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Houston Texans linebacker E.J. Speed is now expected to miss the entire 2026 regular season after further testing revealed a fully torn quadriceps tendon, a significant step up in severity from the partial tear that was initially reported. The surgery has been completed successfully, but there is no realistic path back to the field for Speed before the 2026 postseason.
The injury itself happened in the most frustrating way possible. It wasn't during a preseason game, not during training camp, but during a routine offseason lifting session. Speed was performing a one-legged split squat as part of Houston's offseason workout program when the injury occurred. A freak accident with devastating consequences.
What made the news sting even harder the first time around was the timing relative to Speed's new contract. He had just re-signed with the Texans on a two-year deal worth up to $13 million, choosing to stay in Houston rather than explore the open market. The front office clearly valued him, and Speed clearly wanted to be here. Now that commitment gets shelved for the better part of a year before it even gets started.
Speed's role on this team was never about flashy stats. Last season he appeared in 16 games, started nine of them, and recorded 65 tackles while also contributing heavily on special teams, where he logged 52 percent of those snaps. He was the kind of player who made a defense cleaner and more reliable without showing up in a highlight reel. That's the type of loss that doesn't always register until Week 6 when the depth starts to feel thin.
With Speed out, Houston will lean on Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o as the primary linebacker options. Both are capable players — Al-Shaair earned Pro Bowl recognition last season and handled nearly every defensive snap available to him. But what Speed provided was a layer of versatility and experience behind them that helped the unit stay fresh and functional through a long season.
The Texans will also look to fourth-round rookie Wade Woodaz, who now finds himself in a much more prominent role than anyone expected when draft weekend wrapped up. There are other depth options on the roster too, including Jake Hansen, Marte Mapu, and Jake Hummel, but none of them come with the proven track record Speed had built here.
This is a real blow to a team that entered the offseason with legitimate expectations. The Texans were built to compete, and they still are. But losing a reliable, versatile linebacker before a single OTA rep has been taken is not the way anyone wanted this summer to start.
Continue reading...
The injury itself happened in the most frustrating way possible. It wasn't during a preseason game, not during training camp, but during a routine offseason lifting session. Speed was performing a one-legged split squat as part of Houston's offseason workout program when the injury occurred. A freak accident with devastating consequences.
What made the news sting even harder the first time around was the timing relative to Speed's new contract. He had just re-signed with the Texans on a two-year deal worth up to $13 million, choosing to stay in Houston rather than explore the open market. The front office clearly valued him, and Speed clearly wanted to be here. Now that commitment gets shelved for the better part of a year before it even gets started.
Speed's role on this team was never about flashy stats. Last season he appeared in 16 games, started nine of them, and recorded 65 tackles while also contributing heavily on special teams, where he logged 52 percent of those snaps. He was the kind of player who made a defense cleaner and more reliable without showing up in a highlight reel. That's the type of loss that doesn't always register until Week 6 when the depth starts to feel thin.
With Speed out, Houston will lean on Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oTo'o as the primary linebacker options. Both are capable players — Al-Shaair earned Pro Bowl recognition last season and handled nearly every defensive snap available to him. But what Speed provided was a layer of versatility and experience behind them that helped the unit stay fresh and functional through a long season.
The Texans will also look to fourth-round rookie Wade Woodaz, who now finds himself in a much more prominent role than anyone expected when draft weekend wrapped up. There are other depth options on the roster too, including Jake Hansen, Marte Mapu, and Jake Hummel, but none of them come with the proven track record Speed had built here.
This is a real blow to a team that entered the offseason with legitimate expectations. The Texans were built to compete, and they still are. But losing a reliable, versatile linebacker before a single OTA rep has been taken is not the way anyone wanted this summer to start.
Continue reading...
