Texans LB Henry To'oTo'o Sidelined by Shoulder Injury in Season Opener

Starting linebacker Henry To'oTo'o will miss time for the Houston Texans after injuring his shoulder during a 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Houston Texans starting linebacker Henry To'oTo'o is expected to miss time after sustaining a shoulder injury during Sunday's 36-31 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed the news on Monday, though he noted that the team has not yet decided whether to place the defender on injured reserve.

The injury occurred with 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter while To'oTo'o was tackling Bills tight end Dawson Knox. The linebacker required assistance to get up and move to the sideline, and he did not return to the contest. The 36 points surrendered to Buffalo represent the second-highest total allowed by Houston during Ryans' tenure as head coach, trailing only a 37-point performance by Tampa Bay in 2023.

To'oTo'o, a 2023 fifth-round draft pick, recently signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension in August. His absence comes as the Texans prepare for a three-game stretch against the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and Dallas Cowboys. These upcoming opponents all featured offenses that ranked within the top 12 in NFL scoring last season.