{Live Watch} NFL Houston Texans VS New York Giants


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The New York Giants (0-2) will travel to play the Houston Texans (0-2) on the road this Sunday in what is as close to a must-win game for both franchises as you will find in the NFL.

While the Giants would certainly like to be playing this game at home, it was a bit surprising to see Las Vegas oddsmakers assign them as a full-touchdown (7-point) underdog to the Texans, according to OddsShark.

The Giants struggled to move the football in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys in their 20-13 loss on the road. However, the Giants defense held the Cowboys passing game to just 87 yards passing for the rest of the game after their opening drive touchdown where quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 72 passing yards. The defense also pitched a shutout against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half of the Giants' 20-15 Week 1 loss at home.


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The Giants were just a few inches on a few plays away from defeating a Jaguars team that looks like the AFC's best team before dropping a goose egg against the Cowboys in large part due to mental breakdowns on their offensive line and an off-character game from quarterback Eli Manning. Is that enough to drop them down as 7-point underdogs against this version of the Houston Texans?

The Texans entered the 2018 regular season with a lot of hype tied to the return of defensive end J.J. Watt and quarterback Deshaun Watson from injuries. However, neither Watt or Watson has played the dominant football many expected through the first two weeks. Like the Giants, the Texans offensive line is struggling mightily to allow the offense to move the football and Watson has struggled. On the flip side, consecutive major injuries to Watt appear to have taken their toll -- at least through the first two weeks -- he hasn't been the same player who we know as the Defensive Player of the Year from his past.

Today, we are going to be breaking down the injury report for both teams and we will update this throughout the week so check back.
Giants: Eli Apple, cornerback

Wednesday: Did NOT participate

Thursday: Did NOT practice

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UPDATE: Apple is unlikely to suit up for Week 3 against the Texans after missing Thursday.

Apple is dealing with a groin injury he suffered vs. the Cowboys and it forced him to leave the game and miss parts of the second half.

This is a BIG one of the Giants in Week 3. Unlike the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans have two dynamic wide receivers to worry about on the outside. Texans No. 2 Will Fuller is one of the fastest wide receivers in the NFL, and if he has to match up against journeyman Giants cornerback B.W. Webb all game, Houston is likely to pick on this matchup and find success in doing so.

According to Pro Football Focus, Apple has graded out as the No. 9 cornerback in the entire NFL (of those who have played at least 40 snaps) so far through Week 2. The light has finally turned on for him and the hope is that this injury does not linger. 

"Just got to be smart," Apple said about his injury to Giants reporters on Wednesday. "Got to take it day-by-day, and listen to the coaches, the trainers, listen to your body, and come back stronger."

There was no specific play where Apple suffered the injury, but it got worse as the game continued and he hasn't opened up and run on it since.

"It kind of just wore on me as the game went on, and kind of got real sore, and just was something that was definitely hurting me at the time and hampering me from running my full speed," Apple said.
Giants: Evan Engram, tight end

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Wednesday: Limited Participant

Thursday: Limited Participant

UPDATE: Head coach Pat Shurmur said Engram should be fine for Week 3 vs. the Texans.

Engram showed up on the injury report to start the week and this was a bit of a surprise. Engram has an ankle injury that looked a lot worse than it actually was when he suffered it against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. After missing just one play, Engram returned to the game and played through the injury. When you look back at the snap counts, Engram played nearly every offensive snap in Week 2. 

Having said that, ankle injuries can be tricky and this is something we will monitor during the week.
Giants: Olivier Vernon, outside linebacker

Wednesday: Did NOT Participate

Thursday: Did NOT Participate

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UPDATE: Vernon is likely to miss another game.

Olivier Vernon has still not returned to practice and his high-ankle sprain continues to linger. The good news is that Vernon did more at practice for the Giants on Wednesday then he has since he originally injured his ankle in late August following the Giants' third preseason game against the New York Jets. Vernon seemed to be moving well at practice on Wednesday while doing individual drills with a trainer on the side, but he did not do enough for the Giants to classify him as a limited participant at practice.

The goal for the Giants and Vernon is to upgrade him to a limited participant on Thursday and/or Friday. If Vernon can get in some limited practices, the Giants can consider using him as a situational pass rusher vs. the Texans this Sunday. So far through two weeks, Houston's offensive line -- specifically their offensive tackles -- have struggled mightily. The Houston offensive line is right there behind the Giants as one of the NFL's worst through two weeks.

The Giants desperately need their top pass rusher back -- the Giants are last in the league with an Adjusted Sack Rate of 1.7 percent, according to Football Outsiders.
Giants: Connor Barwin, outside linebacker

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Wednesday: Did NOT Participate

Thursday: Limited Participant

UPDATE: Barwin is trending up and should play vs. the Texans. The Giants may limit his snaps and give some to Lorenzo Carter.

Barwin missed Wednesday's practice. We are unsure if this is a new injury to his knee, the same one he suffered (and was kept undisclosed) during the preseason, or just general soreness and a day off for the veteran outside linebacker. No matter what the cause, it would be a big blow to the Giants if Barwin can't suit up on Sunday. This is especially true if the Giants are once again without Olivier Vernon. In this scenario, rookie third-round draft pick Lorenzo Carter would be tasked with playing nearly every snap.

Barwin played 41 and 37 defensive snaps for the Giants, respectively, in Weeks 1 and 2.
Giants: Kaelin Clay, punt returner

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Wednesday: Limited Participant

Thursday: FULL Participant

UPDATE: The Giants ST coordinator has confirmed Clay will return punts in Week 3.

Clay injured his ankle in Week 2 and did not return to the game. The Giants had one more punt return opportunity late in the game and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. took it. The Giants signed wide receiver and return man Stacy Coley off of the Minnesota Vikings waivers on Wednesday. If Clay continues to be sidelined, the Giants could look to release him later this week and use his roster spot on a cornerback or offensive tackle. In that scenario, Coley would take over as the primary punt returner. 

The Giants are unlikely to keep both Cole and Clay on the roster. 
Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, outside linebacker/defensive end

Wednesday: Limited Participant

Thursday: Limited Participant

UPDATE: Clowney has told Texans reporters he WILL play vs. the Giants.

Clowney is one of the best -- if not the best -- defensive player on the Texans. Clowney missed Week 2 with a back injury and now he has been upgraded to limited participation. His status is trending up for the Texans' Week 3 game against the Giants and this is bad news for New York's untrustworthy offensive line.
Texans: Will Fuller, wide receiver

Wednesday: Limited Participant

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Thursday: Limited Participant

Fuller is dealing with a hamstring injury, much like he has dealt with at times throughout his NFL career, but this one is clearly much less severe as Fuller did not miss any time in Week 2 (despite missing Week 1). Fuller would present a very difficult matchup for the Giants if cornerback Eli Apple (groin) is forced to miss Week 3.
Texans: DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver

Wednesday: Limited Participant

Thursday: Limited Participant

Hopkins is dealing with a very minor knee injury that is not expected to keep him out of Week 3 for his matchup against Janoris Jenkins.
Texans: Ryan Griffin, tight end

Wednesday: Limited Participant

Thursday: FULL Participant

The Texans tight end is dealing with a hip injury.
Texans: Kayvon Webster, cornerback

Wednesday: Limited Participant

Thursday: Limited Participant

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The recently signed cornerback is dealing with an Achilles injury.
Texans: Sammie Coates, wide receiver

Wednesday: Limited Participant

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Thursday: Limited Participant

Coates is dealing with a hamstring injury but could be a healthy scratch anyway even if he returns to a full practice participant.
Texans: Keke Coutee, wide receiver

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Wednesday: Limited Participant

Thursday: Limited Participant

The rookie draft pick is dealing with a hamstring injury.