Titans Boosted by Key Returns, Texans Stripped of Key Talent - Cam Ward on Upset Alert
The Tennessee Titans host the Houston Texans in Nashville this weekend, the second meeting between the division rivals this season. In their first go-around, the Titans didn't score a single point. The first three quarters were a riveting 6-0 slog, and then Houston opened up the floodgates on a lifeless Tennessee team in the final frame. They ended up winning 26-0 that day, the first outing for new Titans play caller Bo Hardegree after Brian Callahan had play calling duties taken from him. It wasn't stellar.
That's the bad news. The good news is that Cam Ward and company get another crack at them this weekend, and the Titans are trending in the right direction on the health front while the Texans aren't. It might be the only reason the underdog Titans stand a chance at a big upset.
Key Titans starters returning after bye week
On Friday, interim head coach Mike McCoy told reporters that starting safety Xavier Woods and backup WR Bryce Oliver would be ruled out in Week 11. In fact, the bad news for Oliver got worse a matter of hours later which you can read about linked here.
That seems to be the extent of the bad news for the Titans, however. McCoy indicated that everybody else questionable to play stands a very good chance of getting the green light. That means the best player on the team, Jeffery Simmons, seems set to return for the first time since early in Week 7 when he hurt his hamstring. He's still listed as questionable on the official injury report, but click here to see how he's been talking on social media this past week. He sounds like he plans on being back, and that means the Titans defense gets their identity back.
Two other key starters poised to return are EDGE Arden Key and WR Calvin Ridley, who have both been out multiple weeks since before the Week 10 bye. The Titans traded their most productive edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones to the Ravens since the last time they played, so Key's return is critical to filling that gap. And Calvin Ridley can only help with rookie Cam Ward on offense, regardless of how effective he's prepared to be in his return. He's still the best receiving talent on this football team.
Texans starters ruled out
Meanwhile on the Houston side of the ledger, things are a bit rough. Head coach DeMeco Ryans ruled out three starters early this week because of how clear it was they wouldn't be ready to play. That list included starting kicker Ka'iMi Fairbairn, starting safety Jalen Pitre, and most notable of them all, QB CJ Stroud.
This means backup QB Davis Mills is on deck to play in his third straight game for Houston, but he's not a backup to count out. He's one of the best in the league, and the Texans' offense has actually been more productive since he took over a couple weeks ago. That isn't to say this small sample size proves he's better than Stroud, of course not. But it does mean that Houston's offense hasn't skipped a beat since he came in.
But Vegas isn't quite buying his replacement value it seems, as the injury news this week has led to the spread trickling down from Texans -7.5 all the way to -5.5 at some books. In such a low total game, this is a classic underdog cover spot. It's hard to cover a touchdown-ish spread like this when the expectation is less than 40 total points scored. But the Titans tend to find a way recently anyways. Take their first game against Houston this year for example. They hope having the health upper hand this time around can be the boost they need to shock their Owner's most hated team on Sunday.
Steelers Make Final Call on Elevating Asante Samuel Jr. for Week 11 Matchup
The Pittsburgh Steelers elevated a defensive back from their practice squad for Week 11. But it wasn’t newly signed Asante Samuel Jr.
The Steelers announced Saturday they promoted defensive back D’Shawn Jamison and linebacker Mark Robinson for the matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The pair will revert back to the practice squad after the game.
Jamison will be making his Steelers debut Sunday. If he plays a snap, it will be the first time the defensive back is on the field for an NFL regular season game since 2023.
Robinson will be dressing for his eighth game this season. He made his Steelers season debut in Week 10 versus the Los Angeles Chargers.
Samuel will have to wait at least another week to make his 2025 debut. The veteran cornerback officially joined Pittsburgh’s practice squad Tuesday.
Steelers Don’t Elevate Asante Samuel Jr. for Week 10
Pundits considered Samuel one of the top free agents for the 2025 class until he needed to undergo spinal fusion surgery in April.
The surgery corrected an issue he had been dealing with since his birth that was made worse after a collision during practice last year.
Samuel remained a free agent until the Steelers added him to their practice squad this past week. It’s not clear how much time he will need to be in football shape. Steelers Nation, though, hopes it’s not long.
Samuel played in his most recent NFL game on September 29 of last year.
In four seasons with the Chargers, Samuel posted 37 pass defenses and six interceptions. He also had 176 combined tackles, including three tackles for loss.
Steelers Promote D’Shawn Jamison, Mark Robinson
Jamison began his career as an 2023 undrafted free agent for the San Francisco 49ers. When he didn’t make the 49ers roster out of training camp, he then signed with the Carolina Panthers.
As a rookie, Jamison played in 15 games, starting one contest during 2023. He posted 10 combined tackles and one pass defense while playing 107 defensive snaps. Jamison also appeared on special teams for 155 snaps.
Last year, the Panthers released Jamison after the preseason. He joined the Steelers practice squad a few weeks later, where he remained for the rest of the year. The Steelers never promoted or activated him from the practice squad.
Jamison has also spent all of 2025 on Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Again, Sunday will be his first opportunity to play since with the Panthers in 2023.
The Steelers drafted Robinson at No. 225 overall in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Robinson came on strongly as a rookie and appeared to potentially be the solution at inside linebacker for the team.
But the Steelers signed Cole Holcomb in 2023 and then Patrick Queen during 2024. The team also drafted Payton Wilson last year.
In August, the Steelers released Robinson. The New England Patriots signed him to their practice squad. After appearing in three games, though, the New York Jets signed Robinson to their active roster off the New England practice squad.
The Jets waived Robinson after three contests, which led the linebacker back to Pittsburgh.
In seven games this season, Robinson has posted five combined tackles. He’s played 96 special teams snaps and four on defense.
Over his first three years with Pittsburgh, Robinson had 45 combined tackles, including one for loss, three forced fumbles and one sack in 38 games.
