Key Texans Defender Suffers Serious Injury Lifting Weights
The Houston Texans will be without a key defender for the remainder of the offseason and potentially the start of the regular season after an injury during a workout.
Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC, linebacker E.J. Speed suffered a partially torn quadriceps while lifting weights during OTAs. The injury will require surgery.
“Texans veteran linebacker E.J. Speed suffered a partially torn quadriceps and partially torn quadriceps tendon that will require surgery and should allow him to return at some point this season, per league sources,” Wilson wrote.
“Dallas Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper, a widely renowned orthopedic surgeon, is expected to perform the procedure, per sources.”
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The Texans expect Speed to need a three-month recovery time that will be followed by rehab.
Three months would put the recovery timeline near the end of training camp. It’s unclear if Speed will be able to finish rehabbing by the time of the Texans’ season opener in Week 1 at home against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 13.
Speed, a fifth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, had a breakout year in 2024, when he recorded a career-high 142 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and one interception. He joined the Texans in 2025 on a one-year deal worth $5 million.
Speed appeared in 16 games for the Texans and made nine starts. He recorded 62 tackles and two tackles for loss on a unit that was ranked No. 1 in total defense, leading Houston to the Divisional Round in the postseason. Speed participated in 44% of the Texans' defensive snaps and 52% of the special teams snaps.
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The linebacker’s play last season was good enough to earn a pay raise. Speed signed a two-year contract extension worth $13 million in March.
The injury is a tough break for the Texans and Speed. Houston will need linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To'oTo'o, and Jake Hansen to step up until Speed is ready to return to the rotation sometime in the regular season.
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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 2:54 PM.