HOUSTON – Texans veteran tight end Dalton Schultz is good to go Sunday against theTennessee Titans after he returned to practice Friday morning..
He dealt with a lingering shoulder injury and an illness that sidelined him Thursday and Wednesday.
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Schultz has no injury designation and a full practice. This practice activity continues his trend of the coaching staff and trainers giving him a few days to heal up and then play in the game.
Schultz is a valuable part of the offense who has 45 catches for 438 yards and one touchdown this season. That includes seven catches for 53 yards on 11 targets and his first score of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a comeback victory last Sunday.
Schultz has good timing and chemistry with backup quarterback Davis Mills, who will start again with starter C.J. Stroud still in the concussion protocol with symptoms, not practicing and already ruled out for Sunday along with nickel Jalen Pitre with a concussion and symptoms and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn due to a right quadriceps injury.
Stroud, Pitre and Fairbairn were officially ruled out along with tight end Harrison Bryant (neck, shoulder).
Schultz is having a resurgent season after dipping to 53 catches for 502 yards and two touchdowns last season after catching 59 passes for 635 yards and five scores in his first season in Houston. He signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension last offseason.
Stroud is still dealing with symptoms and remains under the NFL concussion protocol, preventing him from returning to practice. He is still experiencing symptoms, including a sensitivity to light last week and headaches this week.
Mills ran for the game-winning touchdown on a scramble against the Jaguars. He also passed for 292 yards and two touchdown passes, overcoming an early interception.
“I thought just poise, consistency, never too high, never too low, great command, just really steady,” Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “It’s exactly what he’s been ever since my exposure around him and I’m sure well before me here.”
A former third-round draft pick from Stanford who was the Texans’ starting quarterback until the Texans drafted Stroud second overall out of Ohio State in 2023 when he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Mills improved to 6-19-1 as a starter. He completed 27 of 45 passes. For his career, Mills has passed for 6,619 yards, 37 touchdowns and 26 starts in 41 games and 27 starts.
He has built a good relationship with Caley, who has been impressed with his work ethic.
“He’s got great command, total command,” Caley said. “He’s into it. He’s very smart, very hardworking. He prepares. He works at it. He’s here early, stays late, watches a lot of tape. So, first class in every way and really cares about the position. There was nothing holding him back at all from that standpoint.”
Right tackle Tytus Howard practiced for the third day in a row and has officially passed the NFL concussion protocol. He is returning Sunday against the Titans.
The Texans could insert Myles Bryant at nickel with Pitre out. Candidates to play safety include Bryant, rookie Jaylen Reed and veteran Jalen Mills, who’s expected to be elevated from the practice squad. Bryant was signed to the 53-man roster Wednesday.
Due to depth issues, the Texans may elevate corner Ajani Carter.
Cornerback Damon Arnette was ruled out with an ankle injury that was first listed on the injury report Friday.
Right guard Ed Ingram returned to practice on a limited basis this week from a knee injury that kept him out against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is questionable on the final injury report and regarded as a question mark for Sunday.
If Ingram can’t go, then the Texans could start Trent Brown again at right tackle and shift Tytus Howard inside to right guard.
At left guard, Jarrett Patterson is expected to start again after a solid performance last week.
Fairbairn remains out, and Matthew Wright, his replacement, was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad Saturday under the expectation that Fairbairn will need more than one week to heal up. Wright made his lone field goal attempt and all of his extra points
And tight end Cade Stover, as expected, returned to practice after being designated for return from injured reserve after breaking his foot against the Los Angeles Rams in the season-opener and undergoing surgery. Stover has made a sound recovery and is moving well. He was limited. He is expected to be activated as soon as Saturday based on how he’s practiced this week.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KRPC 2 and click2houston.com