ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that LB Christian Kirksey is signing a 2-year deal to remain with the Texans. Kirksey was a full-time player for the 12 starts he made in Houston last year (among 13 appearances). It was his healthiest season since 2017, disrupted primarily by a 3-week absence for a thumb fracture. This contract points to Kirksey retaining a starting job under new HC Lovie Smith, who spent last season as the DC. We'll see who else lines up with Kirksey. Kamu Grugier-Hill -- the corps' other 2021 playing-time leader -- and Neville Hewitt are set to hit free agency next week.

The Texans look likely to go without their top 2 LBs for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. Christian Kirksey and Kamu Grugier-Hill have each tested positive for COVID. We’ll see whether either LB has a shot to return. Kevin Pierre-Louis and Neville Hewitt figure to lead the LB playing time if they dont

The Texans this week designated LB Christian Kirksey to return from IR, and he has practiced with the team. If his repaired left thumb is ready for Sunday's game against the Colts, the returning starter would destabilize LB Zach Cunningham's role. Cunningham had sunk to a reserve spot behind Kirksey and Kamu Grugier-Hill before Kirksey's injury. We'll watch for whether Kirksey makes it back to the active roster.

The Texans on Saturday placed LB Christian Kirksey on IR, following surgery on his fractured thumb. He'll miss the next 3 games but should be back after that. Neville Hewitt looks like his replacement, though we'll see exactly how the playing time gets split among the Houston LBs against Miami this week. This will be the 1st game Kirksey has missed this year.

The Texans have ruled LB Christian Kirksey out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins with his fractured thumb. It's a little surprising after Kirksey played through the injury last week (after it occurred at the end of the Week 7 game). It's tough to know what the LB playing time will look like with Kirksey out. According to the Houston Chronicle, Neville Hewitt "was prepared to play in place of Kirksey last week," when Kirksey played with a "club" on his injured hand. So it appears Hewitt -- rather than Zach Cunningham -- will be the 2nd LB alongside Kamu Grugier-Hill.

Texans LB Christian Kirksey is active for today's game against the Rams. He's dealing with a thumb fracture but said he planned to play through it.

Texans LB Christian Kirksey is questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams. He fractured a thumb late in last week's game. Kirksey said Thursday, though, that he plans to play through the injury. We'll confirm his status Sunday.

Texans HC David Culley said after Sunday's loss to the Cardinals that LB Christian Kirksey suffered a thumb fracture. That injury has tended to cost players at least the next game but often no more beyond that in positions that don't need to throw or catch passes. We'll see about Kirksey's specific outlook.

The Texans are trading LB Benardrick McKinney to the Dolphins in exchange for EDGE Shaq Lawson. (ESPN's Adam Schefter reports there will also be "a swap of late-round picks." McKinney spent most of the past 6 years starting for Houston after arriving as a 2nd-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He's signed through 2023 at escalating salaries but with cuttable years. McKinney figures to step into a starting role in a LB corps that shed Kyle Van Noy recently. We still prefer Jerome Baker's IDP upside over that of McKinney, though -- assuming Baker keeps his spot. McKinney missed the final 12 games of last season with a shoulder injury. Lawson heads to the Texans after 1 disappointing year with the Dolphins, who signed him in free agency in 2020. He managed just 4 sacks across 14 games. Pro Football Focus, though, did credit Lawson with 15 QB hits, tied for 4th most among all edge players. Houston needs help after seeing no player top 5 sacks in 2020. J.J. Watt collected that team-leading total before leaving for Arizona this offseason. McKinney's departure also leaves room for Christian Kirksey to potentially start next to Zach Cunningham. Kirksey signed a 1-year deal with the Texans earlier this week. Tyrell Adams, who took over after McKinney went down, is set to hit unrestricted free agency this month.

The Packers have activated LB Christian Kirksey. He has been out since Week 3 with a right shoulder injury. Green Bay has had no one settle in as a regular with starter-level playing time at ILB since Kirksey went down. We're treating him as a starter right away for his 1st game back Sunday against Jacksonville. Check out where Kirksey lands in our Week 10 IDP rankings.

The Packers have placed LB Christian Kirksey (pectoral) on IR. That means he'll miss at least the next 3 games, starting with the Monday night Falcons clash we already knew he'd miss. That also should make LB Ty Summers a starter for those 3 games. If he didn't already get claimed off waivers in your IDP league, go ahead and grab him.

ESPN reports that Packers LB Christian Kirksey will miss at least 1 game with the shoulder injury that knocked him out of the win over the Saints Sunday night. The report says that Kirksey will "likely" avoid surgery but that he's awaiting a 2nd opinion. A stint on IR remains a possibility. LB Ty Summers makes for a solid waiver pickup for at least this week, ahead of Monday night's game against the Falcons.

Packers LB Christian Kirksey left in the 1st half of Sunday night's game at New Orleans with a left shoulder injury and was ruled out for the game. Ty Summers stepped in and wore the green dot. If Kirksey misses more time going forward, that could mean a full-time role for Summers -- a 7th-round pick in 2019. We'll watch for updates on Kirksey's status early in the week.