Texans guard Juice Scruggs expected to miss a few games with foot injury as Kenyon Green returns

HOUSTON – Texans starting left offensive guard Juice Scruggs is expected to miss a minimum of two games due to a foot injury suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Scruggs is expected to play again this season with the longest possible recovery time of three weeks, per league sources, with no surgery or injured reserve plans at this time.

Scruggs likely got hurt at the end of the Jaguars game prior to the bye. He didn’t practice Wednesday.

Scruggs, who graded out highly against the Jaguars, had moved to guard from center with Jarrett Patterson replacing him as the center when Kenyon Green was placed on injured reserve with a partially dislocated left shoulder.

Now, Green, a former first-round draft pick from Texas A&M and blue-chip recruit from Atascosita High School, has returned to practice after being designated for return. Green has made a full recovery from the shoulder injury.

The team launched a 21-day practice window Monday for Green to return to the 53-man active roster.

Green is a candidate to start against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, as is Kendrick Green, who replaced him against the New York Jets when he injured his shoulder. The Texans claimed offensive lineman Zach Thomas off waivers from the New England Patriots the first week of November. He has played in three games with two offensive snaps and 17 snaps on special teams.

Texans linebacker Christian Harris has also been designated for return and moved well during his first practice back from a strained calf that sidelined him for the first 13 games of the season. Harris participated in drills alongside linebackers Devin White and Henry To’oTo’o on Wednesday and looked fluid and changed directions smoothly.

Harris still needs to be activated to the 53-man roster after missing a significant amount of time with an injury he initially suffered in July before reaggravating the soft-tissue injury during a late August setback. Harris is fully healthy and optimism is high surrounding his potential speedy return to the lineup.

Harris’ pending return should provide a boost to a defense playing without starter and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair as he’s been suspended for the next three games by the NFL for a controversial, concussion-causing hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Al-Shaair appealed the punishment, but it was upheld by appeals officer Ramon Foster last week.

Texans nickel Jalen Pitre remains out indefinitely with a partially torn left pectoral and the surgery option is still being contemplated, per league sources. He remains on the active roster for now, but isn’t practicing as the team continues to evaluate his medical outlook.

Texans safety Eric Murray, who injured his hand against the Jaguars, practiced as did nickel Jimmie Ward, who finished the game against Jacksonville and was examined and cleared for a concussion and checked out for a leg injury.

Texans veteran defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi returned to practice from a foot injury. He has missed the past three games and was in a walking boot until just before the bye week. He has recorded 23 tackles, four for losses with three quarterback hits and one sack.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.