Why did the Texans make DE Charles Omenihu inactive for the Patriots?
One of the more puzzling moves of Week 5 was when the Houston Texans made defensive end Charles Omenihu inactive for their tilt with the New England Patriots.
Omenihu had nine combined tackles and three quarterback hits through the Texans’ first four games, two of which he started. Omenihu wasn’t injured, but ended up among the inactives for the showdown with the Patriots at NRG Stadium.
“We felt some other guys needed a chance, they hadn’t played,” Culley said on why Houston made Omenihu inactive. “Jordan Jenkins hadn’t played this year, had been inactive for the most part. We felt he had a good week of practice. We wanted to give him an opportunity.”
Jenkins gave the Texans four combined tackles, a quarterback hit, and a tackle for loss. However, the Texans faced the same problems they would have if they left Omenihu in the lineup as Houston gave up 4.2 yards per carry and couldn’t shut down down the run in the second half.
Houston signed Jenkins to a two-year, $6 million contract in the offseason.
