The Houston Texans already knew they’d be down one tackle ahead of their Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, but now both options will miss the road trip.
According to the Texans’ inactive list, left tackle Aireontae Ersery will miss Saturday’s contest at SoFi Stadium after undergoing surgery to fix his thumb. A piece of metal hardware was inserted into Ersery’s thumb to aid the healing process after suffering an injury in Week 16’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Veteran offensive Trent Brown was expected to miss Saturday’s game due to a knee injury. The tackle did not practice at all during a short week after leaving during Houston’s final drive in Sunday’s win over the Raiders.
Right now, the plan is to move Blake Fisher over to left tackle in place of Ersery. Veteran lineman Tytus Howard will move back to the outside to left tackle, thus allowing Jarrett Patterson to play left guard.
Fisher, a former second-round pick, stepped in at left tackle for Ersery against Las Vegas and he is preparing to play Saturday. With the Texans this season, he has primarily operated as an extra tackle in their jumbo package with six offensive linemen, but was expected at one point to be the Texans’ future long-term right tackle.
With a victory over the Bolts, Houston will inch toward a third AFC South title in as many seasons. It would also automatically clinch a playoff berth as no less than a wild-card team.
Here’s a look at both team’s inactive list for Sunday’s contest.
Houston Texans inactive list
- OT Aireontae Ersery
- OT Trent Brown
- WR Braxton Berrios
- DE Solomon Byrd
- CB Alijah Huzzie
- LB Jamal Hill
Los Angels Chargers inactive list
- WR Derius Davis
- CB Benjamin St-Juste
- S RJ Mickens
- RB Kimani Vidal
- OLB Kyle Kennard
- OL Jamaree Salyer
- TE Tyler Conklin
Saturday’s game will air on NFL Network at 3:30 p.m. CT on Sunday. According to BETMGM, the Texans open as a 2.5-point underdog on the road over the Bolts, with the over/under set at 41.
The Texans, who currently remain a half-game back in the AFC South standings, could at least tie the Jacksonville Jaguars with a win on Sunday. If anything, Houston should still be one step closer in clinching a playoff spot, even if it means being left out of the division race for another week.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Will OT Aireontae Ersery play vs. the Chargers? Texans inactive list
