Danielle Hunter, Azeez Al-Shaair Among Texans Starters Ruled Out Against Browns

All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter and leading tackler Azeez Al-Shaair are among several starters sidelined for Houston's matchup in Cleveland.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans will travel to face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday without All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter (hamstring) and Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (groin). Hunter enters the matchup tied for second on the team with four sacks this season. Al-Shaair, who serves as the defense's green-dot signal-caller, currently leads the roster with 68 tackles despite dealing with a groin injury since Week 3.

Running back David Montgomery was also ruled out on Saturday due to a groin injury sustained against the Tennessee Titans. Although Montgomery practiced this week, he has not appeared in a game since Week 5. The Texans offense will further lack wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is sidelined by a hamstring injury after recording 60 yards and one touchdown in his first three games with the franchise.

According to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime, rookie guard Keylan Rutledge is also unavailable for the contest because of a shoulder injury. These absences follow a period where Al-Shaair previously missed the Week 4 game against the Dallas Cowboys. The team's travel roster remains depleted of these five key contributors as they head to Cleveland.