The Texans have placed inside linebacker Tim Dobbins on injured reserve and signed practice squad linebacker Cameron Collins to the active roster.
Dobbins, a special teams captain, is the Texans' second inside linebacker to go on injured reserve this week. Dobbins (ankle) and Darryl Sharpton (hip) both suffered season-ending injuries against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17. Barrett Ruud will start at inside linebacker next to Bradie James against the Cincinnati Bengals in Saturday's Wild Card playoff game at Reliant Stadium.
An eighth-year veteran, Ruud signed with the Texans on Oct. 10 after inside linebacker Brian Cushing suffered a season-ending knee injury. Ruud has played in nine games for the Texans with one start, recording 12 tackles and a sack.
Collins (6-2, 241), an undrafted rookie from Oregon State, has never played in an NFL game. The Texans' top backup options at inside linebacker Saturday will be Mister Alexander, a second-year pro from Florida State who was re-signed on Tuesday, and outside linebacker Jesse Nading, who has experience on the inside.
Dobbins started six games and played in 14 this season, his second with the Texans. The seventh-year pro from Iowa State had 35 tackles, one interception, four passes defensed and a team-record four fumble recoveries. He also had eight special teams tackles.
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