Houston Texans rookie Jaylen Reed suffered an injury in the win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13, and he will certainly miss some time. However, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans suggested Reed could return at some point in the season.
That is good news, given Ryans’ latest comments on Jimmie Ward.
Ryans expressed confidence in the players the Texans have in a secondary that has already undergone numerous changes this season.
DeMeco Ryans Gives Encouraging Update on Texans S Jaylen Reed
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on against the Indianapolis Colts.
Ryans met with the media for his day-after press conference, and he provided an optimistic outlook on Reed, telling reporters on December 1, “We’ll see how he continues to progress with the arm injury. Don’t think it’s season-ending. So, we’ll see how he progresses.
KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on November 30 that Reed “caught a bad break” when he “broke a metal plate” in his forearm from a previous injury.
The rookie sixth-round pick’s recovery timeline is “undetermined.”
The injury requires surgery, which will sideline Reed, providing an opportunity for one of his Texans teammates to step up as they have had to do all season, and at multiple positions on both sides of the ball. Ryans believes in his group.
“We’ll find a way,” Ryans told media members when asked if the Texans would pursue options in free agency and on the waiver wire.
“Don’t feel like we have to go outside to do that, but we’ll find a way.”
Texans Have Options at Safety
GettyMyles Bryant #27 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Carolina Panthers.
Part of Ryans’ confidence could stem from that optimism around Reed potentially returning for the Texans this season.
“There are scenarios where the Texans ostensibly could give Reed time to heal instead of placing him on injured reserve immediately, which would end his season. He was previously on injured reserve with a sprained knee before being activated after getting hurt during training camp,” Wilson wrote.
“The Texans were already thin at the position after losing starter M.J. Stewart to a torn quadriceps tendon, ending his season. Their options currently include Myles Bryant and/or practice squad safeties Jalen Mills and K’Von Wallace.”
Wilson also noted that starting nickeback Jalen Pitre “has a ton of experience” at safety.
That would weaken the Texans at nickelback, though, where they struggled when Pitre was out earlier this season.
Texans Remain Without Clarity on Jimmie Ward
GettyJimmie Ward #20 of the Houston Texans takes the field before facing the Miami Dolphins.
Before the season began, long before Reed joined the list of wounded players for the Texans, Jimmie Ward’s status was the most up in the air at the position.
Since then, they have suffered a rash of injuries and parted ways with 2025 offseason trade acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who is thriving with the Chicago Bears after a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens. Ryans said there was “no update” on Ward on Monday.
Ward remains on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a foot injury.
“He’s been out for some time and was expected to return soon,” The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander wrote in an article on November 12. “He had been seen last month working off to the side, and was spotted in the locker room on a couple of occasions. But I haven’t seen him since.
“A source told me Wednesday [November 11] morning that they don’t expect Ward, who is dealing with a foot injury, back any time soon.”
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