Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Injuries noted

Houston Texans: Tank Dell (IR-R) — The Texans ruled out Dell (knee) for Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London.; E.J. Speed (PUP-R) — Speed (quadriceps) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Texans on Sunday.; Ja'Marcus Ingram (Questionable) — The Texans activated Ingram (elbow) from injured reserve Saturday.; Graham Mertz (IR) — ir; 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.; Jake Hummel (IR) — The Texans placed Hummel (groin) on injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; Henry To'oTo'o (Questionable) — The Texans activated To'oTo'o (shoulder) from injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; Mario Edwards Jr. (IR) — The Texans placed Edwards on injured reserve Wednesday.; British Brooks (IR) — Brooks (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Friday.; Jaylin Smith (IR) — Smith (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve by the Texans on Tuesday.; David Montgomery (Out) — The Texans ruled Montgomery (groin) out for Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London.; Jalen Pitre (Out) — Pitre (shoulder) is ruled out for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Jared Bartlett (IR) — ir; Garrett DiGiorgio (IR); Zach Durfee (IR-R) — The Jaguars placed Durfee (upper body) on injured reserve Sunday with a designation to return, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.; Parker Hughes (IR) — ir; Patrick Mekari (IR-R) — The Jaguars placed Mekari (back) on injured reserve with a designation to return Sunday.; Sam Mustipher (IR) — The Jaguars placed Mustipher (undisclosed) on injured reserve Sunday.; B.J. Green II (IR) — The Jaguars placed Green (elbow) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Caleb Ransaw (IR) — The Jaguars placed Ransaw (knee) on their injured reserve list Tuesday.; Ross Matiscik (Out) — Matiscik (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Texans.; Anton Harrison (IR) — Harrison is slated to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee next week and could be out for 3-to-5 weeks or 3-to-4 months, depending on what surgeons find while performing the procedure, Michael DiRocco and Ian Rapoport of ESPN report.; Montaric Brown (Out) — Brown (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans.; Jaylon Jones (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 6: Questionable (Hamstring); practice: Limited.

QUARTERBACK

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

  7.58 Y/A

  Through 5 games in 2026, C.J. Stroud threw for 1402 passing yards, completed 64.3% of his passes and averaged 7.58 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 6-0 touchdown-to-interception line is 5 games in.

• Trevor Lawrence is the projected starting quarterback for JAX

  8.21 Y/A

  Through 5 games in 2026, Trevor Lawrence threw for 1174 passing yards, completed 67.1% of his passes and averaged 8.21 yards per attempt. Last season over 17 games he threw for 4007 yards, completed 60.9% and averaged 7.16 yards per attempt, 29-12 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 10-3 touchdown-to-interception line is 5 games in.

TRENCHES

• JAX: 114.2 rushing yards per game to HOU's 79

  35.2 YPG

  Jacksonville runs for 114.2 yards a game, matching last season's 115.1, while Houston has fallen to 79 from 108.9 over five games. The Jaguars' number looks steady and the Texans' drop is the one likely to move back up. Houston is throwing more this year, so expect the Texans to lean on the pass while Jacksonville runs to set up its offense.

• JAX: 4.08 yards per rush attempt to HOU's 3.34

  0.74 Y/C

  HOU is at 3.34 yards per rush attempt over 5 games; JAX is at 4.08 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season HOU was at 3.94 over 17 games and JAX at 3.98 over 17 games.

PASS RUSH

• HOU: 3.6 sacks recorded per game to JAX's 2.2

  1.4 SACKS

  Houston gets 3.6 sacks a game and Jacksonville 2.2, over five games each. Both rushes get home, Houston's more often. Sack totals depend on the line and quarterback across the way, which the sheet doesn't cover. Jacksonville's quarterback is the one likelier to face steady pressure, which can stall drives.

• JAX: 2 sacks taken per game to HOU's 2.8

  0.8 SACKS

  HOU is at 2.8 sacks taken per game over 5 games; JAX is at 2 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season HOU was at 2.58 over 17 games and JAX at 3.42 over 17 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• JAX: 14 points allowed per game to HOU's 22.4

  8.4 PPG

  Jacksonville's defense is giving up 14 points a game through five games, while Houston's has allowed 22.4. Both numbers are a swing from last season, when Houston allowed 17.4 and Jacksonville 19.8, so the Jaguars have improved and the Texans have slipped. Five games is a small window, and both teams may drift back toward last year's form. For this game, the side with the stingier defense is also the home team, which tilts the low-scoring script toward Jacksonville.

TURNOVERS

• JAX: 1.6 takeaways per game to HOU's 1

  0.6 TO

  Jacksonville is taking the ball away 1.6 times a game over 5 games, and Houston sits at 1 per game. Takeaways swing a lot and are among the least stable defensive stats, so expect both numbers to drift. The edge favors Jacksonville at home, but don't lean on turnover luck carrying over game to game.

• HOU: 0 interceptions thrown per game to JAX's 0.6

  0.6 INT

  HOU is at 0 interceptions thrown per game over 5 games; JAX is at 0.6 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season HOU was at 0.53 over 17 games and JAX at 0.71 over 17 games.

RED ZONE

• JAX: 33.3% red-zone scoring allowed to HOU's 58.3%

  25 PP

  Jacksonville allows a score on 33.3% of red-zone trips, Houston 58.3%, over five games each. Red-zone rates rest on few trips and swing quickly, so the Jaguars' figure likely rises. Houston drives that reach the red zone have been stalling more often against Jacksonville-style resistance than the Texans' defense manages.

• HOU: 3.6 red-zone trips per game to JAX's 2.8

  0.8 TRIPS

  HOU is at 3.6 red-zone trips per game over 5 games; JAX is at 2.8 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season HOU was at 3.18 over 17 games and JAX at 4 over 17 games.

MISMATCH

• JAX: 14 points allowed a game to HOU's 22.4

  14 VS 22.4

  Jacksonville has allowed 14 points a game over 5 games, down from 19.8 last season, while Houston has slipped from 17.4 to 22.4. Five games is enough to notice and short enough to doubt, so expect both to move a bit toward last season's numbers. At home, the Jaguars' defense is the stronger unit, and Houston's offense needs to show it can score against it.

COVERAGE

• HOU: 234 passing yards allowed per game to JAX's 266.2

  32.2 YPG

  HOU is at 234 passing yards allowed per game over 5 games; JAX is at 266.2 over 5 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 17.

• HOU: 5.06 yards per play allowed to JAX's 5.52

  0.46 Y/P

  HOU is at 5.06 yards per play allowed over 5 games; JAX is at 5.52 over 5 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 17.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• HOU and JAX are even since 2025

  1-1 SERIES

  These two traded home wins last season. Jacksonville took the Sep 21 meeting 17-10 in a low-scoring game, then Houston won a shootout 36-29 on Nov 9. Both games were one-score or close to it, and the home side won each time. Two games is a thin sample, but it points to a matchup where home field has mattered more than either team's edge.

REPLACEMENT

• Tank Dell (WR) is ir-r for HOU

  IR-R

  Dell is on injured reserve with a knee injury and was ruled out for Sunday's game against Jacksonville in London. The IR-R tag means he is on the return track, but he is not available for this game. Houston's targets go to the receivers who are healthy, so compare how the Texans' passing game has looked with and without him.

• Anton Harrison (OT) is on injured reserve for JAX

  IR

  Harrison is going on injured reserve and will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee next week, reported Oct 13. The timeline is wide open: 3-to-5 weeks if the surgery is minor, 3-to-4 months if surgeons find more. Either way he misses this Houston game. With a starting tackle out, watch how Jacksonville's line holds up in pass protection, and keep in mind that the sheet names no replacement.

• Jaylin Smith (CB) is on injured reserve for HOU

  IR

  The Texans put Smith on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on Tuesday, reported Oct 7, so he is out for this trip to Jacksonville. IR means at least a multi-week absence. The sheet names no one taking his snaps, so Houston's depth at corner is the thing to check before backing Jacksonville's receivers.

• Caleb Ransaw (S) is on injured reserve for JAX

  IR

  Jacksonville placed Ransaw on injured reserve with a knee injury on Tuesday, reported Oct 7, which rules him out against Houston. The sheet names no replacement at safety. Combined with tackle Anton Harrison also on IR, the Jaguars are thinner on both sides of the ball heading into this one.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Jalen Pitre

  Out

  Shoulder · Did not practice · Out

• Ross Matiscik

  Out

  Shoulder · Did not practice · Out

• David Montgomery

  Out

  Groin · Did not practice · Out

• Montaric Brown

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Henry To'oTo'o

  Questionable

  Shoulder · Full practice · Questionable

• Ja'Marcus Ingram

  Questionable

  Elbow · Full practice · Questionable

• Jaylon Jones

  Questionable

  Hamstring · Limited practice · Questionable

• Jourdan Lewis

  LP

  Limited practice

• Logan Hall

  LP

  Limited practice

• Emmanuel Pregnon

  LP

  Limited practice

• Will Anderson Jr.

  LP

  Limited practice

• Nico Collins

  LP

  Limited practice

• Nate Boerkircher

  LP

  Limited practice

• Dalton Schultz

  LP

  Limited practice

• Cole Van Lanen

  FP

  Full practice

• Eric Murray

  FP

  Full practice

• Trent Brown

  FP

  Full practice

• Azeez Al-Shaair

  FP

  Full practice

• Wade Woodaz

  FP

  Full practice

• Jadeveon Clowney

  FP

  Full practice

• Jake Hansen

  FP

  Full practice

• Jarrian Jones

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• HOU (1-4) at JAX (4-1), a division game

  +55 PT GAP

  Jacksonville has won three in a row and is 3-0 at home, so it comes into this one with real form behind it. Houston's 1-4 record looks worse than its -2 point differential, which says the Texans have lost close games rather than been run over. That kind of gap usually narrows over time. For a division game, weigh Houston as a tighter opponent than the record suggests, against a Jaguars team that has protected its building.

• HOU: 261.8 team passing yards per game to JAX's 220.6

  41.2 YPG

  HOU is at 261.8 team passing yards per game over 5 games; JAX is at 220.6 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season HOU was at 218.1 over 17 games and JAX at 222.3 over 17 games.

STREAK

• JAX has won 3 straight

  W3

  Jacksonville has won three in a row and sits at 4-1. The sheet doesn't list who those wins came against, so the quality of the run is unclear. At home against Houston in a division game, the form points their way, but three games is a short streak and division games often run tighter than the records suggest.

AFTER GARY

• HOU +128 → +118

  GARY +2.01PP

  Gary's number was 128; the same book now shows 118.