After playing more on special teams than on defense during the regular season, inside linebacker Barrett Ruud will be a starter in the postseason.
As we noted would likely be the case thanks to the Texans’ injuries at the position, the team has officially announced that Ruud is starting today against the Bengals. During the regular season Ruud averaged just six snaps a game on defense, but in the playoffs he’ll be out there regularly. Inside linebackers Tim Dobbins, Darryl Sharpton and Brian Cushing are all on injured reserve for the Texans.
The only surprise on the Texans’ inactives is fullback Tyler Clutts, who played all 16 games in the regular season but will not play in today’s playoff opener. The Texans’ other inactives are CB Roc Carmichael, CB Stanford Routt, G Antoine Caldwell, T Andrew Gardner, G Cody White and NT Terrell McClain.
The Bengals’ inactives are WR Dane Sanzenbacher, CB Jason Allen, S Chris Crocker, HB Daniel Herron, DT Devon Still, DT Brandon Thompson and TE Richard Quinn.
