Texans' Dameon Pierce: Decreased snap count in loss
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Pierce rushed twice for two yards and returned one kickoff for 42 yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to Green Bay.
Pierce dropped from 18 snaps last week to just seven Sunday. His higher usage in Week 6's win over New England was attributable to the blowout nature of the game, and that it was starter Joe Mixon's first game back after missing four games due to an ankle injury. Mixon was on the field for 42 snaps Sunday, limiting Pierce to a marginal role in the backfield along with Dare Ogunbowale (15 snaps, one carry, one target).
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Week 7 Waiver Priority List
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Pierce returned from a four-game absence with a hamstring injury in Week 6 at New England and had eight carries for 76 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 1 yard on one target while playing behind Joe Mixon. It's worth stashing Pierce in deeper leagues as the handcuff for Mixon, and Mixon has already missed three games with a high-ankle sprain. Pierce is worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Scores 54-yard TD in return
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Pierce (hamstring) rushed eight times for 76 yards and a touchdown while catching his only target for one yard in Sunday's 41-21 win over the Patriots.
Pierce's return from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him since Week 1 coincided with Joe Mixon's (ankle) first action since Week 2. Mixon reclaimed the lead role and scored two touchdowns before Pierce broke off a 54-yard touchdown run to round out the scoring in the fourth quarter. Pierce immediately reclaimed the No. 2 role from Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers, but it would likely take another injury to Mixon for Pierce to earn double-digit touches moving forward. With Mixon healthy for a Week 7 road game against the Packers, Pierce will likely be left trying to make the most of limited opportunities again.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: No Week 6 injury designation
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Pierce (hamstring) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Pierce, who hasn't played since Week 1, is poised to return to action Sunday after logging full practices Thursday and Friday. In his looming return, Pierce's Week 6 fantasy upside hinges largely on the availability of Joe Mixon (ankle), who is listed as questionable but trending toward being available versus New England, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Full practice participant
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Pierce (hamstring) was a full practice participant Thursday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Pierce is ready to play for the first time since Week 1, while Joe Mixon (ankle) remains uncertain for Sunday's game against the Patriots after returning to practice as a limited participant Thursday. If Pierce plays and Mixon doesn't, it could mean Pierce stepping in ahead of Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale as the temporary leader of Houston's backfield.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Trending toward return
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Pierce (hamstring) was spotted at practice Wednesday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.
Pierce, who hasn't played since Week 1, returned to practice last Friday, and his presence at Wednesday's session is a positive indicator with regard to his Week 6 status. While Joe Mixon (ankle) remained sidelined for the Texans' opening practice this week, head coach DeMeco Ryans told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston that he expects Pierce to be back in the fold for Sunday's game against the Patriots. Pierce thus could move into a key role in Houston's backfield this weekend if Mixon is unavailable.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Won't play Sunday
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Pierce (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Pierce practiced Friday for the first time since sustaining a strained hamstring ahead of Week 2 action and approached the contest listed as questionable. With both Pierce and Joe Mixon (ankle) still sidelined, look for Cam Akers to continue to lead Houston's backfield versus Buffalo, with Dare Ogunbowale a candidate to see change-of-pace work and J.J. Taylor and British Brooks available to provide the Texans with Week 5 backfield depth.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Likely to miss another week
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Pierce (hamstring) is listed as questionable but isn't expected to play in Sunday's game versus Buffalo, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Pierce hasn't played since Week 1, when he logged just nine offensive snaps and carried three times for 16 yards against Indianapolis. His return Sunday would be well-timed since Joe Mixon has been ruled out for a third straight week due to ankle injury, but Pierce doesn't look as though he'll be able to help buoy the Texans' running back corps. Cam Akers is likely to lead Houston's backfield again, with Dare Ogunbowale serving as his primary backup. Official word on Pierce's status will arrive when the Texans release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Misses another practice
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Pierce (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Fellow RB Joe Mixon (ankle) also wasn't practicing for a second consecutive day, which clouds the duo's status as Sunday's game against the Bills approaches. If neither of them are available this weekend, Cam Akers once again would be in line to lead Houston's backfield, with Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and practice squad member J.J. Taylor also in the mix versus Buffalo.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Not practicing yet
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Pierce (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pierce was present at practice and wearing a jersey, but he didn't have his helmet and didn't end up participating in drills. With Joe Mixon (ankle) also absent again Wednesday, the Texans had Cam Akers, Dare Ogunbowale and J.J. Taylor taking backfield snaps, as was the case during Sunday's win over Jacksonville.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Won't play Sunday
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Pierce (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Pierce, who didn't practice this week, thus is slated to miss his third straight game. Meanwhile, top back Joe Mixon (ankle) returned to a limited practice Friday and is questionable for the contest. Pierce's next chance to see game action will arrive Sunday, Oct. 6 against the Bills.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Still not practicing
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Pierce (hamstring) wasn't present for the initial portion of Friday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
As a result, Pierce's status for Sunday's game against the Jaguars remains cloudy. On the plus side for the Texans, Joe Mixon (ankle) was on the field Friday, suggesting that he may be closer to a return to action than Pierce. Houston's upcoming injury report thus is slated to add further context with regard to the composition of the team's Week 4 backfield. In the absence of both Mixon and Pierce last weekend, Cam Akers drew the start at running back versus Minnesota.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Remains sidelined Thursday
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Pierce (hamstring) didn't participate in practice Thursday, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
With both Pierce and Joe Mixon (ankle) poised to log back-to-back DNPs, what, if anything, they are able to do Friday will be telling with regard to their chances of facing the Vikings on Sunday. In the event that both are unavailable this weekend, Cam Akers would be in line to lead the Texans backfield versus Minnesota, according to Wilson.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Still not practicing
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Pierce (hamstring) is not participating in Wednesday's practice, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pierce is dealing with a mild hamstring strain, per Wilson. The injury popped up during practice last Thursday, and after being limited in that session, Pierce has been a non-participant in the Texans' two practices since. With Joe Mixon (ankle) also not practicing and considered day-to-day, Pierce could see significant opportunity if he manages to get healthy in time for Sunday's road game against Minnesota.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Won't play Sunday
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Pierce (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday night's game against the Bears.
After missing Friday's practice, Pierce was deemed questionable for the Texans' Week 2 contest. With the running back unavailable versus Chicago, Dare Ogunbowale, Cam Akers and British Brooks are available to handle backfield snaps that don't go to top back Joe Mixon.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Officially questionable for Week 2
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Pierce (hamstring) did not practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Pierce missed Friday's practice after a hamstring issue restricted him to a limited session Thursday. His status may not be made official until roughly 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff, but after he handled just three carries Week 1 compared to Joe Mixon's 30, Pierce is unlikely to be considered in most fantasy lineups even if he's active. Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and Cam Akers could handle expanded reserve roles Sunday if Pierce is ruled out.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Not spotted at Friday's practice
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Pierce (hamstring) is not present at the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Pierce popped up on the injury report Thursday as a limited practice participant, and it looks like he'll be downgraded to DNP on Friday. That bodes poorly for the backup running back's chances of suiting up Sunday night versus the Bears. Joe Mixon is firmly entrenched as Houston's starter, but Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and Cam Akers will all be options to pick up depth snaps if Pierce can't go.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Distant second on depth chart
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Pierce had three carries for 16 yards in Sunday's 29-27 win over the Colts in Week 1.
There was little uncertainty that Pierce would back up Joe Mixon, but the disparity in their workloads was a little jarring. Mixon was on the field for 59 snaps compared to Pierce's nine, which was actually fewer than Dare Ogunbowale (13). However, Pierce and Mixon were the only running backs to carry the ball. As long as Mixon stays healthy, there may not be a path to much fantasy value for Pierce.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Needs better blocking
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Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans said Thursday that the blocking in front of Pierce has contributed to his 1.1 yards-per-carry average during two preseason games, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston reports.
Pierce's adjustment to a new zone-based scheme was slow, perhaps non-existent, in 2023, but he's been comfortable during camp. Ryans reiterated the good work Pierce has done in practice, but the results in game action have not been there. The coach indicated the back needs to get more opportunities carrying the ball, but with Joe Mixon projected to start, giving Pierce volume carries will be difficult. Pierce may have a reduced role in the backfield, but the Texans feel he can contribute in the return game.
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Texans' Dameon Pierce: Starts Saturday
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Pierce started and gained five yards on four carries in Saturday's preseason game against the Giants. He also returned one kickoff for 18 yards.
Pierce got a second straight preseason start and played the first quarter with Joe Mixon not suiting up. Mixon, who opened camp with a quadriceps injury, returned to practice last week but was held out Saturday. The running back rotation following Pierce was Dare Ogunbowale, Cam Akers, J.J. Taylor and then Jawhar Jordan.
