Noel returned one punt for 13 yards and two kickoffs for 108 yards in Sunday's 40-20 win over Arizona in Week 15. He was not targeted on offense.

EDGE Analysis

Noel's 39-yard return on the opening kickoff put Houston in good field position on its first possession and set up a 57-yard touchdown pass. He later returned a kick 69 yards to set up a field goal. Noel's mostly been a non-factor on offense unless there are injuries ahead of him the depth chart. Since a three-game spree (11-16-153, one TD) earlier in the season, the 2025 third-round pick has eight receptions on 10 targets for 63 yards over the last seven games.

Noel caught both of his targets for 12 yards and had one carry for one yard in Sunday's 20-10 win over Kansas City in Week 14. He also returned one punt for 21 yards.

EDGE Analysis

Noel's three touches and 25 snaps were the rookie's most since Week 10. It's noteworthy that he had the same number of offensive snaps as veteran Christian Kirk. Per usual, Noel was a bigger factor on special teams, and his 21-yard punt return in the first quarter dug Houston out of a potential hole and led to the team's first score, a Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal.

Noel did not catch his lone target and amassed 106 return yards on two punts and three kickoffs in Sunday's 20-16 win over Indianapolis in Week 13.

EDGE Analysis

This has been the pattern for three consecutive games, as Noel barely makes a dent on offense but is heavily involved on special teams. The silver lining for his role on offense is that Sunday's target came in the red zone with C.J. Stroud back under center. Noel has caught 20 of 28 targets (including four in the red zone) for 213 yards and one touchdown this season.

Noel caught one of two targets for four yards, logged one carry for five yards and returned four kickoffs for 96 yards in Thursday's 23-16 win over the Bills in Week 12.

EDGE Analysis

One of Noel's two targets came in the red zone, and the rookie recorded his fourth carry of the season. After a mid-season spike in activity, he's had two or fewer targets in three of the last four contests. Noel's greatest weekly contributions have come on special teams, where he's settled in as the Texans' primary returner of both punts and kickoffs.

Noel hauled in his lone target for 12 yards while adding 89 total return yards on five punts and two kickoffs in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Titans in Week 11.

EDGE Analysis

Noel's production has been a roller coaster since Houston's Week 5 bye. In three of the last five contests, the rookie third-round pick has a combined 13 catches on 17 targets for 175 yards. In the two other games, Noel has one catch on one target for 12 yards. Noel's greatest contribution has been as a returner; he leads the team with a combined 457 returns yards (eight kickoffs, 23 punts).

Noel caught all four of his targets for 35 yards and returned one punt for eight yards in Sunday's 36-29 win over the Jaguars in Week 10.

EDGE Analysis

Noel was more involved Sunday than in Week 9, when he played just 11 offensive snaps and went untargeted, but that performance looks like a outlier. Other than last week's shutout, Noel has at least four catches and four targets in three of the last four games.

Noel said Wednesday that his diminished role in Week 9's loss to Denver was the result of personnel packages used by the offense, Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Following two productive weeks, when Noel caught nine of 13 targets for 140 yards, the rookie's upward trajectory reversed course against the Broncos last week. He was limited to 11 snaps on offense, zero targets and just four routes run. Part of that was due to the returns of Nico Collins and Christian Kirk from injury, but Noel also cited matchup reasons. He noted the team's abundant use of two-wide receiver sets, which meant more running backs or tight ends on the field. Noel, who primarily plays in the slot, is typically not on the field in such packages. Losing quarterback C.J. Stroud to a concussion also played a role, as Houston shifted to a conservative rush-focused attack that required its best blocking personnel on the field. Stroud has been ruled out against the Jaguars in Week 10, which should limit Noel's role on offense again.

Noel was untargeted, had one carry for minus-3 yards and returned four punts for 62 yards in Sunday's 18-15 loss to Denver in Week 9.

EDGE Analysis

Following a couple of productive weeks during which Houston was without top wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, Noel was nearly invisible on offense with the veterans back on the field. Noel was reduced to impacting the game on special teams, which he did early in the third quarter on a 45-yard punt return to set up the team's final score. The presence of Collins and Kirk dampened the involvement of both Noel and fellow rookie wideout Jayden Higgins (one target). The loss of starting quarterback C.J. Stroud (concussion) may have also played a role. The Texans gained just 87 yards on seven second-half possessions and punted on its final six drives with Davis Mills under center.

Noel brought in five of six targets for 63 yards in the Texans' 26-15 win over the 49ers on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Noel finished tied for the team lead in receptions and for runner-up status in targets while also finishing second in receiving yards. It was the second straight productive showing in less than a week for the rookie third-round pick, who'd also produced a career-best 77 receiving yards on four catches during the Week 7 Monday night loss to the Seahawks. The absences of Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring) have both played a part in Noel's recent surge -- Collins exited early in the fourth quarter in Seattle while Kirk has missed the last two games -- but Noel could be carving out a larger role for himself that will endure even when his veteran teammates are back in action.

Noel hauled in four of seven targets for 77 yards in Monday's 27-19 loss to the Seahawks.

EDGE Analysis

Fresh off his first career touchdown reception in Week 6, Noel followed that up with a season-high 77 receiving yards on Monday Night Football. The absence of Christian Kirk (hamstring) helped elevate the rookie's role, and it is currently unclear how much time the veteran slot receiver will miss. No. 1 wideout Nico Collins (concussion) also left Monday's loss late in the fourth quarter, so the Texans may ask Noel to continue serving an elevated role if either starter is forced to miss Sunday's contest against the 49ers.