The former Alabama superstar is returning from injury

Former Alabama standout Will Anderson Jr. returned to practice with the Houston Texans earlier this week after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

Anderson currently ranks eighth in the NFL in sacks – an excellent mark considering he has missed some time. He collapsed midway through the first quarter against the New York Jets on Halloween. The Texans are winning against the struggling Dallas Cowboys, and perhaps this game will help tip the scales in Houston’s favor. Houston is 1-3 in their last four games before Dallas.

After just nine games, Anderson had already surpassed his season-high sacks and tackles stats from a year ago, and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Month in October. His improvement over the season in which he won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year a year ago is synonymous with who Anderson is as a player.

The third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was one of the best defensive players in Alabama football history as he was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022, won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and was a unanimous All-American.

On Sunday, the Texans will face division foe in the Tennessee Titans. Anderson’s return to play against a seemingly weaker opponent should help him get back to 100 percent. The Texans listed Anderson as a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday’s injury report, meaning his status for Sunday is currently uncertain, but he is on track.

Anderson is one of three former Alabama players on the Texans’ active roster, joining wide receiver John Metchie III and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o. Both have had very good performances over the last few weeks. Additionally, Christian Harris started the season on the injured reserve list (calf strain) and remains there, while tight end Irv Smith Jr. He is on the Texas team’s training squad.

Read more: Bama in NFL, Week 12 tracker: five biggest surprises of the 2024 NFL season

Recruiting summary: Bama bounces back; He’s flipping a 4-star safety from Michigan