The Houston Texans are set to take on the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens this weekend in the Divisional Round. With a spot in the conference championship on the line, it will be paramount for the Texans to field all of the playmakers they can muster.
The team has dealt with injuries to key players all season long, and the latest injury to wide receiver Noah Brown is the most recent example of that trend. Here’s what we know about Brown and his availability as we head into the next round of the NFL playoffs.
Noah Brown Injury Update
Early in the action against the Cleveland Browns in their Wild Card matchup this past weekend, Noah Brown hit the turf with a shoulder injury and was ruled out not long after. That injury not only forced him from that game, but it has ended his season as well.
The Texans have placed Brown on injured reserve, and he will no longer be available to the team for the remainder of their playoff run.
The shoulder injury was sustained on just the second drive of the game in the team’s 45-14 win over the Browns. Brown collided with Cleveland safety Juan Thornhill and fell to the turf, and though he was able to walk off the field, he was unable to return to action.
This injury will land Brown on injured reserve for the second time this season, with the first coming from groin and back injuries earlier in the year.
Who Steps Up in Brown’s Absence?
Brown is the third wide receiver the Texans have had to put on injured reserve this year. The first two were star rookie Tank Dell and backup Jesse Matthews. That leaves the Texans short at the position as they travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.
The burden of production now falls on the shoulders of veteran WR Robert Woods and young intriguing prospect John Metchie III. Woods has been a reliable contributor for years in the NFL, with his most noticeable production coming during his time with the Los Angeles Rams.
A 2022 second-round pick, Metchie missed his rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. He was able to return for training camp in 2023 and finished his first true season with 16 receptions and 158 receiving yards.
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The best wide receiver currently on the Texans roster right now, however, is Nico Collins, who has exploded onto the scene since being paired with rookie QB C.J. Stroud. The two have created a dynamic connection, and Collins has blossomed as a result.
Look for the Texans to continue to get tight end Dalton Schultz involved as well, as they look to spread the ball around to a multitude of different pass-catching options against a stout Ravens defense.
It was never going to be an easy task to head to Baltimore and beat the No. 1 seed Ravens, but it just got that much harder with Brown out of the lineup.
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