The Houston Texans’ breakout linebacker from last season will miss most of the rest of the offseason.
According to KRPC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, linebacker E.J. Speed suffered a partially torn quadriceps and partially torn quadriceps tendon during the offseason and will require surgery. The injury, however, isn’t expected to be long-term, thus giving him a chance to return at some point in the regular season.
Per Wilson, the medical outlook for Speed is at least a three-month recovery period, followed by rehab. Knowing the Texans, they won’t rush Speed back, allowing him to properly heal internally with ensuring that the hope is for his return later on in the year ahead of the playoffs.
Speed, a do-it-all third linebacker and special-teams contributor, inked a new two-year, $13 million contract this offseason. A longtime member of the Indianapolis Colts, Speed originally signed a one-year, $5 million contract last year.
As the first name off the bench, Speed emerged as a key defender, totaling 62 tackles, three for losses and two quarterback hits. He played in 16 games and totaled nine starts for a playoff squad en route to a 12-win season.
Houston should feel content with the roster and its depth at linebacker following the draft. After signing Speed in free agency, the Texans used two Day 3 picks on Clemson’s Wade Woodaz and Indiana’s Aiden Fisher. The Texans could lean heavily on Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill and Jake Hummel as depth behind Pro Bowl middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o.
OTAs for Houston officially begin on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans lose LB E.J. Speed for several months due to torn quadriceps
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
