In anticipation of Monday night's wild-card playoff encounter, both the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers enter the contest with near full rosters, indicating a significant advantage in depth and preparedness for this crucial showdown.
Earlier on game day, the Houston Texans, known for fielding the NFL’s highest-ranked defense this season, received encouraging news as reserve safety Jaylen Reed was activated from the injured reserve list. Reed, sidelined since late November due to a forearm injury, strengthens the Texans' defensive backfield just hours before kickoff.
Despite this positive development, several Texans players will remain sidelined. This group includes wide receiver Braxton Berrios, quarterback Graham Mertz, linebacker Christian Harris, offensive guard Juice Scruggs, running back Jawhar Jordan, and cornerback Alijah Huzzie, all designated inactive for the matchup.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, crowned champions of the AFC North, also bring nearly complete personnel to the field. Notably, wide receiver DK Metcalf returns to action after serving a two-game suspension resulting from an incident involving a fan in Detroit on December 21. Metcalf’s presence is expected to bolster the Steelers' offensive options significantly.
However, the Steelers will be without several players listed as inactive. These include running back Kaleb Johnson, wide receiver Roman Wilson, quarterback Will Howard, defensive lineman Logan Lee, outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, offensive tackle Jack Driscoll, and cornerback Tre Flowers.
Both franchises enter this high-stakes game with considerable motivations. The Steelers are determined to break a cycle of playoff disappointments, specifically aiming to end a streak of six consecutive postseason losses. The Texans, on the other hand, pursue a historic milestone, striving to clinch the first-ever road playoff victory in the franchise's history.