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10:12Quarterbacks Under The Most Pressure
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2:08Quarterbacks Under The Most Pressure: C.J. Stroud
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1:01Assessing Free Agents and the Financial Situation in Houston
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1:52How Can the Texans Get Rookie Year C.J. Stroud Back in the Building?
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1:24Will C.J. Stroud and the Texans Be Able to Agree on a Long Term Contract?
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1:44What to Make of CJ Stroud's Performance and His Demeanor vs Patriots
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1:37How the Patriots Have Developed to Get the Most Out of Their Playmakers
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1:57Patriots Defense Dominates in Divisional Round Win Over Texans
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1:03Pick To Win AFC Divisional Round: Texans at Patriots
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1:58Can The Texans Continue To Win With Inconsistent Play From Stroud?
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0:44How Do The Patriots Need To Attack The Texans Defense?
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9:17Biggest Offseason Questions: With Playoff Exit
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11:11NFL Divisional Round: Biggest Concerns
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0:28BREAKING: WR Nico Collins (Concussion) Out at Patriots
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1:18Drake Maye Rushes for 60+ Yards Against Texans
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2:22NFL Divisional: Picks We 'Like' This Week
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4:00NFL Divisional Player Props: Texans at Patriots
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12:12NFL Playoff Preview: Texans at Patriots
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3:56Best Bet for Texans-Patriots
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2:00NFL Best Bets: Texans at Patriots
2025 Defensive
| STATS |
CMB
Total Tackles
|
SCK
Sacks
|
FUM
Forced Fumbles
|
INT
Interceptions
|
TD
Interceptions Returned For Touchdown
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 103 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Post Season | 15 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top Azeez Al-Shaair News
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Leading tackler in 2025
Al-Shaair recorded 103 tackles (48 solo), nine passes defensed (two interceptions), one forced fumble and one recovery over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
Al-Shaair was again the leader of Houston's defense, which was one of the best in the NFL in 2025. He led the team in tackles and earned the highest grades in run defense, coverage and overall performance from Pro Football Focus. The 28-year-old is locked in for one more season and will return as Houston's signal caller in 2026.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Cleared to play Week 18
Al-Shaair (knee) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Colts.
Al-Shaair was able to shake off an injury tag for Week 18 after logging a full practice Friday. The veteran linebacker has accumulated 102 combined tackles through 15 regular-season games and will continue to anchor a Texans defense that has been one of the best units in the NFL this season.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Returns to practice Thursday
Al-Shaair (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
The veteran linebacker was held out of Wednesday's practice due to a knee injury but was able to return in a limited capacity Thursday. Al-Shaair would likely avoid an injury designation for Sudnay's regular-season finale against the Colts if he were to log a full practice Friday.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Dealing with knee injury
Al-Shaair (knee) did not practice Wednesday.
Al-Shaair may have tweaked his knee during the Texans' 20-16 win over the Chargers in Week 17, when he logged six tackles (two solo) and an interception. The veteran linebacker will have two more chances to return to practice and avoid an injury designation heading into Sunday's regular-season finale against the Colts. Al-Shaair has logged 102 combined tackles through 15 regular-season games, marking the third time in his seven-year NFL career that he has cracked the tackling century mark.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Thwarts red-zone drive
Al-Shaair had six tackles and an interception in Saturday's 20-16 win over the Chargers in Week 17.
Al-Shaair, who returned to action after a one-week absence due to an ankle injury, made momentum-shifting play late in the second quarter. With the Texans leading 14-3, and Los Angeles threatening inside the red zone, he picked off a deflected Justin Herbert pass at the one-yard line. It was the second interception in Al-Shaair's last three games.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Ready to play Saturday
Al-Shaair (ankle) does not carry an injury designation for Saturday's game against the Chargers.
Al-Shaair began Week 17 prep with back-to-back limited practices before upgrading to full reps Thursday. After having been unavailable Week 16 versus the Raiders, he now stands to return to his usual every-down role at middle linebacker during Saturday's road game against Los Angeles.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Limited to begin Week 17 prep
Al-Shaair (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Tuesday.
Al-Shaair missed his first game of the season Sunday against the Raiders due to an ankle injury. He logged only one practice -- a limited session Thursday -- last week, so his ability to participate (albeit in a limited capacity) to begin this week is a positive sign. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Al-Shaair is expected to suit up Saturday against the Chargers.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Not playing Sunday
Al-Shaair (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup versus the Raiders.
Al-Shaair will miss his first game of the season due to an ankle injury he sustained earlier in the week. In his absence, Christian Harris is expected to start at middle linebacker against Las Vegas.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Looking likely to play Week 16
Al-Shaair (ankle/knee), who is officially questionable for Sunday's game against Las Vegas, is trending toward playing, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Al-Shaair is likely to be a game-time decision, per Wilson, but the current expectation is that he'll be able to suit up. The veteran linebacker managed just a DNP/LP/DNP practice progression this week, so chances are he'll be less than 100 percent even if he does get clearance to play. Al-Shaair hasn't missed a game this season and has logged every Texans defensive snap in 10 of the team's 14 contests to date.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Questionable with ankle injury
Al-Shaair (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Raiders.
Al-Shaair was once again unable to practice Friday after notching his only practice session of the week Thursday in a limited capacity. With the 28-year-old's availability in practice trending in the wrong direction, his status for Sunday is uncertain. If Al-Shaair is unable to play, E.J. Speed could see more reps at linebacker behind Henry To'oTo'o.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Gets in limited practice
Al-Shaair (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Al-Shaair missed Wednesday's practice entirely, but he's beginning to trend in the right direction for Week 16. The starting linebacker generally handles an every-down role on defense for Houston. He'll have one more chance to prove he can handle full practice reps Friday.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Sits out practice Wednesday
Al-Shaair (ankle/knee) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Al-Shaair played 65 defensive snaps in Week 15 versus the Cardinals, and it's not immediately clear when he suffered any injury. He'll have two more opportunities to practice before Houston publishes its last practice report of the week Friday.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Season-high 12 stops in Week 15
Al-Shaair posted 12 tackles (seven solo) during the Texans' 40-20 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Al-Shaair's 12 stops Sunday were a season high and the sixth time in his NFL career that he has reached that mark. He has played every single defensive snap in eight of the Texans' last nine games since the Week 6 bye and is up to 96 tackles (46 solo), eight pass defenses (one interception), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery through 14 regular-season games. Al-Shaair could reach the tackling century mark for the third time in his seven-year NFL career as soon as this Sunday against the Raiders.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Full participant Thursday
Al-Shaair (ankle) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Al-Shaair did not practice Wednesday with an ankle injury, but he upgraded to full participation Thursday to shed his injury designation. The 28-year-old snagged a meaningful interception to help seal the win against Kansas City in Week 14, adding to his eight pass breakups on the season. The seventh-year pro also has 84 tackles (39 solo) and a forced fumble through 13 games this season.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Nursing ankle injury
Al-Shaair (ankle) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Al-Shaair snagged an interception on Kansas City's last meaningful possession of the game in Week 14 to help clinch a win, but it seems he may also have picked up an ankle issue somewhere along the way. He'll likely need to return to practice Thursday or Friday to have a realistic chance of playing in Week 15 versus the Cardinals.
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Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair: Closes out Chiefs
Al-Shaair made five tackles and recorded an interception in Sunday's 20-10 win over the Chiefs in Week 14.
Houston's defense dominated, but it was still a one-score game when Al-Shaair picked off a Patrick Mahomes pass intended for Travis Kelce deep in Kansas City territory. That set up Houston's final score, a Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal, that secured the win for the Texans. The interception was the first of the season for the linebacker, who leads the team with 84 tackles through 13 games.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-2, 228 lbs |
| Birthplace: Tampa, FL |
| Age: 28 |
| School: FAU |
| Experience: 7 |