HOUSTON – Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter is making progress in his recovery from a scapula fracture that is expected to sideline him at least a few more games, including Sunday’s road game against the Green Bay Packers, according to league sources.
Lassiter suffered the scapula injury against the Buffalo Bills and is expected to miss multiple games this month as he recovers from this relatively uncommon shoulder blade issue, according to league sources.
Lassiter is expected to ultimately make a full recovery this season with rest and rehabilitation and no surgery planned, per sources. He was replaced by cornerback D’Angelo Ross in the starting lineup against the Patriots. Ross started his first career game and played well, allowing two receptions for eight yards on three targets and had three tackles.
Lassiter suffered the injury during the final series of the Texans’ 23-20 win over Buffalo when he landed badly on a play where wide receiver Keon Coleman was flagged for offensive pass interference, finishing the game.
The scapula is the bone located in the back of the shoulder between the shoulder and the spine. Common symptoms include pain, immobility of the arm and affected area, swelling and bruising.
Texans veteran safety Jimmie Ward’s aggravated groin injury is expected to also prevent him from playing Sunday against the Packers, missing his second consecutive game, per sources.
Ward initially suffered a shoulder stinger on the first play of the game against the Bills. After he went back into the game, the team captain injured the groin injury that prevented him from playing the previous week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Imaging confirmed the damage sustained. Ward hasn’t returned to practice. Eric Murray and Calen Bullock started against the Patriots and both intercepted rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Ward, 33, has played in four games this season and recorded 17 tackles, one for a loss with one pass defensed.
The defense will be tested Sunday against Packers quarterback Jordan Love, one of the top passers in the NFL. Love, despite playing through a knee injury, has passed for 1,131 yards and 12 touchdowns with six interceptions. He passed for a career-high 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns with 11 interceptions last season in his first year as a starter.
“Going against Jordan Love this week, it will be the best quarterback we’ve seen this year,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “So, it’ll be a really, really tough matchup, really good team. Green Bay has done a great job this year. They’re explosive on offense. And they pose a lot of challenges not only with Love, but the guys he’s getting the ball to. Jayden Reed has done a great job.
“They do a good job moving him all around whether he’s getting the ball in the backfield or in the passing game. It’s just an explosive offense. They run the ball well with (Josh) Jacobs, just a well-coached team. So, we have our hands full just as all weeks. But it’ll be a really big-time matchup for us and I know our guys are excited about it.”
Not having Lassiter is a blow to a secondary that will lean heavily on Pro Bowl alternate corner Derek Stingley Jr. Behind Ross, the Texans have cornerbacks Ka’dar Hollman and Kris Boyd to fill in and primarily operate on special teams.
Photo: Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
A second-round draft pick from Georgia, Lassiter has started every game and has recorded 15 tackles, two for losses, an interception of Chicago Bears rookie quarterback and top overall pick Caleb Williams and three passes defensed. He missed a tackle against Bills rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman and allowed a 49-yard touchdown pass last Sunday.
Lassiter has a 58.0 pass coverage grade, according to Pro Football Focus analytics, in 180 coverage snaps. Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 9 of 24 passes against Lassiter for 193 yards.
Lassiter had a 90.2 pass coverage grade on seven targets with two catches allowed, the one interception that counted and a 0.0 passer rating against him, according to Pro Football Focus analytics, against the Bears.
There were a lot of tangible reasons why the Texans were so confident in their decision to immediately plug in and play Lassiter.
The second-round draft pick has excelled in man-to-man coverage, applying sticky skills in mirroring receivers’ routes. Lassiter is ultra-competitive for the football, intercepting passes and disrupting others. And Lassiter, true to his form in the Southeastern Conference for an elite college defense, is a willing and hard-nosed tackler.
Lassiter is emblematic of what Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio want from their entire rookie class.
Selected 42nd overall and signed to a four-year, $9.014 million contract that includes a $3.376 million signing bonus, Lassiter has lived up to high expectations.
“It was really cool to see Kamari, the work that he’s putting in, really cool to see him reap the benefits of that,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the Chicago game. “Getting a pick is a matter of not just him, but it’s the rush, speeding up the quarterback and it’s Kamari having really good hands. That was a difficult catch to make as well. So, it was a really nice play by him.
“Man, credit to him. The kid has been consistent. I talk about it all the time. He’s been consistent where he needs to be every single play and he doesn’t press to make plays. Some guys get in the spot and they try to press to make a play, make a play and then you end up putting yourself in a bad position. He’s in the right position all the time and he benefitted from being able to make a pick.”
Lassiter yielded the lowest amount of passing yards last season in college football, according to Pro Football Focus analytics. He did a great job shadowing and limiting the production of first-round wide receivers Malik Nabers (LSU, Giants) and Xavier Legette (South Carolina, Carolina Panthers).
“Just to use Kamari as an example, Kamari was hardened by three years in Athens,” Texans executive director of player personnel James Liipfert said at the start of the season. “Really good program, kind of knew what we were getting from a worker standpoint and the guy just showed up and, really, he’s been the same guy since Day One. He’s done a really nice job.”
Ward’s contract was extended by one year through the 2025 season at the start of the season.
It’s a one-year, $10.508 million contract extension.
The contract, which includes a $5.25 million signing bonus, $8.75 million total guaranteed, a fully guaranteed $1.5 million base salary this year and $2.75 million in 2025 with $2 million of it guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap, ensures the hard-hitting defensive back will be with the defending AFC South champions for a third year next season.
Ward originally signed a two-year, $14.5 million maximum value contract as a free agent a year ago to join the Texans that included a $4 million signing bonus and $8.5 million total guaranteed.
Ward, is a former 49ers first-round draft pick from Northern Illinois.
He played in 10 games last season for the Texans and recorded 50 tackles and one interception before being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
For his career, Ward has recorded 518 career tackles, eight interceptions, six forced fumbles, two defensive touchdowns, two fumble recoveries, 12 tackles for losses and five quarterback hits with 48 passes defensed.
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair left the game Sunday with a knee injury, eventually ruled out after initially going back into the game and then being replaced by backup Neville Hewitt.
Al-Shaair, signed to a three-year, $34 million contract during free agency, has been one of the Texans’ top defensive players and was voted a team captain. Al-Shaair, before going back in the game in the second half, ran on the sidelines under the supervision of trainers.
Al-Shaair, who finished with three tackles and forced one fumble, was replaced by Hewitt and he had seven tackles. After the game, Al-Shaair was limping and walking under his own power.
“Yeah, Azeez is getting evaluated with a knee,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He tried to come back, but we’ll see how he progresses throughout the week.”
Texans Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil aggravated a lingering ankle injury and was replaced by rookie offensive tackle Blake Fisher. Tunsil’s injury is not regarded as serious and will continue to be managed throughout the week.
Texans starting linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, who entered Sunday as the team’s leading tackler, is in the NFL concussion protocol after suffering a head injury late in the game.
If To’oTo’o and Al-Shaair are unavailable for Sunday’s road game against the Green Bay Packers, the Texans’ immediate options include Hewitt, Jake Hansen and Del’Shawn Phillips. Christian Harris has not been designated for return yet from a strained calf that has kept him out since he re-injured it during training camp. Once Harris returns, he will likely need a ramp-up week to get back into playing shape before he is activated to play in his first game of the season.
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.