Houston Texans: Justin Reid’s injury exposes shortcomings at safety

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid left the secondary thin at safety after getting hurt against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Houston Texans are carrying a thinner group at safety than normal with only four safeties currently on the roster. Texans went through a rebuild at the position with Kareem Jackson, Tyrann Mathieu, Andre Hal, and Michael Tyson no longer on the roster after forming part of the secondary in 2018.

Jahleel Addae and Tashaun Gipson were brought in as replacements in free agency with Justin Reid and A.J. Moore being the only safeties returning after their rookie seasons. Texans have accustomed to carry five safeties on the roster in the Bill O’Brien era, but they are playing with fire only carrying four on the team.

Reid’s injury was a glaring issue against the Los Angeles Chargers as the Texans were down to only Gipson, Addae, and Moore while he was being checked on by the training staff on the sidelines. The secondary would have been a tough predicament if they lost another safety with an experienced quarterback like Philip Rivers in the pocket.

Luckily the Texans front seven were able to step up to the occasion to get constant pressure on Rivers and notch five sacks for the day. However, the Texans could use another extra safety on the roster moving forward.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Texans waive one of the players that aren’t seeing any action on the active roster. Tight end Jerell Adams and Logan Paulsen have been healthy scratches for the last two weeks, and one of them could be expendable for the Texans to address their thin depth chart at the safety position.