As the Houston Texans (8-5) look to close out the 2024 regular season in convincing fashion, they may be getting some immediate help on the defensive side of the ball. Former Alabama linebacker Christian Harris, who has spent the first 13 games on injured reserve due to a calf injury, practiced on Monday and may be ready in time for this week’s match-up against the Miami Dolphins (6-7). An active Harris, the team’s third-round pick in 2022, could help fill the void left by weakside linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s three-game NFL suspension.
Texans Linebacker Practices for the First Time This Season
Have a Little Faith
The work that Harris has put in to make it back to the squad did not go unnoticed by the coaching staff. Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans stated that the LB could have an impact in the closing weeks of the 2024 campaign.
“Christian’s done an outstanding job of working off to the side,” Ryans said. “Again, our strength-and-conditioning staff and our sports-performance staff have done a great job of working with Christian. Just seeing him back out, moving around, he looks like himself physically moving around.”
Coach Ryans also noted that for Harris, just getting back into the fray with his teammates was a big leap forward.
“Missing a lot of football, it’s just a matter of him getting back in and getting those mental reps. Nothing can help you do football except playing football, so he just has to get out there and get those physical reps of hearing a call and getting lined up. But physically he looks like he’s in a really good spot.”
X-Factor On Defense
Harris, a 6’1″, 225-pound playmaker, was a standout at Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide to the CFP National Championship in 2020. Houston would eventually select him with the 75th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
He’s already had some big moments for the Texans, as well. As a rookie in 2022, he played in 12 games and registered 74 tackles. Last season, Harris appeared in 16 of 17 regular-season games, and he recorded 101 tackles, and led the Texans with 65 solo tackles.
In his lone playoff appearance, against the Cleveland Browns in 2023, Harris shined on defense. He had eight tackles (two for a loss), one sack, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown.
The Texans – known mostly for their electric offense behind quarterback CJ Stroud – have been a bit of a surprise on defense this year. The team currently ranks fourth overall in the NFL, allowing just 308.5 yards per game. They have allowed 33 touchdowns by opponents en route to standing atop the AFC South Division – two games ahead of the Indianapolis Colts (6-7).
