The Houston Texans suffered an ominous loss in their win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15, and it comes at a position already hit by the injury bug this season, with defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr.
It is a difficult situation for the Texans, who boast the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense overall and in scoring entering “Monday Night Football” in Week 15.
What comes next remains to be seen.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans Announces Mario Edwards Jr. Season-Ending Injury
GettyWill Anderson Jr. #51 and Mario Edwards Jr. #97 of the Houston Texans celebrate against the Baltimore Ravens.
Edwards exited the Texans’ eventual win during the fourth quarter after making a stop. He was ruled questionable to return shortly after, but never did.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke candidly about losing Edwards. He is the second defensive tackle that the Texans have lost to a season-ending injury in the last three weeks. Former starter Tim Settle Jr. suffered a foot injury in Week 13.
Ryans said they will figure out a replacement plan this week.
“Mario has done a great job for us all year,” Ryans told reporters on December 15. “He’s a steady player. Consistent. Brings great energy to our entire team. So, I’m really gonna miss his presence. He can fly around on game day. He runs to the football with great effort, intent. Really loved what he brought to our unit. So, we’re missing him, we’ve lost Settle, losing Mario, it’s going to be difficult to replace those guys.”
The announcement drew national attention, underscoring how significant a loss it is for the Texans at this late stage of the season.
Replacing Mario Edwards, Tim Settle a Group Effort
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on against the Tennessee Titans.
Edwards, 31, is in his second season with the Texans. After initially signing a one-year, $1.6 million contract in free agency in 2024, Edwards re-signed with the Texans on a two-year, $9.5 million pact during the 2025 offseason cycle and is under team control through 2026.
He was a second-round pick (No. 35 overall) by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2015 draft.
Edwards has also played for the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans, and has spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Now, the Texans will look to former Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Naquan Jones to play more in their rotation behind starters Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson wrote on December 15. “They have some depth on their practice squad, including Marlon Davidson, Junior Tafuna and Haggai Ndubuisi.”
Edwards was not the Texans’ only injury concern postgame, either.
Texans Awaiting Word on Derek Stingley Jr., Wood Marks
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on before facing the Tennessee Titans.
In addition to Edwards, the Texans saw cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and running back Woody Marks exit early after getting banged up against the Cardinals.
“DeMeco Ryans said RB Woody Marks and CB Derek Stingley Jr., who both did not finish the game, should be fine but it’s something they’ll monitor,” the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander reported on X on December 15.
Marks is already filling in for Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb, who sat out Week 15.
Stingley has dealt with some bumps and bruises this season, but he has been one of the few members of the Texans’ secondary to avoid serious injury, such as what Edwards suffered.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Texans Announce Bad News After Week 15 Win Over Cardinals appeared first on Heavy Sports.