Cunningham out Week 4 on COVID list

The Texans on Friday placed LB Zach Cunningham and DL Ross Blacklock on the COVID list. That means neither guy will be available for Sunday's game against the Bills. Cunningham is a big loss for IDP lineups. Expect Kamu Grugier-Hill to start in his place. Christian Kirksey also gets an opportunity boost.

Texans LB Zach Cunningham is questionable for Sunday's game at Washington as he tries to return from the knee injury that cost him Week 9. Cunningham put in limited practices all week. We'll check his availability Sunday morning.

Texans LB Zach Cunningham is reportedly nearing a return from the knee injury that cost him Week 9, though it's not yet clear when he'll be back. "I think he's trending toward being able to play," HC Bill O'Brien said Monday, according to USA Today. “Possibly against the Redskins, but I would say definitely the following week.” Houston visits Washington this Sunday. We'll keep an eye on Cunningham as a potential Week 11 IDP option. Fantasy owners should at least expect to have him available for Week 12.

The Texans expect ILB Zach Cunningham to miss "at least a few weeks" with the knee injury that knocked him out of their Week 8 win over the Dolphins, according to the Houston Chronicle. Replacing Cunningham will reportedly include moving Brennan Scarlett and Peter Kalambayi in from OLB, along with using reserve ILBs Josh Keyes and Brian Peters. That glut of names means IDP folks shouldn't expect any 1 player to come anywhere close to Cunningham's fantasy production. Fellow ILB starter Benardrick McKinney could see an uptick in tackles while Cunningham's out. He sits comfortably in LB1 territory in our Week 9 IDP rankings.

Houston spent its 2nd-round pick on LB Zach Cunningham. The Vanderbilt alum figures to arrive as the heir to ILB Brian Cushing, who looks like cap-casualty candidate after the 2017 season. Cunningham tied for 10th in FBS with 125 total tackles last season but didn't flash big-play upside in his pass-coverage stats.