What happened: Running back David Montgomery (groin), safety Jalen Pitre (shoulder), offensive tackle Blake Fisher (thumb) and safety Reed Blankenship (concussion/hand) will miss Sunday's game for the Houston Texans. Wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) carries a questionable designation after missing all of 2025 and the final stretch of 2024 with a knee injury, though he is expected to make his season debut. Tight ends Dalton Schultz (quad) and Brevin Jordan (foot) along with linebacker Henry To'oTo'o (shoulder) logged full practices on Friday and are cleared for game action.

Why it matters: Houston enters the weekend at 2-4 on a two-game winning streak following a 34-31 road victory on Oct. 18, a contest in which the Texans also played without Dell, Montgomery and Pitre. Having both Pitre and Blankenship sidelined strips the defensive backfield of two key safeties, while Fisher's absence tests the offensive tackle depth. Dell's anticipated return alongside cleared tight ends Schultz and Jordan bolsters the passing attack to help offset Montgomery's absence in the backfield.

What to watch: Houston will release its official game-day inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's kickoff to confirm Dell's active status for his 2026 debut.