HOUSTON – Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and rookie starting cornerback Kamari Lassiter practiced every day this week and are on track to return for a Sunday game against the Tennessee Titans.
Anderson missed the past two games with an ankle injury.
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“I’m excited to be back,” Anderson said Friday after practice. “Just to be back out there with the guys. I was trying my best to hurry up and get back. I’m good now.”
Will Anderson be on a modified snap count as he was last year when he had two sacks in 12 defensive snaps against the Titans in his first game back from a high-ankle sprain?
“I don’t know what they have planned, but I know I’m active and I know I’m playing,” Anderson said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity and to get back out there with the guys and go perform with them.”
#Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr., back from ankle injury Sunday against #Titans on if he'll have a snap counts 'I know I'm active and I'm playing' @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/yabUCh8cje
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 22, 2024
Lassiter missed a win over the Dallas Cowboys with a concussion and has cleared the mandatory NFL concussion protocol.
He has no injury designation along with Anderson, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (hip), linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee).
Anderson has been a dominant force all season, harassing quarterbacks relentlessly and setting the edge as an aggressive, stout run-stopper.
Now, the former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and consensus All-American and third overall pick from Alabama is back after missing games against the Detroit Lions and Cowboys. Anderson was moving well at practice over the past two days.
Missing time was rough on Anderson, who missed games last December with a high-ankle sprain.
“It was sad,” Anderson said. “I felt like I was on a roll, but God had other plans. So, I’m not mad at that. I think getting this little rest in, getting this break, getting back right. I know something bigger and better is going to come.
“It’s always very hard, man. I’ll be able to keep myself calm, cool and collected because I want to be out there so bad, but they’ve been holding the fort down and they’ve been rushing their butts off. It was a beautiful thing to see, especially just taking a step back and looking at how hard these guys work.”
Having Anderson back in the defensive lineup provides a big boost as a pass rusher and as a run-stopper.
“It’s really good to get Will back,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after practice Wednesday. “We’ve been missing him the past couple weeks. Just his leadership style, his play styles, his demeanor all-around, just miss his leadership. So, it’s good to have him back out at practice.”
#Texans Pro Bowl defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/jyGfKWQfVZ
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 22, 2024
Anderson caught some friendly fire when linebacker Neville Hewitt landed on his foot during a road loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Lassiter practiced for the second week in a row.
Defensive end Denico Autry (knee, oblique) defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (foot) and offensive tackle Blake Fisher (concussion) didn’t practice Friday. Fatukasi and Fisher were officially ruled out. Autry is listed as questionable.
Anderson was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month in October. He had a career-high three sacks against the New England Patriots, chasing down rookie quarterback Drake Maye relentlessly.
He had 17 tackles, an NFL-high seven for losses, five sacks, one pass defensed that was intercepted, a fumble recovery that sealed a victory in October. He led the AFC in sacks and ranked second in the NFL in October. He had 12 stops at or behind the line of scrimmage, second-most in the NFL.
Anderson has 7 1/2 sacks, a career-high, and 11 tackles for losses. He has 39 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats.
“The expectation is always the expectation,” Anderson said. “I just want to keep going where I was at before the injury. Like I’m not going to go out there and try to be Superman, I’m not going to go out there doing anything out of the ordinary. I’m going to be Will Anderson, go out there and play for my teammates. I play for thi steam and just have fun.”
#Texans Friday practice inside NRG Stadium in advance of Sunday game against #Titans @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/lV8Y2vl1AR
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 22, 2024
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A former Bronko Nagurski award winner, Lombardi award winner and consensus All-American for the Crimson Tide, Anderson recorded seven sacks and had 22 quarterback hits and 64 pressures as a rookie as he became the third player in franchise history to be named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year as he joined the fraternity of Brian Cushing and Ryans.
Between Anderson and Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, the formidable pass rushing tandem has combined for 14 sacks for the 7-4 Texans.
“Man, he’s taught me so much,” Anderson said. “Every time I see him, I give him a big hug. I don’t have any brothers, so all of these guys have been in this group. I look at them as my big brothers. He just kept me composed and kept me grounded these last two weeks. I keep getting better. He kept me on edge: ‘Hey, don’t get lax. When you get lax, your body starts to wind down a little bit. Keep going, keep going.’ And he’s helping me out a lot.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
