On Sunday Night Live the 3-4 Houston Texans will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a similar record. Sunday’s game will decide if the Bucs will replace the Texans in the second position of the AFC South. The scales seem to be tipping in the Bucs’ favor. Bad news coming out of the Texans’ camps will dash fans’ hopes of a resounding victory against their divisional rivals.

This comes at a time when the Texans are coming off a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Panthers. Carolina was sitting on a zero till their matchup with the Texans. The margin of loss was not very large. The Panthers scored 15 points while the Texans scored 13. But still, a defeat is a defeat.

Dameon Pierce upsets fans by skipping practice for third straight day

Aaron Wilson, a writer for KPRC 2 Houston, took to X to share distressing news for the Texans, “#Texans running back Dameon Pierce not practicing for third day in a row due to ankle injury suffered in fourth quarter against #Panthers and he’s not expected to play Sunday against #Buccaneers” Pierce had been battling an ankle injury, and without him, the Texans’ offense will be severely handicapped.

Dameon Pierce, a Pro Bowl alternate as a rookie last season, will watch his first game from the sidelines. Pierce had been undergoing treatment all week and while it is not a long-term injury, NFL sources indicated a week off could allow him to return as soon as next week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

So far, the running back has rushed for 327 yards and recorded 1 TD with 9 catches for 84 yards. This season, he has averaged 3.0 yards per carry after averaging 4.0 yards per run last season. Now Pierce relegated to the sidelines, Devin Singletary is set to take his place.

Devin Singletary to replace Dameon Pierce for upcoming game

Devin Singletary would now have to handle the bulk of the backfield work for the Texans. The Texans desperately need a win, especially after their recent loss to the Carolina Panthers, who had been winless till then. According to Texans Wire, Houston’s ground game is also the third-worst in the NFL at 3.3 yards per carry. And now with Pierce sidelined, it doesn’t look like things are going to improve anytime soon.

“Yeah, man, I’ve got to be ready,” Singletary told KPRC 2. “Hope he can go, but, if he can’t, he can’t. Ready for whatever. You know, I’ve been there before. Got to make the most out of the opportunity.” Singletary has recorded 183 rushing yards on 49 carries. He has also registered 7 passes for 42 yards on 9 targets and has thrown a halfback option pass for a TD to TE Dalton Schultz in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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