Week 1 Patriots vs Texans Wednesday injury report: New England has perfect practice attendance

Football season is right around the corner, which means that the NFL’s teams have started releasing their injury reports for the regular season. Earlier today, the New England Patriots and Houston Texans published their first ones of the year and it gives us insight into the two teams’ present injury situations. Let’s take a look:

Did not participate

Texans: CB Kayvon Webster (Achillles)

While the Texans had one of their late training camp pickups missing today – Webster ended last season on injured reserve due to an Achilles injury and is still not fully ready –, the Patriots had perfect attendance: offensive tackle Trent Brown returned after being absent yesterday, and the rest of the team was also present for the session.

Limited participation

Patriots: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (illness), CB Duke Dawson (hamstring), TE Jacob Hollister (hamstring), RB Sony Michel (knee)

Texans: WR Keke Coutee (hamstring), OLB Duke Ejiofor (hamstring), WR Will Fuller (hamstring), OLB Whitney Mercilus (hamstring)

Seeing Sony Michel on the list of limited Patriots does not come as a surprise: while he returned to practice last week, he missed a month of action before that due to his injury. Ja’Whaun Bentley, Duke Dawson and Jacob Hollister, meanwhile, have all looked good over the course of the summer and were projected to earn key rotational roles with the team. It could be another week before this projection turned into a reality.

The biggest name on the Texans’ list of limited players is Whitney Mercilus. The former Pro Bowler, who spent most of 2017 on injured reserve, is projected to start for Houston’s defense. How much action he will actually see considering his status as a limited participant today remains to be seen.

Full participation

Patriots: OT Marcus Cannon (calf), SS Nate Ebner (knee)

Texans: K Ka’imi Fairbairn (right thigh), CB Kevin Johnson (concussion)

As was reported over the weekend, starting right tackle Marcus Cannon is expected to be ready for opening week. Today’s injury status confirms this – and the same goes for key special teamer and reserve safety Nate Ebner as well. Both should see plenty of action on Sunday.