Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair out Sunday vs. Cowboys

Jake Hansen and Wade Woodaz are set to start.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 54m1 min read

A significant absence for Houston’s defense as its tonesetter will miss game Sunday. Via @WerderEdNFL on X

What happened: Houston is expected to turn to Jake Hansen and rookie Wade Woodaz at linebacker for Sunday's matchup with Dallas. Aaron Wilson reported Al-Shaair will miss the game with a groin strain.

Why it matters: For Houston, the loss removes one of its most productive defenders from the middle of the unit. It also pushes Hansen and Woodaz into larger roles against Dallas on a short injury timeline.

By the numbers: Al-Shaair posted 103 tackles and 2 interceptions in 16 games for the Texans in 2025. Hansen had 19 tackles in 15 games last season, and Woodaz entered the league as the No.

What to watch: Houston's final inactive list will confirm the rotation at linebacker. Sunday's workload for Hansen and Woodaz will show how the Texans redistribute snaps and communication without Al-Shaair.

Sources

@WerderEdNFL 2026-10-02T16:46:59.406193+00:00

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NFLInjuryHouston TexansDallas CowboysAzeez Al-ShaairJake Hansen

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