Will Anderson Jr. is back. That’s good news for the Houston Texans and bad news for the Tennessee Titans.
The second-year defensive end returned to practice on Wednesday and hasn’t missed a day. He was a full participant during Friday’s walkthrough and is expected to play on Sunday when Tennessee arrives for an AFC South showdown at NRG Stadium.
“We’ve been missing him the past couple of weeks,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday. “His leadership style, his play style, his demeanor all around. So it’s good to have him back at practice.”
Anderson, the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Month, left during the first quarter of Week 9’s loss to the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football” with an ankle injury. While he returned three different times for four plays in the second quarter, Houston elected to rest him for the second half.
#Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr., back from ankle injury Sunday against #Titans on if he’ll have a snap counts ‘I know I’m active and I’m playing’ @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/yabUCh8cje
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 22, 2024
He hasn’t played since. The Texans went 1-1 during that span with a comeback loss against the Detroit Lions and a double-digit victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Fully healthy, he comes back at the right time to help Houston potentially clinch a 5-0 record in the division before the bye week following a showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 1.
“I’m excited to be back,” Anderson told reporters Friday. “Just to be back out there with the guys. I was trying my best to hurry up and get back. I’m good now.”
It’s a long shot, but a surging December could put Anderson back in the running for Defensive Player of the Year recognition. He had 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss through the first nine weeks, both ranking among the top three.
Although the pass rush will welcome Anderson back with open arms, four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter has picked up the slack in the former Defensive Rookie of the Year’s absence.
#Texans Will Anderson Jr. said he’s going to be active this Sunday against the #Titans, returning after a 2-game absence from a left ankle injury.
“I know I’m playing.”
— Sam Warren (@samwarren_3) November 22, 2024
Hunter, who leads the NFL in pressures and had two sacks in the win over the Cowboys on Monday, is now tied for the team lead in sacks with Anderson.
Houston (7-4) is also expected to be without Denico Autry, who’s missed practice all week with a knee injury suffered in Arlington. Defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, who missed Monday’s matchup in the Lone Star Showdown, isn’t expected to play because of a knee injury.
The Titans (2-8) have allowed the fifth-most sacks this season with 33. Second-year quarterback Will Levis often holds the ball for too long, leading to the eventual 27 sacks recorded.
Kickoff between the AFC South foes is scheduled for noon CT.
