle), linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), or receiver Robert Woods (hip) who are all questionable.

Additionally, Houston has elevated fullback Andrew Beck and running back J.J. Taylor from the practice squad to the active roster for Saturday.


When the Texans and Chiefs squared off in Week 16, the game was closer than the 27-19 score suggests. The Texans were in it, into the second half. They could have won it.

The problem for the Texans (and pretty much everyone else who has played the Chiefs this year) is that the Chiefs have a knack for finding a way to win close games. But if the Texans keep it close on Saturday and if the Texans can score what would be a massive playoff upset, the stakes will be raised for Sunday night’s game in Western New York.

A Chiefs win on Saturday means the Ravens-Bills winner gets the unenviable task of going to Arrowhead for the AFC Championship. A Texans upset means Sunday night’s winner will host the AFC Championship.

And Sunday night’s winner will be the favorite to advance. And Sunday night’s game could be the de facto AFC Championship. (Especially if Rex Ryan declares it to be a bye week.)

Regardless of how the AFC title game plays out, the order of the AFC divisional games opens the door for the possibility that the Ravens-Bills game will feel ever bigger than it already does.


The Chiefs are going to ride the proverbial hot hand at left tackle.

Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Kansas City will start Joe Thuney at the position over D.J. Humphries.

Thuney took over as starting left tackle in Week 15 after Humphries suffered a hamstring injury the week before. An All-Pro left guard, Thuney stabilized a position that had been in flux for the Chiefs all season.

Humphries had recently signed with the club at that point, coming off an ACL tear.

The Chiefs also started Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris at left tackle this season.

Head coach Andy Reid said on Thursday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes has trust in both Thuney and Humphries to do the job.

With Thuney set to start at left tackle, Mike Caliendo is likely to start at left guard.


The Chiefs’ left tackle position has been in flux throughout 2024, though things did get settled late in the season with Joe Thuney shifting one place over from left guard.

Veteran D.J. Humphries was signed to handle the role but suffered a hamstring injury during the Week 14 win over the Chargers and didn’t return until Week 18. He started and played 94 percent of the offensive snaps in that contest.

While he has likely made a decision as to who will start at left tackle between Thuney and Humphries, head coach Andy Reid didn’t disclose that information in his Thursday press conference.

“Yeah, I’m going to do the same thing. I’ve taken it this far. I’m going to get with the coaches and just make sure what they want and where we’re at with that, but they’ve both been in there,” Reid said. “They’ve both been in there and done a nice job. It’s a good — that’s a positive thing.”

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who at one point in the season was clearly frustrated with the lack of protection afforded by the offensive line, has influence over Reid’s choice.

“Listen, [Mahomes] likes both guys,” Reid said. “He trusts those guys and that’s where he’s at, but I always keep that in mind for sure.”

The Chiefs defeated the Texans 27-19 in Week 16 with Thuney at left tackle.


It was fitting that the NFL dropped the “Super” from “Wild Card Weekend.” The final audience numbers were less than super.

Via the Associated Press, the six games played from Saturday to Monday night averaged 28.3 million per game. That’s a 9.3-percent drop from last year’s 31.2 million average.

It didn’t help that five of the games weren’t close. The absence of significant drawing cards like the Cowboys, Chiefs/Taylor Swift, and Lions hurt the final numbers, too.

The regular-season games averaged 17.5 million, a 2.2-percent decline from 2023.

The next test comes on Saturday and Sunday. Last year’s divisional round drew 40 million viewers on average for the four games, an all-time high. The return of the Chiefs and Lions to the mix will help, and Sunday night’s Ravens-Bills game features a showdown between the top two 2024 MVP candidates, quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (the likely winner) and Josh Allen.


Cornerback Jaylen Watson is expected to return to action for the Chiefs on Saturday, but wide receiver Mecole Hardman is unlikely to join him in the lineup.

Hardman has been listed as doubtful to be activated from injured reserve in time to play against the Texans. Hardman is returning from a knee injury and was a limited participant in practice all week.

Watson is officially listed as questionable to return from his ankle injury, but multiple reports on Thursday indicated that he is expected to be part of the defense for Kansas City.

No one else on the Chiefs has an injury designation, which means defensive tackle Chris Jones and left tackle D.J. Humphries are also expected back in action to kick off the team’s bid for a third straight Super Bowl title.


If the Texans are going to take out the Chiefs, they need running back Joe Mixon to take it up a notch.

That might be a challenge. He’s questionable for Saturday’s game with an ankle injury.

The injury apparently happened at practice on Wednesday, since he wasn’t on Tuesday’s report. And he didn’t practice at all on Thursday.

Mixon rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s Wild Card win over the Chargers. He also fired up a victory cigar and chided Rex Ryan, who called the game a “bye week” for L.A.

Mixon has experience when it comes to facing the Chiefs in the playoffs. He had 115 yards from scrimmage in a 2021 AFC Conference Championship win over the Chiefs.

Also questionable are linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), receiver Robert Woods (hip), and tight end Teagan Quitoriano (calf).