Hughes will return to play in his 15th NFL season. The veteran pass rusher has spent the last two seasons in Houston, totaling 12 sacks in 34 games. Playing in a reduced role under head coach DeMeco Ryans, Hughes managed just three sacks on 474 snaps, playing on 215 fewer snaps than he did in 2022. He turns 36 in August and will likely be tasked with playing a similar role this season.

Hughes missed the Wild Card win over the Browns with an ankle issue and now misses the first practice of the week. Will Anderson and Jonathan Greenard both played after being limited with ankle injuries last week, strengthening the Texans pass rush. If he can practice, the 35-year-old Hughes may not be start, but would be useful in containing Lamar Jackson in the Divisional Round against the Ravens.

Hughes fell to just two sacks last season and has been more of a competent EDGE than a star over the past three years, but he should be a secondary source of pass rush for a team that didn't really address that during the draft. His 81.2 PFF pass rush grade attests to the fact that he can still bring it. 34 in August, Hughes could be a trade deadline target if the Texans flop. 

Hughes is a key player for the Buffalo defense. Last year he earned Pro Football Focus' 23rd highest pass rush grade among edge defenders and eighth highest coverage grade. He can be removed from the NFI list at any time, but with Hughes entering his age 33 season, his status will be worth monitoring.