Gut-Check Time: Houston Texans Linebacker Mario Williams Out For The Season Due To Injury

Photo Credit: William Holtkamp

Not only did the Texans lose to the Raiders this past weekend, Houston managed to also lose their Pro Bowl defensive end/linebacker, Mario Williams. Williams had torn his pectoral muscle this past week against the Raiders and will need to have season-ending surgery. The Texans will be forced to play the rest of this NFL season without their best and most important player on defense.

Earlier today, Texans coach Gary Kubiak had confirmed this information with the media.

“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.”

The Houston Texans, more than ever, will need to have someone step up and fill the role. Rookie Brooks Reed will be given a chance, but we can’t help to think that Connor Barwin will also be in the mix. The Texans defense has improved tremendously led by new defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips.

Currently, the team is fourth overall in points allowed [17.5] and tenth in the league in total yards given up per game [323.0 yds]. Phillips will definitely need to revamp the Texans scheme in order to continue being successful on the defensive side of the ball.