“Yeah, he’s progressing,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said of Mixon “It’s like all the guys that are working through stuff. He’s working his tail off every day and trying to get healthy as fast as he can.”

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans was noncommittal on whether Mixon can play this week Wednesday. He indicated that running back Dameon Pierce, who practiced the past two days, expected to return to play Sunday against the New England Patriots after missing the past four games with a strained hamstring. Pierce was upgraded to full participation the past two days and has no injury designation.

“For Joe and his injury, we will still evaluate that week to week,” Ryans said. “We don’t know, as of right now, I can’t give you that answer, but we will see how Joe improves over the week. He is definitely been improving week to week. He’s been a great job attacking his rehab so we will see where he is as the week goes on. Joe is out because of that, the hip drop tackle, and the NFL is doing a great job of communicating for an entire league of how we want to tackle, how we should tackle.

“And we’re trying to get that out of the game. I think some guys have been fined for making those illegal tackles, but the fine doesn’t get your guy back soon enough. So, it still hurt us that Joe was out and we just want to make sure, as a league, we’re doing a better job of eliminating the hip drop tackle, make sure we’re running our feet as defenders and making sure we just get that out of the game.”

Texans rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter, one of the top defensive rookies in the NFL and the team’s top draft pick, hasn’t practiced and will miss Sunday’s game due to a shoulder injury, per a league source.

He was later officially ruled out.

The Texans signed Ka’dar Hollman off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad and also have Myles Bryant, D’Angelo Ross, Kris Boyd and starter Derek Stingley Jr. on the 53-man roster. Ross took first-team defensive snaps this week and is expected to start against the Patriots in rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s first NFL start, per league sources. Hollman is another option because of his height and how he held up last season against Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London in a start. Hollman is expected to play on special teams.

Veteran safety Jimmie Ward is expected to miss at least one game, if not longer, per sources, after aggravating his groin injury Sunday against the Buffalo Bills and being ruled out for the game. Rookie safety Calen Bullock is preparing to start in place of Ward opposite Eric Murray. Ward went to the hospital for further examination Sunday after playing in the game and re-injuring his groin after being examined initially for a shoulder stinger in the blue medical tent, then being checked out for a groin injury. Ward was officially ruled out Friday.

Wide receiver Robert Woods (foot) didn’t practice again Friday and he is expected to miss the game, according to a league source. Woods is in a protective walking boot to aid the healing process, per a source.

Woods was later officially ruled out.

Texans veteran defensive end Derek Barnett (shoulder, questionable) is expected to play Sunday against the Patriots, per a league source.

Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.

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