Browns Rookie McNeil-Warren to Start Against Texans

With Ronnie Hickman sidelined by a concussion, rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is set for an expanded role in Sunday's game in Houston.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Football

Expressive sports illustration in brown and orange with green turf, showing a football safety mid-backpedal under stadium floodlight haze. — Browns rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren will start at safety Sunday in Houston against the Texans with Ronnie Hickman out with a concussion. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Cleveland Browns rookie safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is expected to see an expanded role against the Houston Texans on Sunday after Ronnie Hickman was ruled out with a concussion. Stepping into Hickman's usual deep-safety position, McNeil-Warren will take on much of the defensive communication.

Why it matters

Hickman's absence gives the second-round pick from Toledo a chance to build on his ballhawk ability, which the Browns valued from the start. The Texans have won three of their last four games since starting the season 0-4, and quarterback CJ Stroud has thrown 10 touchdowns and two interceptions over that span.

McNeil-Warren, drafted No. 58 overall, has three pass breakups this season and no career interception, while playing a season-high 57 snaps against Baltimore compared with his usual figure of around 30 per game. Houston's CJ Stroud has thrown 10 touchdowns and two interceptions over the Texans' last three games.

The players

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

A rookie safety drafted in the second round, No. 58 overall, out of the University of Toledo, known for his ballhawk ability.

Cleveland Browns

A National Football League franchise based in Berea, Ohio, that competes in the AFC North division.

Houston Texans

A National Football League franchise based in Houston that plays in the AFC South division.

The details

McNeil-Warren nearly intercepted a Tyler Huntley pass intended for Zay Flowers in the fourth quarter against the Ravens in Week 6, but the ball slipped through his hands. His pick was also called back in the loss to the Jets the week before that game.

Week 6: McNeil-Warren nearly intercepts a Huntley pass against the Ravens.
The week prior to the Ravens game: McNeil-Warren's pick is called back in a loss to the Jets.
Sunday: The Browns face the Houston Texans with McNeil-Warren's expanded role beginning.

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Season Trajectory

Hickman's absence arrives as the Browns look to keep pace in the AFC North, and McNeil-Warren's expanded role tests whether a rookie can stabilize a secondary during a playoff push. The Texans' recovery from an 0-4 start makes Sunday's matchup a measure of how quickly Houston can hold its gains.

Fantasy managers rostering McNeil-Warren or Browns defensive players should expect his snap count to rise sharply on Sunday. Houston's offense, led by Stroud's recent output, is the matchup to track for anyone weighing a start.

The takeaway

A single injury can reshape a defensive backfield in one week, and rookies with strong instincts often get their first real test in those moments. Watching how McNeil-Warren handles communication and coverage against Houston will show whether his early-season flashes hold up under a heavier workload.