Team news: Houston Texans

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 Houston Texans have activated WR Brandin Cooks from the reserve/COVID-19 list and is practicing Wednesday.

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.

Ron Rivera said Taylor Heinicke will start vs. Philly on Sunday, but "we'll see" beyond that.

Related players: Kyle Allen

"Will we play Kyle [Allen]? Probably. But we're going to stick with Taylor for now," said Rivera in the tweet. Rivera went on to say via the tweet, it's not "an indictment" on Heinicke, but more about wanting to see Allen play. Either way, it's not good news for Heinicke because there isn't a lot Allen is going to offer at this point.

Nico Collins will enter as the Texans top receiving option but won’t be worth more than a dart throw against the run-funneling defense of the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Houston Texans have placed WR Brandin Cooks on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

He will need two consecutive negative tests prior to Sunday to play (if vaccinated).

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.

Signs continue to point to recently-signed Garrett Gilbert starting tonight at QB for the WFT,

Related players: Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen

That decision is still pending a final round of COVID testing for Heinicke and Allen, per sources. It is a 25-minute private flight from DC to Philly, so always a chance, Schefter went on to say. However, Schefter added it's looking bleak. It's a key game for both teams in terms of the playoffs so if The WFT can get Heinicke or Allen to the game, they will likely do what they can if one or both are negative.