Texans right tackle Blake Fisher is dealing with a mild ankle sprain that will sideline him for an indeterminate amount of time, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Fisher suffered the injury in last Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Panthers and missed practice this week. His absence, if it extends into the regular season, will add another wrinkle to Houston’s plans at tackle.
The Texans already overhauled the position this offseason. They traded Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders and replaced him by aqcuiring Cam Robinson from the Vikings. Houston also signed veteran Trent Brown in free agency and drafted Aireontae Ersery in the second round of April’s draft. Along with Fisher and Tytus Howard, who combined to play every snap at right tackle in 2024, the Texans have a variety of options on either end of their offensive line.
Robinson returned to the field this week after missing a few practices with a minor leg injury. He has been splitting first-team LT reps with Ersery. The rookie has been cross-training at right tackle as well, but only lined up on the blind side during the preseason. With Brown still on the physically unable to perform list, Howard has been playing right tackle in camp and sat out both preseason games, suggesting he will start in Week 1. Fisher started both preseason games at right tackle; if his ankle has recovered by the start of the regular season, he’ll likely be the Texans’ swing tackle.
- 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) that defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos may start the season on the PUP list as he recovers from a knee injury. San Francisco has been hoping that the five-year veteran could get back on the field during training camp, but it now appears that his absence will extend into the regular season.
- Eagles backup quarterback Tanner McKee injured his finger on Monday and missed practice for the rest of the week. He won’t need surgery, per Jeff Neiburg of the Philadelphia Inquirer, but head coach Nick Sirianni could only offer a “we’ll see” when asked about McKee’s status for Week 1.
- Free agent cornerback Asante Samuel visited multiple teams this offseason with repeated links to the Dolphins given their lack of cornerback depth. However, one of Samuel’s agents “declined to say Sunday whether he has been cleared medically from a neck injury,” according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- Steelers rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon had an injury scare on Thursday night, but the first-round pick will not go on IR may only miss one game, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.