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 QB Davis Mills will get another start against the Rams on Sunday. QB Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) returned to practice this week but will miss at least 1 more game. "We just don't feel Tyrod is ready right now," HC David Culley said Friday. Taylor figures to return for Week 9.

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.

Texans WRs Nico Collins (foot) and Chris Conley (neck) are active for today’s game vs. Arizona. Neither is a bankable fantasy play.

Texans WRs Nico Collins (foot) and Chris Conley (neck) are questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Brandin Cooks is the only Houston WR that should be anywhere near fantasy lineups.

Texans CB Desmond King (hip, illness) is active for today's game against the Colts. Use him as planned in IDP lineups.

The Chiefs have "looked into" trading for Colts RB Marlon Mack, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported a couple of weeks ago that Mack is on the trade block. He's looked pretty good coming off last year's torn Achilles, averaging 4.3 yards on 20 attempts. The Chiefs, of course, have a need at RB after losing Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the next few weeks. We'll see where this goes, but Mack is an interesting stash if you have a roster spot to play with.

The Colts and RB Marlon Mack have "agreed to mutually seek a trade," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Mack made it back from last year's Achilles tear for Week 1 but has carried just 5 times so far this season. He was a healthy scratch last week. We'll see where this goes, but Mack is only worth stashing in deep fantasy leagues.

Colts RB Marlon Mack is a healthy scratch for today's game against the Titans. Jordan Wilkins is active as Indy's #3 RB behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. The news could mean a few extra carries for Taylor.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Texans WR Nico Collins is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with the shoulder injury that knocked him out early in Sunday's loss to the Browns. Houston's bye doesn't come until Week 10, so Collins looks like he'll miss at least 3 games. We'd bet on him hitting IR. Regardless of whether Collins is active, it's tough to imagine playing any Houston wideout not named Brandin Cooks -- especially now that Tyrod Taylor is dealing with a hamstring injury.

Texans WR Nico Collins is questionable to return to Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury. We’ll let you know if he returns to the field. Before departing, the rookie caught a 32-yard pass.

UPDATE: Collins was ruled out in the 2nd half.

Texans TE Pharaoh Brown (ankle, shoulder) is active for today’s game against the Browns. He split work with TE Jordan Akins in the opener, leaving both guys without any bankable fantasy value.

Texans TE Pharaoh Brown (ankle, shoulder) is questionable for this weekend’s game against the Browns. He only got in a limited practice on Friday. Brown basically split snaps and pass routes with TE Jordan Akins in the opener. So Brown’s absence would help Akins’ outlook -- but hopefully you can do better in fantasy lineups.

Texans K Ka'imi Fairbairn (leg) has landed on short-term IR. He's out at least 3 weeks. Fairbairn will be replaced by Joey Slye, but you should be avoiding Texans kickers in fantasy lineups.

The Panthers have claimed RB Royce Freeman off waivers from the Broncos. He joins a thin depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey. Freeman's not likely to find fantasy relevance in Carolina, but he could challenge rookie Chuba Hubbard for touches behind McCaffrey.

The Broncos are cutting RB Royce Freeman, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The move follows "a couple of waiver claims and the need for space on the roster." We're a little surprised Denver couldn't find a trade partner here and would bet on Freeman landing somewhere pretty quickly. Atlanta seems like an obvious candidate, while several other teams ended up with shallow RB depth charts after cutting rosters down to 53.

Texans K Ka'imi Fairbairn sat out Saturday night's preseason finale against the Buccaneers after a "minor leg muscle pull" during pregame warmups, according to Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790 in Houston. HC David Culley said afterward that Fairbairn could have played if they needed him to. Wilson reports that it's not expected to affect the kicker's Week 1 status.

The Athletic's Aaron Reiss names WR Nico Collins 1 of the "risers" in training camp so far. "Collins has consistently made catches both on the sideline and over the middle during Texans camp," Reiss writes. The 3rd-round rookie has reportedly been getting lots of reps with the 1st-team and looks like the favorite to open the season as a starting outside WR opposite Brandin Cooks. Collins is worth considering as a late-round flier in fantasy drafts.