HOUSTON – Texans starting tight end Pharaoh Brown is out against the Los Angeles Chargers due to hip and shoulder injuries.
Brown was questionable on the injury report.
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With Brown and tight end Brevin Jordan out with an ankle injury, the Texans elevated tight ends Jordan Akins and Mason Schreck from the practice squad to fill in behind veteran tight end O.J. Howard.
The Texans also deactivated offensive tackle Austin Deculus (ankle), cornerback Isaac Yiadom (thigh), linebacker Jake Hansen, defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour and defensive end Demone Harris.
A former third-round selection, Akins hauled in a four-yard touchdown last week against the Chicago Bears.
Although the Texans didn’t win the game, Akins contributed three catches for 31 yards, including a 25-yard reception, on four targets as he replaced injured tight end Brevin Jordan in the lineup. This marked Akins’ first touchdown in two seasons. Jordan is out again with an ankle injury, and tight end Pharaoh Brown is questionable with hip and shoulder injuries. Brown aggravated scar tissue in his shoulder from a previous injury with no structural damage revealed by a magnetic resonance imaging exam, per a league source. With two tight ends elevated, it’s not a good sign for Brown’s availability.
“It was wonderful, man,” Akins said this week. “Definitely a lot of stress off my back and off my chest. It had been a minute since I had been in there, almost two years.”
Akins rejoined the Texans after being released by the New York Giants in the wake of signing a one-year deal with them as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Akins caught 24 passes for 214 yards on 33 targets in 13 games and three starts last season for the Texans.
The first pass from quarterback Davis Mills to Akins was incomplete. Akins thought a defensive penalty was missed on the play.
“I think it was a hold, but you know how it goes,” Akins said. “The timing could have been a little bit better. Other than that, I thought, ‘I got to make it up and I made a big play. Thank God, the ball was in the air and I went up and made a play. I just got to keep stacking.”
He has 117 career receptions for 1,291 yards and four touchdowns, all with the Texans
Two seasons ago, Akins caught 37 passes for 403 yards and one touchdown.
“It all started here, old stomping grounds,” Akins said. “Very excited to get back here, new coach, new offense. I’m just happy, very humble. I think the sky is the limit for this team.”
Aaron Wilson is a Pro Football Network reporter and a contributor to KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
