The Houston Texans moved Jake Hummel to injured reserve before their Week 3 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, sidelining him for at least four games. Hummel sustained a groin injury in the previous game against Cincinnati and missed six straight team practices.
His absence covers the Colts game, a Week 4 home meeting with the Dallas Cowboys, and road games against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The move leaves Houston with four linebackers on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list before the season has reached three games.
E.J. Speed has a significant offseason quad injury that could keep him out for all of 2026. K.C. Ossai started the season on injured reserve, while Henry To’oTo’o was placed there after hurting his shoulder in the fourth quarter against Buffalo in Week 1.
Five linebackers remain on the 53-man roster: Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher. Hummel has mainly played special teams and has 150 career defensive snaps. Hill was recently promoted from the practice squad, and first-year picks Woodaz and Fisher could see expanded defensive and special-teams duties.
Houston could add or elevate another linebacker, but Kenneth Murray, the former Dallas Cowboys linebacker on the practice squad, was unavailable for the Colts game because the team had already completed its elevations. SI.com published the report.
