HOUSTON – Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr., barring an unexpected setback with his ankle injury that has lingered for the past three weeks, is expected to be back for a road season-opener against the Indianapolis Colts, according to league sources.
The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and former Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year from Alabama is trending toward being back as he’s made steady progress in his recovery. The team has been taking it slow with Anderson as a precautionary measure, but he’s doing well and has been running and working out with trainers during practice sessions on the side.
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“Yeah, we’ll see where Will is over the next couple of days,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Will has been doing really good.”
Drafted third overall last season, Anderson Jr. planned ahead for this season by adding 15 pounds of muscle through a regiment of increased healthy calories and weightlifting to bulk up to 263 pounds. The former Alabama consensus All-American played at roughly 248 pounds after being selected third overall last season. By the end of the year, he was crowned the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and named to the Pro Bowl.
Unsatisfied, though, an uncomplacent Anderson wasn’t pleased with how things unfolded in a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round. In that loss, he was held to one tackle for a loss and one hit on quarterback Lamar Jackson after recording a sack on Joe Flacco the previous week in an AFC wild-card game victory.
“By the time we got to the Ravens game, I was just like, I just can’t last,” Anderson said. “I feel like I was getting tossed around, so I kind of bulked up a little this offseason. I did keep my speed. I feel good. Some people still say I don’t even look big.”
Big is relative in the NFL, but Anderson definitely plays big. He was dominant at times as a rookie. The former Bronko Nagurski, Bednarik and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year award winner played 63 percent of the defensive snaps as an instant starter and team captain. He finished the season with 45 tackles, seven sacks, 10 tackles for losses and 22 quarterback hits.
The speed. The moves. The relentless style. None of that has changed a bit for Anderson. There’s just more of the Georgia native now.
“I think Will is very hard on himself,” defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. " We never want guys to get too big to where they can’t be good at where they are at. If Will is 400 pounds, that doesn’t help him. As long as he can still be explosive and move the way we ask him to move, then the heavier you are that obviously creates more power, more impact. I think he has done a really good job of just staying lean. He has always been such a powerful lower half guy.
“I think he is seeing some development in his upper body that is maybe going to help put that strength on for him a little bit. So, he has had a good start to camp, it is showing. Again, he is still moving the way we want him to move and being able to carry that extra weight. Sometimes guys put on weight, and they stop being as fast or as explosive. So, for him to be able to carry that extra weight and still be powerful and explosive that is hopefully going to pay dividends in the season.”
In other injury news, Texans starting linebacker Christian Harris is the defending AFC South champions’ biggest question mark for the Colts game.
Harris aggravated a strained calf after returning to practice in training camp and has been sidelined for the past few weeks.
Harris is in jeopardy of missing the Colts game and perhaps more time, according to league sources.
“We expect him back when he is ready to play ball for us,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said during training camp “A lot of guys you will see as you are here throughout there are just different sort of plans to get ready. Our goal is game one and getting healthy and stuff, so each guy has an individualized plan. So, he will be ready to go when it is time.”
Harris recorded a career-high 101 tackles last season and returned an interception for a touchdown in a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Harris is coming off his best NFL season. He became the seventh player in NFL history to record a pick-six for a touchdown and record a sack in the same playoff game since retired Texans defensive end J.J. Watt did so against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012. Harris had eight tackles, two for losses against the Browns. He had seven more tackles one for a loss and repeatedly pressured Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson in an AFC divisional round playoff loss.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has said the “sky is the limit” for Harris, a former third-round draft pick from Alabama who has run the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds.
The Texans are dealing with other injuries across the roster.
That includes veteran reserve quarterback Case Keenum. Keenum has a lingering foot injury and is a candidate for injured reserve with no decision made yet on his status, according to league sources. Although the injury isn’t regarded as a long-term issue, it’s been bothering him throughout the preseason. During the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, Keenum’s foot and other bumps and bruises forced him out of the game for examination after completing 4 of 8 passes for 32 yards and being replaced by Tim Boyle. Keenum completed 23 of 36 passes for 223 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions during the preseason.
Wide receiver Noah Brown has been out for the majority of the preseason with a sprained shoulder after undergoing offseason surgery for a torn labrum, per a league source. Brown, the Texans’ projected fourth wide receiver, is nearly recovered from the shoulder injury. It’s unclear when he’ll start practicing again.
Starting fullback Andrew Beck is still not fully recovered from a strained calf that kept him out of the preseason after being activated from the physically unable to perform list and then aggravating the leg injury.
Offensive tackle Charlie Heck has missed the preseason with a plantar fasciitis flareup that affects his foot.
Offensive tackle David Sharpe remains out with a leg injury.
Tight end Teagan Quitoriano is a candidate for injured reserve due to a strained calf suffered in the Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears.
Defensive tackles Tim Settle Jr. and Kurt Hinish are both dealing with strained calf injuries.
Cornerback Jeff Okudah, a former Detroit Lions first-round draft pick, is nearly recovered from a hip injury, per a league source.
Cornerback C.J. Henderson, a former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick, has made steady progress since injuring his ankle at training camp.
Backup safety M.J. Stewart is making progress in his recovery from a quadriceps injury.
Cornerback Kris Boyd suffered a deep leg bone bruise against the Rams with no structural damage, according to sources.
Reserve safety Brandon Hill tore his patellar tendon in his knee and is out for the entire season. He will undergo surgery and be placed on injured reserve.
Defensive end Dylan Horton enters the season on the reserve, non-football illness list.
Diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a rookie last season, the former fourth-round draft pick from TCU is in remission.
A native of Frisco, Horton played in 10 games last season and recorded 13 tackles, one for a loss and two quarterback hits.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
