Texans expect Derek Stingely Jr. to see 'extensive action' against Bengals
Before the season started, even the most diehard of Houston Texans fans couldn't have told you that Week 10's showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals would have playoff implications.Alas, he we are. The 4-4 Texans are currently holding the ninth spot in the AFC playoff picture, with the Bengals holding onto the final seed at No. […]
Before the season started, even the most diehard of Houston Texans fans couldn't have told you that Week 10's showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals would have playoff implications.
Alas, he we are. The 4-4 Texans are currently holding the ninth spot in the AFC playoff picture, with the Bengals holding onto the final seed at No. 7. A win over the Bengals would give the Texans the tiebreaker and, officially, the No. 7 seed. Meaning, they'd make the playoffs if the season were to end after the potential victory.
Obviously, the Texans are going to need every player available if they want a shot at beating the red-hot Bengals and fortunately for them, former top-3 pick, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has been officially activated to the 53-man roster and is expected to play "extensively" on Sunday, per KPRC2's Aaron Wilson. The only thing that will keep Stingley Jr. off the field is if he encounters a setback during warm-ups.
Stingley Jr.'s return could come at the perfect time
This comes on top of the news that the Bengals will probably be without both Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase. It's safe to say Stingley Jr. would love to line up across his former LSU teammate in Chase, but it's probably also safe to say it's not a bad idea to miss out on a matchup up with arguably the NFL's best receiver in the first game back from injury.
Either way, DeMeco Ryans is sure to have a good game plan cooked up for the Bengals offense, which currently looks like one of the NFL's best units thanks to the play of Joe Burrow. Stingley Jr.'s return should bolster that game plan and make it even more manageable for the Texans defense.
Per Wilson, the Texans also expect veteran wideout Robert Woods to return from the foot injury that caused him to miss the last two games. That's a huge boost for CJ Stroud and the offense.
And, when considering the litany of injuries the Texans are currently dealing with, it only emphasizes the importance of both players' return. Either way, Sunday's game is a pivotal moment in what's been an exciting Texans season, thus far.
