Texans-Packers Inactives: Jadeveon Clowney sits for Houston, Matthews/Ryan active for Packers

The Green Bay Packers will be facing a tough Houston Texans defense this afternoon, but they will do so while Houston is without two of its best defensive players and another good pass-rusher.

Defensive end J.J. Watt has been on injured reserve for pretty much the entire 2016 season due to back issues, and will of course be unavailable. However, Jadeveon Clowney has been coming into his own this season, and he has been a big reason for the Texans’ maintaining of their solid unit. However, Clowney was limited in practice all week with elbow and wrist injuries, and on Satuday he was ruled out for today’s game. This morning he was officially listed on Houston’s inactive list for the contest. Joining him is linebacker John Simon, a pass-rush specialist who has started 12 games over the last two years and has recorded 8.5 sacks in that span.

For the Packers, they are fortunate to have a couple of their inside linebackers back and ready to play today. Two of the three injured players at that position - Jake Ryan and inside/outside linebacker Clay Matthews - are active and suiting up for today’s game. Joining them as active is Aaron Rodgers, which is as expected; his hamstring injury will not keep him out of the lineup today, but watch for the Packers to use more shotgun and pistol formations to limit the hits on their franchise quarterback.

Green Bay still remains without two starters on the offensive line in JC Tretter and T.J. Lang. Corey Linsley and Jason Spriggs are expected to start once again in their places.

Here are the full inactives lists for the game today.

Packers Inactives

• WR Trevor Davis
• CB Makinton Dorleant
• OLB Kyler Fackrell
• G T.J. Lang
• ILB Blake Martinez
• DT Christian Ringo
• C JC Tretter

Texans Inactives

• G Aboushi
• DE Jadeveon Clowney
• RB Tyler Ervin
• QB Tom Savage
• OLB John Simon
• WR Jaelen Strong
• G Josh Walker