Texans have ‘high hopes’ for Louis Nix III in future; placed on IR

Mar 20, 2014; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish former football player

runs a drill during Notre Dame pro day at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

This week the Houston Texans put third round pick Louis Nix III on the injured received list, ending his 2014 rookie season before it ever began.

In fact, Nix, who was drafted out of the University of Notre Dame, hasn’t taken a regular season snap for the Texans in ’14, which isn’t a good sign for the rookie nose tackle.

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said the following about Nix this week (quotes via Texans transcripts):

"“I would tell you that it did have a lot to do with health. I have to tell you, he’s a guy that we have high hopes for in the future. No doubt about it.“He’s a guy that we think is a future 3-4 nose for us, but he had a knee issue over the summer. Then he started off on the PUP. Has another issue right now. None of them are like I say, life threatening. But they’re definitely season ending injuries. We’ve decided medically to operate on them and hopefully he’ll come back stronger and ready to go for the offseason program.”"

That doesn’t sound too promising for the Texans or Nix. O’Brien said the right things, but when your rookie nose tackle has this many problems and hans’t even taken a regular season snap … I don’t know how bright the future can be for Nix and the Texans.

Hopefully Nix will heal up and be ready for the offseason program, because he does have very good talent, and could really make a difference on the Texans’ defensive line next season. I was all for drafting Nix this year, and felt it was the right pick at the time. If he’s able to get on the field next season, he could clear up space for J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing and Jadeveon Clowney (when he’s healthy as well).

What are your thoughts on Nix?