Yesterday was a bad day to be part of the Houston Texans' secondary. First, C.J. Gardner-Johnson had an injury scare, which reportedly is not an ACL injury, and then safety Jimmie Ward was arrested for the second time this off season, this time for a violation of his bond. The Texans have invested heavily in the secondary for the past few years, so while Johnson-Gardner was expected to start for the Texans, Ward was more of a depth piece.
Prior to this, news out of camp was largely positive for the secondary. Last year's draft pick, Kamari Lassiter, was seen outdueling star receiver Nico Collins. Derek Stingley, Jr. continued to build upon his breakout season, and even rookie Jaylin Smith was shining at multiple positions. Head Coach DeMeco Ryans had nothing but positive things to say about the group overall:
"You see a lot of guys continue to make plays. Jaylin Smith, Tremon [Smith], [Damon] Arnette, ‘D-Ross’ [D’Angelo Ross], all those guys. They show up every day. I go and I show highlights to our guys in team meetings of our practices. There are different guys every day at the corner position showing up."DeMeco Ryans (h/tTexanswire.usatoday.com
With the head coach noting that the performances throughout the secondary, he has seen improvements and highlights out of everyone, there is little room for error, on or off the field. With the Texans looking to have a late playoff push this year, they need the best out of each position at all 53 spots. That likely means a veteran in the secondary will be looking for work elsewhere.
Safety Jimmie Ward Won't Be on the Texans' Final Roster
It's sad when off-field issues impact roster decisions, but it is part of the NFL. Jimmie Ward was a former first-round pick for San Francisco and was servicable throughout his career. He never fully reached his potential due to multiple injuries, but he was able to serve as a mentor and still play at a high level as recently as last year.
However, this offseason has been a tumultuous one for Ward. He was arrested on June 12 for third-degree felony assault. Up to this point, Ward had not participated in any part of camp as he recovered from a foot injury last season. It's an unfortunate turn of events as Ward's career turns to its final stages.
Even if the off-field issues didn't exist, Ward was a long shot to make the roster. Gardner-Johnson and Caleb Bullock are locked in as starters (pending Gardner-Johnson's injury status). Rookies Jaylin Smith and Jaylen Reed have both performed well throughout camp. Veterans M.J. Stewart and Russ Yeast are both younger and contribute on special teams.
Ward may be a better overall player than any of them at this point in their careers. However, his injury history, lack of upside and off the field issues should make the Texans look elsewhere when finalizing their roster. Fortunate for the Texans, their recent investments in the secondary will allow the group to continue to be a strength even without Ward.