Jake Hummel will miss at least four games after Houston placed the linebacker on injured reserve ahead of its Week 3 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. The groin injury occurred in the previous game against Cincinnati, and Hummel missed six straight team practices.
His absence covers the Colts contest, a Week 4 home game against the Dallas Cowboys, and trips to play the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
The move leaves Houston with four linebackers either on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list before the season reaches three games. E.J. Speed is dealing with a serious offseason quad injury that could sideline him for all of 2026.
K.C. Ossai opened the season on injured reserve, while Henry To’oTo’o was placed there after a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of the Texans’ Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills.
Hummel has mainly played special teams and has totaled 150 defensive snaps in his career. The active roster now includes Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Wade Woodaz and Aiden Fisher at linebacker. Hill recently moved up from the practice squad, while first-year draft picks Woodaz and Fisher could see larger defensive and special-teams roles.
