Earlier on Monday, word was that Texans linebacker Mario Williams was out indefinitely with a torn pectoral muscle.
We now have a more definite answer on how long he’ll be out and the news isn’t good for the Texans. At his Monday meeting with the media, Texans coach Gary Kubiak announced that Williams will miss the rest of the season. He’ll have surgery this week and go on injured reserve.
“I feel so bad for Mario because man, he’s been such a heck of a player, and what we’re doing to me is really going to blossom his career from now on,” Kubiak said. “I think he had really taken to the position he’s playing. He was improving every day in practice, improving in every game and really enjoying – I think I’ve never seen him so upbeat about what was going on – and to lose him on a freak play, it doesn’t look like much at all.”
Williams had five sacks in the first five games of the season, backing up Kubiak’s opinion that he was making a smooth transition from defensive end to outside linebacker under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. His loss is a serious blow as to the Texans’ attempt to make the playoffs for the first time in their history, although playing in an underpowered AFC South still gives them a strong chance at the postseason.
Brooks Reed will move into the starting lineup, although strongside linebacker Connor Barwin might take Williams’ spot on the weakside. The Texans made no indication about who will take Williams’ spot on the active roster.