Texans' Gamble
Texans' Gamble
The Houston Texans’ gamble on Braden Smith came with obvious upside. It also came with risk, and that risk became impossible to ignore Wednesday morning.
Smith was carted off early in Houston’s joint practice with the Carolina Panthers after suffering an apparent foot injury. He was unable to leave the field without assistance, putting the Texans’ gamble in jeopardy before the veteran right tackle has played a regular-season snap for the team.
Texans’ $25 Million Gamble Takes Disastrous Turn During Joint Practice
Smith and reserve defensive end Ali Gaye were injured on separate fields at nearly the same time. Each initially needed his own cart before they eventually rode back to the facility together.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans did not have an update after practice. ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that Houston believes Smith injured his foot, but the severity remains unknown.
Texans believe OL Braden Smith suffered a foot injury today that led to him being carted off. https://t.co/pYlGr151g2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2026
That leaves the Texans waiting on test results and hoping their expensive offensive line overhaul hasn’t already sprung a leak. The last thing that they need is a laundry list of injuries piling up heading into the season. Especially if it’s guys that are supposed to be protecting franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Smith signed a two-year contract with a base value of $20 million in March. The deal can reach $25 million through incentives and includes $13.5 million fully guaranteed.
Houston knew the medical history before making the move. Smith’s final season with the Indianapolis Colts ended because of concussion and neck issues, and he later underwent offseason neck surgery. The Texans’ gamble was that a healthy Smith could still resemble the durable blocker who started 105 of his 107 games for the Colts.
For most of training camp, it looked like a sensible bet. Then came Wednesday.
Texans’ Gamble Could Leave C.J. Stroud Exposed
Smith wasn’t added as a luxury piece. Houston brought him in to start at right tackle and help fix a line that made life far too difficult for quarterback C.J. Stroud last season.
The Texans also signed veteran guard Wyatt Teller as part of their latest attempt to get the group straightened out. Smith offered experience on the outside and enough versatility to move inside if Houston became desperate.
That flexibility disappears if his foot injury costs him significant time.
Trent Brown would be an obvious candidate to replace Smith at right tackle, but that would still leave Houston leaning on another veteran with a lengthy injury history. The depth chart suddenly looks shakier than it did when practice began Wednesday.
There is also lousy timing to consider. Houston opens the regular season in less than three weeks. If Smith misses time, the offense will have only a handful of practices and one preseason game to settle on another combination.
Good tackles aren’t hanging around in late August waiting for a team to call. Most of the available choices are available for a reason. Funny how that works.
The Texans’ gamble could still pay off if Smith avoided a serious injury and returns quickly. Until Houston receives that answer, however, Stroud’s protection is once again a major concern.
Houston spent the offseason trying to solve its offensive line problem. One joint practice may have dropped the same old headache right back on Ryans’ desk.
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Main Photo Courtesy of Troy Taormina – Imagn Images