Buccaneers and Texans Announce Inactives Ahead of Monday Night Football

The Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers finalized their rosters ahead of their Week 2 Monday Night Football matchup, with both teams entering the game missing key contributors. For Houston, running back Dameon Pierce was listed as a healthy scratch, leaving the Texans without their primary rushing option. The Texans also ruled out wide receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios due to hamstring issues, while center Jake Andrews was sidelined with an ankle injury. Quarterback Graham Mertz and defensive tackle Tommy Togiai were also declared inactive.

On the Buccaneers’ side, offensive lineman Luke Goedeke, who was questionable earlier in the week, was cleared to play. However, Tampa Bay is without left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin, both recovering from recent surgeries. Other Buccaneers listed as inactive included wide receiver Tez Johnson, running back Josh Williams, safety Rashad Wisdom, and tight end Devin Culp. To bolster depth on the offensive line, Tampa Bay promoted Michael Jordan from the practice squad.

As the game approached, analysts projected a close contest, with Houston entering as a slight favorite by roughly 2.5 points. Many predictions leaned toward a lower-scoring outcome, with the total expected to fall under 42.5 points given recent offensive struggles and the absence of several key playmakers. Player outlooks suggested that Houston tight end Dalton Schultz could see an expanded role in the passing game, while wide receiver Nico Collins was highlighted as a likely offensive leader for the Texans. On Tampa Bay’s side, rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka was seen as a potential contributor alongside established targets.

Both teams entered the contest looking to build momentum under their starting quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield for the Buccaneers and C.J. Stroud for the Texans, in what is part of the NFL’s Monday night doubleheader schedule.

Sources: NBC Sports, CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Athletic, Fox Sports, Action Network, Covers, PrizePicks