After a 25-day break, the Kansas City Chiefs' starters will be back in action on Saturday against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium in a duel for a place in the AFC Championship Game.
The visitors are coming into this game on the back of an upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the wildcard round of the playoffs. The Texans defense stole the show, as it limited Justin Herbert and Co. to only 261 yards of offense and picked off the quarterback four times.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will be wary of the threat that Houston's defense poses. The receivers will have to bring their A-game, especially the likes of tight end Noah Gray.
The Texans defense will likely double-team or at least keep multiple defenders close to Travis Kelce to ensure the veteran doesn't get going. That'd make Gray the go-to guy for Mahomes.
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Noah Gray injury update: Is TE playing vs. the Texans?
Despite having three and a half weeks to recover, several Chiefs starters, including Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones, are on the team's final injury report.
However, Noah Gray, who played in all 17 regular-season games, doesn't feature on the star-studded list, suggesting he's fully healthy.
Noah Gray stats: How has the TE fared this season?
Noah Gray has been a safe pair of hands this season. The tight end caught 40 passes on only 49 targets and had no fumbles. He was joint-third alongside veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on the Chiefs' receiving yards leaders list with 437.
His five touchdown catches ranked second only behind wide receiver Xavier Worthy's six for Kansas City. Gray was also a reliable target as a deep threat. His six catches of 20+ yards ranked second behind Travis Kelce, who finished the regular season with nine.
The 25-year-old has grown in stature this season and become a critical player for the Chiefs. They'll bank on him in the passing game against the Texans on Saturday and hope he continues to make big plays.
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