The Houston Texans have moved linebacker Jake Hummel to injured reserve because of a groin injury, adding to the team's growing list of absences at the position before its Week 3 game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Hummel's injury dates to Houston's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He did not practice during six consecutive team sessions beginning with the previous week's practices, and the team had already listed him as unavailable for at least one more game.
The injured-reserve placement means Hummel will miss at least the next four games. That stretch includes the Colts matchup, a Week 4 home game against the Dallas Cowboys, and road games against the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
Houston now has four linebackers either on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list. E.J. Speed has a long-term quad injury suffered during the offseason that could keep him out for the 2026 season. K.C. Ossai began the season on injured reserve, while Henry To'oTo'o went on the list after sustaining a shoulder injury against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1.
Hummel has primarily contributed on special teams and has played 150 defensive snaps during his career. With him unavailable, five linebackers are healthy on the 53-man roster: Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher. Hill recently joined the active roster from the practice squad, while Woodaz and Fisher are first-year draft picks.
