Overview
- Further testing revealed a full tear of Speed’s quadriceps tendon on Tuesday, and team doctors performed surgery to repair the injury.
- Head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed Speed had surgery last week and said the Texans will monitor his recovery rather than set a firm timetable.
- The team is shifting away from an active/PUP plan toward placing Speed on injured reserve, a move that would effectively guarantee he misses the 2026 regular season.
- Houston plans to rely on starters Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o for linebacker snaps while rotating backups and special-teams players such as Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Marte Mapu, Jake Hummel and recent draftees into the third-lineup role.
- Speed re-signed on a two-year deal this offseason and his long recovery creates a clear opening for younger players to earn defensive and special-teams roles while the Texans adjust roster and depth charts.