DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans coaching staff must shuffle their lineup again following the latest injury development. The Texans notched a critical victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10, but they lost starting safety M.J. Stewart.
Unfortunately for the Texans, Stewart was a backup himself.
That casts plenty of uncertainty around the Texans’ talented secondary, which otherwise lacks clear weaknesses.
M.J. Stewart Suffers Season-Ending Injury vs Jaguars
GettyM.J. Stewart #29 of the Houston Texans sustains an injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Stewart suffered the injury on the Jaguars’ second possession of the second quarter on a run play in what KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson described on X as a “bad” looking situation, as medical staff immobilized the veteran’s leg and carted him to the locker room.
Wilson updated the situation a few hours later, and the news only got worse for Stewart and the Texans.
Stewart is out for the season.
“Texans starting safety M.J. Stewart tore his quadriceps and is out for the remainder of the season, per league sources,” Wilson wrote in his follow-up report on November 9. “He will undergo surgery and be placed on injured reserve.
Stewart gave a “thumbs up” to the crowd in attendance as the cart made its way with him to the locker room.
Stewart is on a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Texans. He will be a free agent in 2026.
M.J. Stewart Stepped Up for Texans
GettyM.J. Stewart #29 of the Houston Texans runs onto the field before a game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Stewart, 30, was a second-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, selected 53rd overall in the 2018 draft. He also spent two years with the Cleveland Browns. However, this is Stewart’s fourth season with the Texans.
He assumed the starting role after the Texans released Week 1 starter and offseason trade acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson following Week 3.
Stewart has played in all nine of the Texans’ games this season.
He has officially started three and logged a 74.6% snap share, per Pro Football Reference. The veteran defensive back recorded 25 total tackles, 2 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble for the Texans this season.
Stewart’s injury is a sour note in an otherwise joyous day, as the Texans orchestrated the second-largest comeback in franchise history, scoring 26 unanswered fourth-quarter points.
The Texans entered this contest without starting quarterback C.J. Stroud due to a concussion.
Candidates to Replace M.J. Stewart
GettyMyles Bryant #27 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Carolina Panthers.
The Texans have several in-house options to replace Stewart, which is key with the trade deadline already passed.
Wilson later noted that Week 10 call-up Myles Bryant could replace Stewart in the Texans’ starting lineup after shifting over from nickelback, where he was filling in for Jalen Pitre, to safety against the Jaguars.
Rookie sixth-round draft pick Jaylen Reed, pick No. 187 in April, is also an option.
Reed has played in three games this season, logging all of his snaps on special teams. He could see more defensive reps regardless of whether he replaces Stewart or not.
The Texans still have veteran safety Jimmie Ward on the Reserve Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. He has been rehabbing, but there have been no updates from the team about his status for the remainder of the season.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Texans Get Unfortunate Injury News After Defeating Jaguars in Week 10 appeared first on Heavy Sports.