The Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs kicks off on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 18, with a rematch from Week 16 of the regular season between the No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs and the No. 4 seed Houston Texans.
Houston is coming off an impressive 32-12 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card. The Texans are looking for their first road playoff win in franchise history and first trip to the AFC Championship Game.
The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are looking for their seventh straight appearance in the AFC Championship. It would also mark the sixth time in that span that the Chiefs would host the championship game as they look to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls.
Here’s a look at the injury news and inactives for Saturday’s games at Arrowhead.
Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs Inactives
Houston Texans Inactives
- OG Nick Broeker
- OG Kendrick Green
- DT Kurt Hinish
- DE Jerry Hughes
- RB J.J. Taylor
- LB Devin White
Kansas City Chiefs Inactives
- S Deon Bush
- CB Keith Taylor
- DE Joshua Uche
- DE Malik Herring
- OL C.J. Hanson
- OL Wanya Morris
- OL Ethan Driskell
Latest Injury Report News and Updates
The Texans’ initial final injury report had no players listed as out. An update on Friday, Jan. 17, showed the Texans had downgraded tight end Teagan Quitoriano (calf) from questionable to out. The team decided not to activate Quitoriano from the injured reserve.
Quitoriano logged a full week of practice, but the Texans are holding off on bringing him back on the active roster.
Wide receiver Robert Woods (hip), linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), and running back Joe Mixon (ankle) are all listed as questionable. Woods did not practice all week while Mixon was added to the injury report on Wednesday as a limited participant before missing practice on Thursday.
Guard Shaq Mason looks set to return from his knee injury. He returned to practice on Wednesday and was a full participant on Thursday. He does not have a game designation for Saturday.
DL Denico Autry (knee), TE Dalton Schultz (shoulder), OL Juice Scruggs (ankle), EDGE Will Anderson Jr. (hand/elbow), and OT Nick Broeker (hand) were also listed on the report this week but are good to go for Saturday.
For the Chiefs, only two players have a game designation. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman, looking to return from injured reserve with a knee injury, was limited in practice all week and is listed as doubtful. Cornerback Jaylen Watson (ankle) is questionable but got in a full week of practice.
Among those on the report but without a game designation include DB Chamarri Conner (shoulder), OT D.J. Humphries (hamstring), QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle), CB Trent McDuffie (knee), RB Isiah Pacheco (rib), WR Nikko Remigio (wrist), RB Carson Steele (hip), OT Jawaan Taylor (knee), and DT Chris Jones (calf).
Houston Texans Projected Starting Lineup
Here is the projected starting lineup for the Texans based on their current depth chart.
- Quarterback: C.J. Stroud
- Running back: Joe Mixon
- Fullback: Andrew Beck
- Wide receiver: Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie III
- Tight end: Dalton Schultz
- Left tackle: Laremy Tunsil
- Left guard: Tytus Howard
- Center: Jarrett Patterson
- Right guard: Shaq Mason
- Right tackle: Blake Fisher
- Defensive ends: Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter
- Defensive tackles: Tim Settle Jr., Folorunso Fatuski
- Middle linebacker: Azeez Al-Shaair
- Weakside linebacker: Christian Harris
- Strongside linebacker: Henry To’oTo’o
- Cornerbacks: Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter
- Safeties: Eric Murray, Calen Bullock
- Kicker: Ka’imi Fairbairn
- Punter: Tommy Townsend
- Long snapper: Jon Weeks
- Kick returner: Dameon Pierce
- Punt returner: Tank Dell
Kansas City Chiefs Projected Starting Lineup
Here is the projected starting lineup for the Chiefs based on their current depth chart.
- Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes
- Running back: Isiah Pacheco
- Wide receiver: DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy
- Tight end: Travis Kelce
- Left tackle: Joe Thuney
- Left guard: Mike Caliendo
- Center: Creed Humphrey
- Right guard: Trey Smith
- Right tackle: Jawaan Taylor
- Defensive end: George Karlaftis, Mike Danna
- Defensive tackles: Chris Jones, Tershawn Wharton
- Middle linebacker: Nick Bolton
- Weakside linebacker: Drue Tranquill
- Strongside linebacker: Leo Chenal
- Cornerbacks: Jaylen Warren, Trent McDuffie
- Safeties: Justin Reid, Bryan Cook
- Kicker: Harrison Butker
- Punter: Matt Araiza
- Long snapper: James Winchester
- Kick returner: Nikko Remigio
- Punt returner: Nikko Remigio