Pro Football Rumors
The Texans managed to win on Sunday thanks to a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback. They will be shorthanded in the secondary for the remainder of the campaign, however.
Safety M.J. Stewart was injured in the first half of today’s contest against the Jaguars. An air cast was placed on his left leg before he was carted off the field. Further testing has revealed Stewart tore his quadriceps, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. As a result, season-ending surgery will be required.
This news means Houston will be without a key contributor on defense moving forward. Stewart hardly saw the field during the first three weeks of the season, but the decision to release C.J. Gardner-Johnson created a vacancy in the starting lineup. Stewart was tasked with filling that spot, and the eighth-year veteran saw a major uptick in playing time after that switch.
Now, the Texans will be forced to find another new first-team option at the safety spot. The team sits at 4-5 on the year thanks to today’s win, so a push into a wild-card spot remains possible. If Houston is to reach the postseason, continued strong play on defense – the team entered Week 10 ranked top-six in the NFL against the run and pass – will be required. Without Stewart in the fold, however, a veteran presence will be missed.
The former second-rounder has been with the Texans since 2018. Stewart remained in place via a one-year, $2.5MM deal this offseason. His free agent market was not in line to be particularly robust anyway, but this injury will obviously hurt his earning potential on the open market.
With the trade deadline having come and gone, Houston’s opportunities to add depth will be limited. The Texans have $7.71MM in cap space, though, so a modest free agent signing will be feasible.
