Key addition to Texans injury report eases pressure off of struggling Jaguars defense

The Jacksonville Jaguars did a good job of preventing opponents from scoring in the first two games of the 2024 NFL season. However, they gave up 47 points to the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. Their defense will be looking to bounce back against the Houston Texans in Week 4, and they might've just gotten a massive break.

Aaron Wilson of KPCR 2 reports that second-year wide receiver Tank Dell is dealing with a chest injury and probably won't suit up for the matchup against the Jaguars.

Now, it's not a given that Dell will miss the bout. On the off chance he does play, he may not be at 100 percent. To make matters worse, at least from the Texans' perspective, is that the former Houston Cougar isn't their only receiver who could potentially sit out the bout.

Nico Collins also popped up on the Houston injury report as a limited participant while he deals with a hamstring injury. On the other hand, a knee injury prevented running back Joe Mixon from partaking in practice, so the Texans' offense might not be at full strength come Sunday.

A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Dell was a revelation in his campaign season, hauling in 47 receptions for 709 yards with seven touchdowns before a broken fibula cut his season short. This year, he's caught nine passes for 99 yards in three games. If the Jaguars don't have to face him, they'll get a massive break. Then again, they're also dealing with several injuries of their own.

Leaving aside that cornerback Tyson Campbell is on injured reserve, Jacksonville could be thin at the position in Week 4. Jarrian Jones exited the loss to the Bills with a shoulder injury. He was listed as limited Thursday. Montaric Brown got the same designation while he deals with a chest injury.

The good news is that the Jags will probably get Darnell Savage back. He's missed the past two games with a quad injury and was limited in practice but head coach Doug Pederson feels optimistic about his chances of playing in Week 4. On the other hand, if Brown isn't good to go, Tre Flowers will likely fill in for him.

The Jaguars defense will get a break if they don't face Tank Dell and Nico Collins

The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently riding a three-game losing skid and are a 6.0-point underdog for Week 4. Based on how badly the Buffalo Bills embarrassed them, they will have trouble breaking into the win column against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Having said that, their chances of coming out on top will increase if Tank Dell doesn't suit up and they take advantage of the matchup.

In the first two weeks, the Jaguars had one of the best defenses in the league, giving up an average of 15 points per game. Granted, it was against a pair of teams that don't currently look great, but they showed they could execute. Even if Jacksonville doesn't have Brown for Week 4, they have the talent to potentially pull off the upset.

The truth is that it's currently hard to get behind the Jags because they've underperformed this season. That said, a win against the Texans would be a good step in the right direction. It would also help cool down Doug Pederson's seat.

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