HOUSTON — The Houston Texans are expected to activate safety Justin Reid for their Week 4 match against the 2-1 Buffalo Bills, Sunday afternoon, at Highmark Stadium.
Reid missed the Texans’ previous game against the Carolina Panthers following a knee injury he sustained during Houston’s Week 2 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The Texans limited Reid’s workload at practice throughout the week, but he was a full participant Friday afternoon. Reid declared to reporters on Thursday that he does expect to play against the Bills.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I’ve been making steady progress throughout the week, following the plan that we have set and it’s been going pretty well.”
Amid his contract season, Reid is on the verge of a career year in 2021. He has already recorded two interceptions and one forced fumble on the season — accounting for three of the Texans’ five turnovers this year.
Despite missing the previous game, Justin Reid (.@JustinqReid) is on the verge of a career season so far in 2021. Thursday following practice, I asked Reid what has been the difference in his on-field play this season. #Texans #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/EC9XZkwMXr
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) October 1, 2021
Reid attributes his early-season success to Texans’ defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. Reid says Smith’s defensive system is a defense that allows him to be more aggressive and more of himself in the backfield.
“Justin is one of our best defensive players period,” Smith said. “He has ball skills. Just having him back in the secondary of course helps everything. Missing him took a big chunk out, but he stayed in the game. Hopefully, he will be back out there for long.”
In addition to Reid, the Texans will also welcome back linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill — who missed the previous game against the Panthers due to a knee injury.
“It was tough,” Reid said. “I really wanted to be out there. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even be on the sideline because it was a hazard for me to be out there with where my knee was at that point. I just wish I could be out there with the guys helping out any way I could, but we still keep moving forward.”
