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11:26NFL Game Preview: Texans at Steelers
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10:18Sportsline Projected NFL Playoff Bracket
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0:57Sportline Playoff Projections: Texans at Steelers
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13:312026 Super Bowl Survivor
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0:591 Reason Each Team Will Not Win Super Bowl LX: Houston Texans
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1:15Kyle Long's NFL Playoff Predictions: Divisional & Championship Rounds
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3:50NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks: Texans at Steelers
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0:52AFC Wild Card Keys To Victory: Texans at Steelers
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1:24Texans Boast Defense Being Good Enough to Win the Super Bowl
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0:57Make The Case: Why The Texans Can Win Super Bowl LX
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1:59Danny Kanell's NFL Playoff Predictions: Wild Card Round
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1:36Make The Case: Why The Texans Can Win The Super Bowl
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0:55Take Your Pick: Texans Or Steelers
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0:37DeMeco Ryans Rights the Ship and Succeeds at Setting the Culture in Houston
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0:34Riley Leonard Finds Success Against Texans No. 1 Defense
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0:31Colts End Season on a 7-Game Losing Streak, Texans End Season with 9 Straight Wins and Lock In the 5-Seed
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0:20Memorable first TD pass: Colts rookie Riley Leonard hits WIDE-OPEN Alec Pierce for 66-yard strike vs. Texans
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0:39C.J. Stroud Is The Week 18 Real Deal Start Of The Week
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1:22One Thing AFC South Teams Are Playing For
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1:55NFL Week 18 Picks: Colts at Texans
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2025 Defensive
| STATS |
CMB
Total Tackles
|
SCK
Sacks
|
FUM
Forced Fumbles
|
INT
Interceptions
|
TD
Interceptions Returned For Touchdown
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 49 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top E.J. Speed News
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Reduced role in Houston
Speed recorded 62 tackles (33 solo) and one pass defensed over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
Speed's first season in Houston looked nothing like the trend he established in his final two years with Indianapolis, for whom he posted 102 and 142 tackles in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Houston's top-ranked defense operated mostly out of the nickel, which naturally limits at least one linebacker. Defensive back Jalen Pitre, who brings the physicality of a linebacker, gave the Texans more flexibility at the expense of Speed's playing time. The linebacker played 50 percent or fewer of the defensive snaps in 10 of 16 games. He'll become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Clears injury designation
Speed (knee) has no injury designation heading into Sunday's matchup against the Raiders.
Speed upgraded to full participation in practice Friday and is now ready to go Sunday against the Raiders after missing Week 15 with an ankle injury. The 30-year-old has 47 tackles (28 solo) and one pass breakup in 13 games this season.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Upgrades to limited practice
Speed (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Speed sat out Wednesday's practice entirely after having missed Week 15 versus Arizona. His return to practice Thursday, even as a limited participant, bodes well for his odds of gaining clearance for Sunday's game against the Raiders. To return Week 16, however, Speed may have to prove he can handle full practice reps Friday.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Doesn't practice Wednesday
Speed (knee) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Speed was sidelined in Week 15 versus the Cardinals because of a knee injury, and now he's in danger of missing a second straight game. If he can't get back on the practice field Thursday or Friday, he'll likely miss Sunday's game versus the Raiders.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Not playing Week 15
Speed (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Speed was able to practice all week in a limited capacity, but his knee injury is severe enough for him to miss Sunday's contest. Jake Hansen, Christian Harris and Jamal Hill are all candidates to see more snaps at linebacker in Speed's absence.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Questionable for Sunday
Speed (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Speed managed to be a limited participant in all practices this week, a positive sign for the linebacker's playing chances. The 30-year-old has not missed a game this season, but if he is not healthy enough to be cleared for Sunday, Jamal Hill and Jake Hansen will likely see increased snaps at outside linebacker for the Texans' defense.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Seven tackles in Week 12 win
Speed recorded seven tackles (three solo) in the Texans' win over the Bills on Thursday night.
Speed played just 47 percent of the defensive snaps and 16 snaps on special teams, and he matched his season-high with the seven tackles against Buffalo. On the season, Speed has played 43 percent of the defensive snaps and 55 percent of the downs on special teams. He's produced 43 tackles (26 solo) and one pass breakup across 11 appearances.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Logs seven stops vs. Seahawks
Speed tallied seven total tackles (six solo) during Monday night's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks.
Speed played a season-high 44 defensive snaps in Houston's Week 7 loss. The 30-year-old linebacker has now tallied 23 total tackles in his first six games as a Texan, contributing both defensively (116 snaps) and on special teams (93 snaps). He's expected to remain one of Houston's top linebackers in the Week 8 matchup against the 49ers.
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Texans' E.J. Speed: Remaining in AFC South
Speed and the Texans have agreed upon a one-year, $5 million contract, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Speed had a breakthrough season statistically in 2024, tallying career-high marks with 142 tackles and five defensed passes (including one interception) over 15 regular-season contests with the Colts. However, his overall PFF grade of 56.7 ranked just 134th among NFL linebackers due largely to a poor grade in pass coverage. Speed has also worked on special teams throughout his career and will likely be part of that unit while also providing depth at linebacker for the Texans. His role on defense could be magnified if Christian Harris, who played in only three regular-season games in 2024 due to a calf injury, or Azeez Al-Shaair, who logged just 11 regular-season appearances, have any trouble staying on the field again.
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Colts' E.J. Speed: Notches 142 stops in 2024
Speed tallied 142 total tackles (93 solo) and five passes defended, including one interception, across 17 regular-season games in 2024.
The Tarleton State product had the most productive season of his career in 2024, setting new career highs in total tackles and passes defended while also nabbing the first interception of his career. Despite finishing the season as Indianapolis' third-leading tackler, Speed recorded the 12th-most stops in the NFL. Coming off a career year, Speed is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year. He's expected to be a sought-after player, likely signing a multi-year deal with a team in need of inside-linebacker help this offseason.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-4, 227 lbs |
| Birthplace: Fort Worth, TX |
| Age: 30 |
| School: Tarleton St. |
| Experience: 7 |