Houston Texans tight end Cade Stover will not play in Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Saturday night. The team announced the news just hours before kickoff, downgrading Stover’s status from questionable to out.
Stover, a rookie and fourth-round draft pick out of Ohio State, has been the backup to Dalton Schultz for most of the season. He has started in eight of the 13 games he has appeared in, recording 14 catches on 20 targets for 132 yards and one touchdown.
The Texans (8-5) are currently leading the AFC South and will need to play without Stover as they try to maintain their lead over the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins (6-7) are still in the hunt for a wild-card spot, sitting ninth in the AFC playoff standings and just two games behind the Denver Broncos for the final playoff spot.
Houston is 11th in points scored and 18th in yards gained, but are 12th in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed. The Dolphins are 23rd in points scored and 19th in yards gained, as well as 14th in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed.