Texans defensive end Denico Autry and safety Jaylen Reed will both return to practice this week after starting the season on reserve lists, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Their 21-day return window will officially open on Tuesday when the Texans hold their first practice of the weeks. Autry and Reed will need to be activated by the end of that period; if not, they will revert to a reserve list for the rest of the season. Returning to practice as soon as they were eligible is a good sign that neither player will be subject to that worse-case scenario.
Autry was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the beginning of training camp as he recovered from a 2024 knee injury that lingered into this season. He played through it in 2024, appearing in 10 games (two starts) after a six-game suspension sidelined him to start the year. The injury affected Autry’s production, which took a significant dip relative to the rest of his career.
Houston’s defensive line has otherwise been healthy to start the season, so Autry can take his time ramping up in practice before officially starting his 12th NFL season.
Reed, a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, sprained his knee in training camp and was placed on injured reserve with a return designation during final roster cuts. The Texans are thin at safety after releasing C.J. Gardner-Johnson, so Reed would offer some depth upon his return. However, the rookie is untested against NFL-caliber competition after missing the preseason and will be unlikely to see the field upon his return outside of special teams work.