ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Although it didn’t necessarily affect the outcome of a blowout loss Sunday to the Buffalo Bills, the Texans were impacted by a difficult health situation before kickoff.
Several players were sick this week, including top backup defensive tackle Ross Blacklock testing positive and being placed on the reserve-COVID-19 list with starting linebacker Zach Cunningham placed on the list as a high-risk close contact.
Reserve cornerback Jimmy Moreland didn’t travel due to an illness and running back Scottie Phillips was ruled out due the stomach bug that was affecting the team and a few members of the coaching staff. Rookie linebacker Garret Wallow and starting cornerback Terrance Mitchell played in the 40-0 loss after dealing with illnesses during the week.
Texans coach David Culley indicated that Cunningham should be cleared to return Tuesday and Blacklock will be sidelined longer.
“Some of that was COVID, some of that was guys had a stomach virus that was kind of going around,” Culley said. “We actually had a couple of coaches with it also. It was just one of those bugs going around, kind of got us down a little bit, but that’s no excuse. That had nothing to do with what happened. We got our butts whipped.”
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 years and has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128