Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

Injuries noted

Houston Texans: Tank Dell (IR-R) — Dell (knee) agreed to take a pay cut from the Texans on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; E.J. Speed (PUP-R) — Speed (quadriceps) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Texans on Sunday.; M.J. Stewart (PUP-R) — The Texans designated Stewart (quadriceps) for return from their reserve/PUP list Wednesday.; Ja'Marcus Ingram (IR-R) — The Texans placed Ingram (shoulder) on injured reserve Sunday with a designation to return, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; Graham Mertz (IR) — Knee - ACL; Solomon Byrd (IR) — Byrd (ankle) reverted to the Texans' injured-reserve list Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.; Ali Gaye (IR) — The Texans placed Gaye (knee) on injured reserve Sunday.; Sam Hagen (IR) — The Texans placed Hagen (undisclosed) on injured reserve Tuesday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.; Jayden Higgins (IR) — ir; Dylan Horton (IR) — The Texans placed Horton (Achilles) on injured reserve Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; K.C. Ossai (IR) — The Texans placed Ossai (undisclosed) on injured reserve Saturday.; Braden Smith (IR) — The Texans placed Smith (foot) on injured reserve Tuesday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.; Kayden McDonald (IR) — The Texans placed McDonald (ankle) on injured reserve Friday.; Jake Hummel (IR) — The Texans placed Hummel (groin) on injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; Henry To'oTo'o (IR) — To'oTo'o (shoulder) is expected to miss more than four games, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.; Jadeveon Clowney (Out) — Clowney (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Colts, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.; Nico Collins (Out) — Collins (hamstring), who is missing a second game in a row Sunday at Indianapolis, has "a decent chance" to return to action in Week 4 against the Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 4, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.; Ed Ingram (Out) — Ingram (groin) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.; Trent Brown (Questionable) — questionable; Logan Hall (Questionable) — questionable

Indianapolis Colts: Cameron Mitchell (IR) — ir; Cam Taylor-Britt (Reserve-Sus) — reserve-sus; Will Mallory (IR-R) — Mallory (thumb) was placed on injured reserve by the Colts on Sunday with a designation to return, JJ Stankevitz of the team's official website reports.; D.J. Montgomery (IR) — Montgomery (abdomen) was placed on injured reserve by the Colts on Sunday, JJ Stankevitz of the team's official website reports.; Carson Towt (IR) — ir; DJ Giddens (Questionable) — questionable; Alec Pierce (IR) — Pierce (heel) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.; Ashton Dulin (Out) — Dulin (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Texans, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.; Micheal Clemons (IR) — Clemons (toe) was placed on injured reserve by the Colts on Tuesday.; Charvarius Ward (Questionable) — Ward (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

QUARTERBACK

• C.J. Stroud is the projected starting quarterback for HOU

  6.74 Y/A

  Through 2 games in 2026, C.J. Stroud threw for 627 passing yards, completed 60.2% of his passes and averaged 6.74 yards per attempt. Last season over 14 games he threw for 3041 yards, completed 64.5% and averaged 7.19 yards per attempt, 19-8 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 2-0 touchdown-to-interception line is 2 games in.

• Daniel Jones is the projected starting quarterback for IND

  6.07 Y/A

  Through 2 games in 2026, Daniel Jones threw for 376 passing yards, completed 66.1% of his passes and averaged 6.07 yards per attempt. Last season over 13 games he threw for 3101 yards, completed 68% and averaged 8.08 yards per attempt, 19-8 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 2-2 touchdown-to-interception line is 2 games in.

TRENCHES

• HOU: 85.5 rushing yards allowed per game to IND's 177

  91.5 YPG

  Houston has allowed less rushing production than Indianapolis through 2 games, while Indianapolis has been easier to run on early. With only 2 games and no opponent or game-script detail, the gap has limited proof behind it. In this matchup, it is a useful prompt to examine rushing volume and whether either offense can control the game on the ground.

• IND: 4.4 yards per rush attempt to HOU's 3.6

  0.8 Y/C

  HOU is at 3.6 yards per rush attempt over 2 games; IND is at 4.4 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 3.94 over 17 games and IND at 4.44 over 17 games.

• IND: 110.5 rushing yards per game to HOU's 92

  18.5 YPG

  HOU is at 92 rushing yards per game over 2 games; IND is at 110.5 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 108.9 over 17 games and IND at 118.1 over 17 games.

PASS RUSH

• IND: 1 sack taken per game to HOU's 3.5

  2.5 SACKS

  HOU is at 3.5 sacks taken per game over 2 games; IND is at 1 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 2.58 over 17 games and IND at 2.07 over 17 games.

• IND: 8.5 sack yards lost per game to HOU's 28

  19.5 YDS

  HOU is at 28 sack yards lost per game over 2 games; IND is at 8.5 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 20.8 over 17 games and IND at 15.1 over 17 games.

• HOU: 3.5 sacks recorded per game to IND's 2

  1.5 SACKS

  Houston has recorded 3.5 sacks per game, compared with Indianapolis at 2. Both defenses have played 2 games, so a few pressure finishes are doing a lot of work in the difference. Houston has created more early pass-rush production, but sack totals alone are too narrow to make the matchup a certainty.

PACE & SCRIPT

• HOU: 75.5 offensive plays per game to IND's 58

  17.5 PLAYS

  HOU is at 75.5 offensive plays per game over 2 games; IND is at 58 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 64 over 17 games and IND at 59.9 over 17 games.

• HOU: 28 points allowed per game to IND's 37

  9 PPG

  HOU is at 28 points allowed per game over 2 games; IND is at 37 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 17.4 over 17 games and IND at 24.2 over 17 games.

• IND: 26.5 points per game to HOU's 18.5

  8 PPG

  HOU is at 18.5 points per game over 2 games; IND is at 26.5 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 23.8 over 17 games and IND at 27.4 over 17 games.

• HOU: 32:44 time of possession per game to IND's 28:50

  3:54 TOP

  HOU is at 32:44 time of possession per game over 2 games; IND is at 28:50 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 31:49 over 17 games and IND at 29:37 over 17 games.

TURNOVERS

• HOU: 0 interceptions thrown per game to IND's 1

  1 INT

  HOU is at 0 interceptions thrown per game over 2 games; IND is at 1 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 0.53 over 17 games and IND at 0.82 over 17 games.

• IND: 0.5 takeaways per game to HOU's 0

  0.5 TO

  HOU is at 0 takeaways per game over 2 games; IND is at 0.5 over 2 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 26.

• HOU: 1 turnover committed per game to IND's 1.5

  0.5 TO

  HOU is at 1 turnovers committed per game over 2 games; IND is at 1.5 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 0.71 over 17 games and IND at 1.35 over 17 games.

RED ZONE

• IND: 83.3% red-zone scoring rate to HOU's 44.4%

  38.9 PP

  Indianapolis has cashed in when it reaches the red zone, while Houston has left more scoring chances unfinished. It is a 2-game sample, though Indianapolis is above its 65.2% last-season rate and Houston sits close to 46.3%. The key game-state angle is whether Houston can create enough red-zone trips to offset Indianapolis finishing more of its own.

• HOU: 50% red-zone scoring allowed to IND's 66.7%

  16.7 PP

  HOU is at 50% red-zone scoring allowed over 2 games; IND is at 66.7% over 2 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 26.

MISMATCH

• HOU: 285.5 pass yards a game to IND's 179.5

  285.5 VS 179.5

  Houston is throwing for 285.5 yards a game through 2 games, compared with 179.5 for Indianapolis. Houston has jumped from 218.1 passing yards last season, while Indianapolis has fallen from 227.8, so the gap is new and based on limited evidence. The Texans can press their passing advantage if it continues; Indianapolis needs enough offense to prevent Houston from owning the game through the air.

COVERAGE

• HOU: 252.5 passing yards allowed per game to IND's 337.5

  85 YPG

  Houston has allowed 252.5 passing yards per game, while Indianapolis has allowed 337.5. Both numbers cover 2 games, with no detail here on pass volume, opposing quarterbacks or game script. Houston has the lower early passing-yards figure, though yardage allowed can change fast when opponents throw more often.

• HOU: 6.2 yards per play allowed to IND's 7.3

  1.1 Y/P

  HOU is at 6.2 yards per play allowed over 2 games; IND is at 7.3 over 2 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 26.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• HOU lead the series with IND since 2025

  2-0 SERIES

  Houston has won both meetings since 2025, with one game decided 20-16 and the other 38-30. The results came once in Indianapolis and once in Houston, so the edge has traveled. Two games is a short series, but Houston has produced the stronger finish in each. Use the history as a matchup lean, not proof that this trip plays out the same way.

REPLACEMENT

• Alec Pierce (WR) is on injured reserve for IND

  IR

  Pierce is on injured reserve with a heel injury after Indianapolis placed him there Saturday. He is unavailable for Houston at Indianapolis, thinning the Colts' receiver options. The report does not say who inherits his targets, so avoid assigning that work to a specific teammate.

• M.J. Stewart (S) is pup-r for HOU

  PUP-R

  Stewart has been designated for return from Houston's reserve/PUP list after a quadriceps injury. That opens his path back, but it does not say he is active for Houston at Indianapolis or establish a defensive role. His practice progress will determine when he becomes relevant to the Texans' secondary.

• Micheal Clemons (DE) is on injured reserve for IND

  IR

  Clemons is on injured reserve with a toe injury after Indianapolis made the move Tuesday. He is unavailable against Houston, taking a Colts defensive end out of the lineup.

• Jake Hummel (LB) is on injured reserve for HOU

  IR

  Hummel is on injured reserve with a groin injury after Houston placed him there Saturday. He is unavailable at Indianapolis, with no linebacker replacement identified on the fact sheet.

• Henry To'oTo'o (LB) is on injured reserve for HOU

  IR

  To'oTo'o is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and is expected to miss more than four games. He is unavailable at Indianapolis, with no replacement linebacker named on the fact sheet.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Ashton Dulin

  Out

  Ankle · Did not practice · Out

• Nico Collins

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Ed Ingram

  Out

  Groin · Did not practice · Out

• Jadeveon Clowney

  Out

  Knee · Did not practice · Out

• Trent Brown

  Questionable

  Knee, Wrist · Full practice · Questionable

• Charvarius Ward

  Questionable

  Groin · Full practice · Questionable

• Dalton Schultz

  DNP

  Did not practice

• DeForest Buckner

  DNP

  Did not practice

• Logan Hall

  DNP

  Did not practice

• CJ Allen

  LP

  Limited practice

• Will Anderson Jr.

  LP

  Limited practice

• Matt Goncalves

  FP

  Full practice

• Jonathan Taylor

  FP

  Full practice

• Anthony Richardson Sr.

  FP

  Full practice

• Sauce Gardner

  FP

  Full practice

• DJ Giddens

  FP

  Knee · Full practice

• Reed Blankenship

  FP

  Full practice

• Keenan Allen

  FP

  Full practice

• Akeem Davis-Gaither

  FP

  Full practice

• Austin Ajiake

  FP

  Full practice

• Grover Stewart

  FP

  Full practice

• Wade Woodaz

  FP

  Full practice

• Laquon Treadwell

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• HOU: 285.5 team passing yards per game to IND's 179.5

  106 YPG

  Houston has opened with much more passing production, while Indianapolis is below its 227.8 per game last season. Houston's 285.5 is also well above 218.1 last season, but both marks cover 2 games. The matchup favors the side that can keep its preferred passing rhythm and force the other offense to chase through the air.

• HOU: 3 fourth-down attempts per game to IND's 1.5

  1.5 ATT/G

  HOU is at 3 fourth-down attempts per game over 2 games; IND is at 1.5 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 1.12 over 17 games and IND at 1.59 over 17 games.

• HOU: 24 first downs per game to IND's 20.5

  3.5 FD

  HOU is at 24 first downs per game over 2 games; IND is at 20.5 over 2 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 26. Last season HOU was at 19 over 17 games and IND at 20.7 over 17 games.

• HOU (0-2) at IND (0-2), a division game

  -2 PT GAP

  Houston and Indianapolis are both 0-2, separated by only -19 and -21 in point margin. Both have lost two straight, while Indianapolis also lost its only home game and Houston has no road result listed. In an AFC South game, neither record offers momentum to trust, so the near-identical early margins matter more than either team's win total.

AFTER GARY

• IND +1.5 → +1.5

  NO MOVE

  Gary's number was 1.5; the market closed at 1.5.