Azeez Al-Shaair was cleared to return for the Houston Texans after a first-half concussion evaluation against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, but safety Reed Blankenship was still being checked, leaving Houston’s secondary even thinner in London.
The club announced at 10:39 a.m. EDT that its linebacker was being evaluated and was questionable to return, then sent out the same update for Blankenship 11 minutes later. Early in the second half, Jonathan M. Alexander reported that Al-Shaair had passed the protocol and was expected back on the field for the next defensive series. Houston had not given a new update on Blankenship at that point.
.@ShariffLawFirm Texans Injury Update:
#6 S Reed Blakenship is being evaluated for a concussion and his return is questionable.
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 18, 2026
The Texans led 17-14 at halftime behind a sharp first half from C.J. Stroud, who completed 9 of 13 throws for 160 yards and two touchdowns before the break.
A secondary running out of bodies
Blankenship’s evaluation hit the position Houston could least afford. Jalen Pitre, who plays the nickel role, was ruled out before the trip with an AC sprain in his shoulder after he was hurt in the 26-3 win at Tennessee, and he was on Sunday’s inactive list along with running back David Montgomery (groin). Rookie Kamari Ramsey was already in line for extra snaps with Pitre down, and Blankenship’s absence would push more of the load onto young players.
Getting Al-Shaair back matters just as much. He is the leading voice in the middle of the defense, and he had sat out Wednesday’s practice with a groin issue before being active for the game. Henry To’oTo’o, practicing again in his 21-day return window from injured reserve, has not been activated, so the depth behind Al-Shaair is thin.
.@ShariffLawFirm Texans Injury Update:
#0 LB Azeez Al-Shaair is being evaluated for a concussion and his return is questionable.
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 18, 2026
The rest of Houston’s game-day list
Besides Pitre and Montgomery, the Texans made defensive end Sabastian Harsh, guard Febechi Nwaiwu, tackles Braden Smith and Nate Thomas and tight end Marlin Klein inactive. Smith, activated from injured reserve this week, was a healthy scratch, and Trent Brown started at right tackle after missing Wednesday’s practice with a knee issue. Receiver Tank Dell did not travel as he works back from the knee injury that cost him all of last season, and Woody Marks is carrying the load at running back in Montgomery’s place.
What comes next
A player diagnosed with a concussion must clear every step of the league’s protocol before he can practice fully or play again, so the coming days will decide Blankenship’s availability. Houston, 1-4 before kickoff, comes home to face the New York Giants on Sunday, October 25, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Every club’s status list is on the WhyNFL injury page, the Game Center follows the second half live, and more is on the Texans team page.
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