At halftime, Blankenship was tied for leading tackles with cornerback Kamari Lassiter, and he had continued to struggle in pass coverage, drawing criticism from fans as he adjusted to the Texans’ defensive scheme. The Texans replaced Blankenship in the lineup with veteran M.J. Stewart, who is in his fifth season with the team and has started five of his 50 appearances, including four games in the 2025 regular season. Blankenship previously won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and signed a three-year, $24.7 million deal with the Texans. The contract includes more than $7 million guaranteed in 2027.
Good news for the Texans came on Azeez Al-Shaair, who returned to the field in the second half after leaving with a possible concussion. His return was significant not only because he is a team captain but also due to his importance to the defense. Al-Shaair had been dealing with a groin injury that sidelined him in Week 4 but was able to play in Week 5 and did not report any setbacks ahead of the Jaguars game. The Texans also welcomed Henry To’oto’o back to the second level alongside Al-Shaair, after he had been sidelined with a shoulder injury since Week 1. The team remains without third starter E.J. Speed, who is out for the season with a quad injury.
