The Cleveland Browns are one of six NFL teams with an undefeated record in home games entering Week 10, and their chances of extending that streak just got better based on Friday’s injury report.
The Browns will host a banged-up Texans team that has already ruled out edge rusher Danielle Hunter, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and left guard Keylan Rutledge.
Will Anderson, Houston’s superstar pass rusher, also left Thursday’s practice with an ankle injury, was a nonparticipant on Friday, and is listed as questionable along with starting right tackle Trent Brown (wrist).
Cleveland, meanwhile, has no major injury concerns. Top wide receiver Denzel Boston was listed as questionable with a toe injury, but the rookie practiced on Friday and is trending toward playing. The only Browns starter ruled out for Sunday is safety Ronnie Hickman with a concussion, but the Browns are deep at that position; second-round rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is slated to start Sunday’s game alongside veteran Grant Delpit.
The Browns felt like legitimate 4.5-point home underdogs for this game, especially after Houston demolished the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9. But if Anderson joins the Texans’ inactives list on Sunday, the Browns could find themselves in prime position to pull off another upset.
Texans could be missing exactly what they needed to exploit the Browns' biggest weakness
The Texans were shaping up to be an extremely tough matchup for Cleveland, and they probably still are. But their defense potentially being down its top two pass rushers, along with Al-Shaair on the second level, changes everything.
Anderson enters Week 10 as the NFL leader in sacks with 9.5. As a team, Houston moved into a tie for first place with the Minnesota Vikings last week.
No quarterback, meanwhile, has been sacked more than Deshaun Watson, who’s been taken down 33 times in eight games.
Keeping Watson upright will be one of the keys to this game regardless of who’s rushing off the edges. The Texans are one of the few teams in the NFL who have a worse rushing attack than the Browns — Houston is 29th, Cleveland is 25th — and it would behoove the Browns to play this game from ahead and force quarterback C.J. Stroud to throw from the pocket against Denzel Ward and their elite secondary.
Al-Shaair’s absence is also pivotal. Without him, the Texans could have to move Henry To'oTo'o to middle linebacker or lean on a part-time player like Wade Woodaz for Sunday's game.
There could be openings in the middle of the field for head coach Todd Monken to exploit with tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and shifty wideout KC Concepcion. To'oTo'o is a solid linebacker for the Texans, but he’s been in and out of the lineup due to injuries himself this season and has struggled in pass coverage.
According to Pro Football Focus, To'oTo'o has surrendered 179 yards after the catch and two touchdowns in coverage while giving up a 152.5 passer rating when targeted.
Houston enters this game with a 3-5 record, but this should be a step up in weight class from teams like Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Tennessee for the Browns. Not many people outside of Northeast Ohio will be giving Cleveland a chance, but the Texans’ injury trouble could have a major impact on this game.
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