{"id":172963,"date":"2025-08-25T00:08:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T00:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/172963\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T00:08:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T00:08:09","slug":"linebacker-christian-harris-returns-to-action-for-the-houston-texans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/172963\/","title":{"rendered":"Linebacker Christian Harris returns to action for the Houston Texans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Linebacker Christian Harris<\/a> made 101 tackles and led the Houston Texans in solo stops with 65 in the 2023 NFL regular season, then recorded 15 tackles, one sack and an interception-return touchdown<\/a> in two playoff games.<\/p>\n

But in 2024, a calf injury limited the former Alabama<\/a> standout to three regular-season games and two playoff appearances. The injury kept Harris from starting training camp on time last month. After joining the team drills on Aug. 6, Harris sat out the Texans\u2019 first two preseason games.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Houston had Harris in its starting lineup for its preseason finale. Harris made two tackles while on the field for 13 defensive snaps in the Texans\u2019 26-7 victory over the Detroit Lions<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s night and day, man,\u201d Harris said<\/a> about getting to play again. \u201cIt\u2019s a blessing to be out here, put the pads on, be with the guys, warm up and do everything that\u2019s involved with game day, so it\u2019s truly a blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the team wanted to get Harris and running back Dameon Pierce some game action before the regular season kicks off. Coming back from a quadriceps injury, Pierce had seven rushing attempts against Detroit. <\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like guys need to have those live reps, especially when you come back from injury,\u201d Ryans said<\/a> after Saturday\u2019s game. \u201cThat mental hurdle when you come back from injury is you have to hit the ground, you have to get up, dust yourself off and know, like, \u2018I\u2019m OK. I\u2019m back.\u2019 And before you take that step, it\u2019s still in your mind. It still plays in your mind: Are you all the way healthy? Are you all the way back? <\/p>\n

\u201cSo that was the importance of today for Christian and for Dameon is to get them some live reps. They took advantage of it, and they did a good job with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harris said much of his rehabilitation work had been intended to prevent a reoccurrence of his injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a tricky situation having a calf,\u201d Harris said<\/a>. \u201cWhenever you feel like you\u2019re all the way back, sometimes it\u2019s not really the case. You\u2019ve got to make sure you check everything on the list.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Houston depth chart<\/a> lists Harris as a second-team linebacker behind starters Henry To\u2019oTo\u2019o<\/a> and Azeez Al-Shaair. <\/p>\n

In his rookie season in 2023, To\u2019oTo\u2019o made 40 fewer tackles than Harris. In 2024 with Harris missing for most of the season, To\u2019oTo\u2019o\u2019s tackle total jumped to 105.<\/p>\n

Harris and To\u2019oTo\u2019o were teammates at Alabama in 2021. The Texans drafted Harris in the third round in 2022 and To\u2019oTo\u2019o in the fifth round in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s awesome to see him grow,\u201d Harris said<\/a> of To\u2019oTo\u2019o. \u201cI\u2019ve been knowing him as a dog since high school. I met him at the All-American game. Like I said, it\u2019s been a long time ago I\u2019ve been knowing him as a dog. I\u2019m glad to see everybody catching on to it. I\u2019m just excited to see him continue to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Texans kick off their 17-game regular-season schedule against the Los Angeles Rams at 3:25 p.m. CDT Sept. 7 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut me out there,\u201d Harris said<\/a>, \u201cand I\u2019m going to go get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

FOR MORE OF AL.COM\u2019S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR <\/b>NFL PAGE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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