Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with a quad injury.

Backup running back Dare Ogunbowale is now handling kickoff duties. The Texans scored in the third quarter and went for two, a likely signal of what's to come, at least in the immediate future. Ogunbowale's first kickoff went to about the 5 and was returned to around the 30.

Texans running back Dameon Pierce not practicing for third day in a row due to ankle injury suffered in fourth quarter against Panthers and he's not expected to play Sunday against Buccaneers Devin Singletary has run with first offense all week and is prepping to start.

Related Players: Mike Boone, Dare Ogunbowale

Singletary has actually outperformed Pierce on a per-carry basis 3.0-to-3.7 but the running game has been less than inspiring to this point in the season. Pierce should take the majority of the touches in Week 9, which makes him an RB2 option.

Texans RB Dameon Pierce played every snap of the first two drives with starters, including all 3rd-downs. A change from last year, when Pierce only played on about 25% of 3rd-downs.

Devin Singletary then came on and played every snap of the third drive with starters.

Related players: Mike Boone, Dare Ogunbowale

It's tough to read into how much this will matter once the season starts. There are many in the fantasy world who are saying to stay away from Pierce, probably more when it comes to his dynasty value. Singletary is likely to have a big role in the offense as well, but if he takes away passing down value - that would obviously hurt Pierce. The good news is there isn't a whole lot to worry about fantasy value-wise behind Pierce and Singletary.

Texans standout rookie running back Dameon Pierce suffered a relatively mild high-ankle sprain Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys that is regarded as likely to sideline him for at least one game, according to league sources.

Related players: Dare Ogunbowale, Rex Burkhead, Eno Benjamin

The Texans have actually released Benjamin, according to reports, leaving Ogunbowale and Burkhead as the team's main backs for at least Week 15, perhaps longer. While they are likely to split the work in some way, probably no one would be surprised if Burkhead got a majority of the work given the Texans past usage of him. As for Pierce, and as the story said, high-ankle sprains tend to linger, but this isn’t regarded as severe. According to the story, a source characterized Pierce's status as fluid and predicted Pierce could return within a range of one to two weeks. However, there obviously isn't a need to rush him back so owners will want to monitor.

Texans currently have a running back room of Dameon Pierce, Rex Burkhead, and Dare Ogunbowale.

Related players: Royce Freeman, Marlon Mack

The team will have to make at least one more move for a back, one would think. Those who follow the team said Freeman outplayed Mack in camp and they just signed Mack back to the practice squad today. Ogunbowale could be a sneaky RB on the Texans should he survive and remain the team's RB3. Pierce, the rookie, looks to have a clear path as the RB1 this season.

Running back Marlon Mack, released Tuesday, is planning to re-sign with the Texans’ practice squad.

Related players: Dameon Pierce, Rex Burkhead, Dare Ogunbowale, Royce Freeman

Pierce is poised to take over the lead role for the Texans with Burkhead the likely compliment. Those who follow the team said Freeman just had a better camp than Mack, so Mack appears buried on the depth chart for now.

Marlon Mack getting cut doesn't change Dameon Pierce's outlook at all.

Related players: Royce Freeman, Rex Burkhead, Dare Ogunbowale

The point was it doesn't change Pierce possible RB1 status because Mack got out-played by Royce Freeman this preseason. The tweet went on to say what remains to be seen is how much Burkhead plays on passing downs when the Texans are trailing.

RB Marlon Mack signed with Houston in the offseason and projects to be near the top of the running back depth chart alongside Rex Burkhead. He was brought in because of his success in five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. "Marlon has been a productive player in the league and we look at his best years he's had," Smith said after Wednesday's OTA. "Sometimes you need a change, change of scenery, a new team."

"I know he's fit in well with our group," Smith said. "We feel like we have a plan for him and we like the running back position, not just him."

Related Players: Dare Ogunbowale, Royce Freeman, Darius Anderson, Dameon Pierce

Mack has more production than any back not named Burkhead on the Texans roster and has been positively boasted by Lovie Smith. That is Smith's M.O. and is not a coach that pulls punches when lifting his players. Mack can be an interesting late-round pick with 15-carry upside on a team looking for consistency at the running back position.

The Jacksonville Jaguars put running back James Robinson on injured reserve because of an Achilles injury and placed 11 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday.

Related players: Carlos Hyde, Dare Ogunbowale

The noncontact injury occurred in the first quarter when Robinson came out of his stance in the backfield. He immediately fell to the ground and grabbed his left foot. He was helped off the field and then taken into the locker room via cart with a towel draped over his head, the story said. With Hyde on the IR, Ogunbowale should again take over as the team's RB1. He carried 17 times for 57 yards and a TD in Week 16 while adding two catches for 15 yards.

Jacksonville has placed running back Carlos Hyde and safety Rayshawn Jenkins on injured reserve. With just three weeks left in the season Hyde and Jenkins are done for the year.

Related players: James Robinson, Dare Ogunbowale, Nathan Cottrell

Hyde suffered a concussion in the Week 14 loss to Tennessee and missed Sunday’s loss to Houston. He finished 2021 with 253 yards on 72 carries along with 12 catches for 65 yards, the story said. Ogunbowale and Cottrell are next up on the depth chart behind Robinson, who should get a bulk of the work going forward.